Down The Stretch Podcast

Our top story, of course, is the opening of the Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine and we’ve got track CEO Mike Copeland, Premier Doug Ford, jockeys Patrick Husbands, Emma-Jayne Wilson and Jason Hoyte, racing fans Gary Turpin and Jason Chrisjohn, and how about a 5-win opener for Sofia Vives? The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has 12 more worthy inductees. Sylvain Filion tells us what it means to him and Chris Vella is the very proud son of new Hall of Famer Danny Vella. We go to Western Fair for the Provincial Driving Championship, won by Tyler Borth. Sean Fitzhenry tells us how the entire cast of Second City is crucial to his operation. John Stapleton fills us with awe, talking about his historic and sometimes rare racing memorabilia. And was that really a :25.1 final quarter by Coco-Jojo at Mohawk Friday night?

This podcast features the 49th Sovereign Awards and we have interview clips from Jennifer Morrison, Michelle Armata, Robert McKenzie , Mark Casse, Sean Fitzhenry, Kazushi Kimura and Sofia Vives. We talked with Bruno Schickedanz about a horse he owns that keeps finding the winners circle at Gulfstream. Roger Attfield joined us to talk about the mind-blowing debut race by Ready for Shirl, who was the talk of the town after a remarkable win at Keeneland Martin Lachance drove home a winner at Mohawk and we’re playing that race because it was Lachance’s first driving win at the Campbellville track and we also have a horse named Zeb’s Breaking Dawn that won at over 63-1. And the Meadowlands is bragging about their huge handles recently and the owners of the 13-year-old trotter, JL Cruze are also bragging after he notched his 66th career win at the Big M.

We start with the last Kentucky Derby Prep – the Lexington Stakes, then go to Santa Anita for a win by Kazushi Kimura and an interview with the multi-skilled Ismael Mosqueira. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has revealed the finalists for the next wave of induction. Harness horse owner Brad Grant discusses his chances and Carolyn Filice tells Down The Stretch how thrilled her family is that her father, Sam Lima is a finalist. With the Woodbine Thoroughbred season beginning on April 27, we’ve got Patrick Husbands warming up with a win at Gulfstream. Two stories this week from Ric Chapman in Australia – the 8-figure sale price of the first foal from super horse Winx and an amazing win by a 6-year-old mare in a $5million race at Randwick. And, when an 83-year-old driver wins a race, you can bet it gets featured in this podcast.

With less than a month until the 150th Kentucky Derby, we have 3 prep races – The Wood Memorial from Aqueduct, the Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Santa Anita Derby. Multiple stories from Santa Anita – 53-year-old Frankie Dettori won 6 in a row on Derby day and we chat with Kazushi Kimura who spent his winter winning races in California before coming north for his 3rd Sovereign Award as Outstanding Jockey. And we have a strange race from Santa Anita that was declared no contest with the field going down the backstretch. Trainer Bob Tiller knows which of 3 categories his sprinter, Patches O’Houlihan is a Sovereign cinch. Aussie racing journalist, Rik Chapman reports on the impending sale of the first off-spring of the super horse, Minx, and harness driver Phil Hudon tells us how he’s recovering since a race incident literally knocked him on his ass.

This one has 3 Kentucky Derby Preps that take us from Meydan in the UAR to Gulfstream to Oaklawn Park. Another week and another win for Marty Drexler. Lou Tucci talks about the chances of Babbo for a Sovereign in the 2-Year-Old Male category. Melissa Keith tells us how she got the job at Rideau Carleton as Canada’s first full-time lady race caller. Jody Jamieson explains why he named a trotter Paquet after its owner Brian Paquet died. How does a daily double pay more than $3,700 and join us at the table to feast on bagels, a small cooked fowl and donuts for dessert.

We’ve got a pair of Kentucky Derby preps as we go to the Fair Grounds and Turfway Park. A lot of Marty Drexler content as he keeps winning at Gulfstream and a little Steven Chircop in the mix. They had a draw for the Mohawk Million and we talk with lucky slot owners, Brad Grant and Tara Hills Stud’s Dave Heffering. Trainer Josie Carroll has 3 horses in 2 Sovereign Award categories and we got her to assess their chances. And on March 17, how good was a bet on a horse named Shamrock?

A lot of CanCon here: + King’s Plate Champ, Paramount Prince winning at Gulfstream + Chiefswood Stables sends out Waskesiu to take the Florida Oaks + Ontario-bred Candy Overload was sweet in the Big Daddy Stakes at Turfway + Kazushi Kimura rides another winner at Santa Anita + Steven Chircop scores at Charles Town + A 4-bagger for driver Travis Cullen + A great first impression for Carter Gimblett at Flamboro + Mark Casse breaks down the 8 Sovereign Award categories in which horse he trained are nominated + Nicholas Barnsdale phones in from the Cheltenham Festival + And the notorious NHL goalie, Gary Smith has a horse named after him...

This one is loaded with: + 5 winners at Gulfstream by Marty Drexler + Steven Chircop winning at Penn National + 4 Kentucky Derby preps + Julie Walker winning the International Women’s Day Trot + Jennifer Buck on her Off-Track Worker Sovereign + Michelle Armata, Groom of the Year + Jessica Hallett winning at the Dan Patch Awards for a photograph published in Down The Stretch + We remember colourful race caller Larry Lederman with a compilation of his more entertaining calls + Tony Beaton blowing up the tote board + Mark MacDonell snapping his 0-19 driving streak + Fair Ground race caller John Dooley funneling his bets Guns N Roses

We have the stretch calls of 3 Kentucky Derby preps – The Risen Star from the Fair Grounds, the Hyacinth from Japan and the Sunland Derby. Harness Driver, Tyler Borth is winning in bunches and took time among his wins to speak with us. Marty Drexler is playing the claim game at Gulfstream and he’s playing it very well. He’s on the phone with Down The Stretch. And horse owner, Darryl Ezra helps us push the envelope on good taste with some of the naughtiest names inflicted on thoroughbreds.

We’ve got a handful of Canadian victories at U.S. tracks – Bill Tharrenos sending out a pair of winners on the same day at Gulfstream, Prince of Wales Champion Velocitor scoring and paying at the Fair Grounds, and CamHaven Farms sending out a winner that paid off at 27-1 at the Fair Grounds. We break down the Sovereign Award category for Outstanding Male Sprinter, trying to get Bob Tiller to compare Patches O’Houlihan to Pink Lloyd, but Tiller just won’t go there. COSA President Bill O’Donnell explains the relatively new rule at Mohawk about breaking stride – it’s not required very often, but it happened last Thursday night. Two-time NBA MVP Nicolai Jokic explains his love of harness racing, and when Koufax won a race at the Fair Grounds, we got curious about other horses named after sports stars.

This week we have the Sam F Davis Stakes from Tampa Bay, James MacDonald with another great night at Mohawk and a thoughtful little video posted by Woodbine for Black History Month. Trainer Barbara Anderson-Heads talks about her terrific mare, Infinite Patience and wonders why her 19 for 25 record might not be good enough for a Sovereign Award. Keith McCalmont of NYRA explains why the Belmont Stakes will be run at Saratoga this June. Jockey Katie Davis tells us how thrilled she is to be repping the U.S.A. in the International Jockeys Challenge in Saudi Arabia and we have a race from Yonkers that had two horses with nearly identical names and it reminded us of the funniest all-time race call.

This podcast has the highlights from the 35th O’Brien Awards in Charlottetown. It was a very good night for James MacDonald, Dr, Ian Moore and the filly, Sylvia Hanover. We have Steven Chircop winning at Penn and Kazushi Kimura taking a Stakes race at Santa Anita. The Kingmaker is a new book about Northern Dancer written by Avalyn Hunter and Hunter reveals some amazing figures about the Dancer’s progeny. Woodbine trainer, Ted Holder talks with us about what it would mean to him to win the Sandy Lane Gold Cup in Barbados and the two horses he plans to send to next month’s big race. Garnet Barnsdale helps us explain ‘takeout’ and tells us which tracks treat you well and which tracks chisel your bet down. And if you hit the 11th race Saturday night at Mohawk., you could care less about takeout as a 40-1 shot won with a 105-1 shot second - what did that pay?

We’re everywhere this week – from the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream and the Eclipse Awards in which we feature Cody’s Wish, Kylie and Kelly Dorman and Sofia Vives. Then to Steven Chircop and Bruno Schickedanz winning races at Penn National, Marty Drexler and Raroma Stable scoring at Gulfstream. We’ve got Kazushi Kimura and Luis Contreras winning at Santa Anita. There was over $790,000 bet in the mandatory Jackpot Hi-5 Saturday at Mohawk and when Natasha Day won at over 50-1, the payoff was life-changing. Janaya Gallant is a 20-year-old trainer and her first winner paid over $100. We talk with Rachel Slevinsky, who was chosen by an international company to promote their racing products. And when a sulky disintegrated in mid-stretch in an Aussie harness race, Ben Wallace was reminded when it happened to him.

Woodbine introduced a tempting promotion on the Mohawk Pick 5 and Garnet Barnsdale explains why this is a good thing. When Sylvia Hanover’s groom, Natasha Steacy rises at the O’Briens to accept the trophy for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly, she will do so in her custom-made Sylvia Hanover sneakers...Horseowner Chris Nolan is from the U.S. but he tells us why he really likes Woodbine, Sam-Son Farm and his trainer, Steven Chircop. We were on the phone to Milena Kwiecien just after she learned her speedball, Snow Moose had been named Canadian Quarter Horse of the Year. And welcome back to the booth Ken Middleton, who tells us what it was like calling the races again more than 6 months after a dreadful training spill.

Standardbred racing takes the stage this week – Woodbine’s Bill McLinchey tells us about 3 significant changes to the Mohawk Million and a few more bucks added to the Metro Pace. Phil Hudon was just as amazed as we were when he won 4 in one night recently, and he breaks down his most excellent night. Linday Rainey of the Canadian Horse Racing JHall of Fame explains how you can bid for a service from among the most impressive thoroughbred and standardbred stallions. Talking about stallions – not only does Garnet Barnsdale provide us endless material for this podcast, he is also the sire of Nicholas Barnsdale who is a finalist at the O’Brien Awards in the Media Excellence Writing category. And if you thought after last Thursday that Belichick would never win again, you were wrong.

In episode 207 – and the first for 2024 - props to Woodbine Entertainment, whose broadcast team won an Eclipse Award for their Secretariat – The Last Race. Honours to trainer Harold Ladouceur, inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. James MacDonald hit the 400-win mark at Mohawk; he was good to the very last drop. Jockey Fraser Aebly was golfing with his dad, Derek when we found him to talk about his good start at Woodbine. A win at Santa Anita for Ajax Downs regular, Ismael Mosqueira, and for this first podcast of the year, we have Psychic Nikki with her horse racing predictions.

Can you jam every memorable moment from horse racing into 30 minutes? No, you can’t, but this episode takes us on a journey through the most amazing results, the most intriguing stories and the most talented horses and people who made the headlines in 2023. Host Peter Gross points out that both the Canadian and U.S. Triple Crowns produced 3 winners. He also tells us that invaders took most of the cash from the big money races at Woodbine. Harness racing had all kinds of great stories – TCI winning the William Wellwood, then surging back in the Mohawk Million after breaking stride; Scott Zeron winning the NA Cup, the Hambletonian, the Little Brown Jug, the Jugette and the Kentucky Futurity. Ken Middleton was badly hurt and his absence allowed an army of race callers necessary to replace him. And our Story of the Year is both inspiring and heartbreaking – the tale of Cody Dorman and the great horse named after him.

In this episode we review the most outrageous, unpredictable and certifiably insane moments in horse racing. Included in this delicious buffet are: + 5 straight races in which the #1 was the winner + A night of harness racing where it seemed only the Millers could win + A horse that paid $1,000 to show + The night Ken Middleton teased Maple Leafs fans only to have it turn badly on him + The easiest horse racing question ever on Jeopardy that all the contestants got wrong + Pete Aiello’s self-deprecating race call at Gulfstream + A dead heat between brothers + A race in which Somebody was coming late in the lane + The 4th place horse that was placed 1st + Katie Davis winning a race with her brother 2nd, her husband 3rd and her sister 4th + Driver Doug McNair carving out the sign of the devil one night at Mohawk + The track scraper who had one job....and did it during a race + Frank Mirahmadi’s entertaining impressions + How we worked in the Beatles and Chuck Berry into a story about a mare with a 17-race win streak

In this episode we review the most outrageous, unpredictable and certifiably insane moments in horse racing. Included in this delicious buffet are: + 5 straight races in which the #1 was the winner + A night of harness racing where it seemed only the Millers could win + A horse that paid $1,000 to show + The night Ken Middleton teased Maple Leafs fans only to have it turn badly on him + The easiest horse racing question ever on Jeopardy that all the contestants got wrong + Pete Aiello’s self-deprecating race call at Gulfstream + A dead heat between brothers + A race in which Somebody was coming late in the lane + The 4th place horse that was placed 1st + Katie Davis winning a race with her brother 2nd, her husband 3rd and her sister 4th + Driver Doug McNair carving out the sign of the devil one night at Mohawk + The track scraper who had one job....and did it during a race + Frank Mirahmadi’s entertaining impressions + How we worked in the Beatles and Chuck Berry into a story about a mare with a 17-race win streak

With the Thoroughbred racing season concluded, we officially identify the champion jockey, trainer and owner, which means references to Kazushi Kimura, Mark Casse and Bruno Schickedanz. Trainer Marty Drexler cracked the 100-win mark this year and he tells us how he became a major force at Woodbine. Doug McNair put on a show Saturday night at Mohawk. He had 4 winners, not that anyone got rich betting him. Jockey Isabelle Wenc rode professionally for the last time and reveals just how mentally and physically the sport wore her down. And – Moops is not only a winning pacer in Australia, but a hilarious episode of Seinfeld, which we sampled.