Tuesday, July 01 2008

Juliet’s Spirit goes wire-to-wire in My Dear

With several speedy horses competing in Monday's $151,200 My Dear Stakes, it appeared Juliet's Spirit would have to use a late kick to earn victory in Woodbine's five-furlong race for two-year-old fillies.

But Jim McAleney sent the Exchange Rate filly straight to the front and the pair never looked back, upending stablemate A Day For Dancing by 2 1/2 lengths. Georgia Song was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. Odds-on favourite Royal Card was sixth.

The running time was a sharp :57.86 after splits of :21.86 and :45.37.

Monday, June 30 2008

Nicki Knew notches Bison City score

Nicki Knew sprung a $17-upset in Sunday's $250,000 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile event is the second jewel of the Triple Tiara, for three-year-old fillies, foaled in Canada.

The daughter of Tethra overhauled Authenicat in the final 70 yards to capture her first career added-money triumph. Victory Romance finished third.

Owned and bred by Knob Hill Stable, Nicki Knew traveled 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.82.

Nicki Knew notches Bison City score

Nicki Knew sprung a $17-upset in Sunday's $250,000 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile event is the second jewel of the Triple Tiara, for three-year-old fillies, foaled in Canada.

The daughter of Tethra overhauled Authenicat in the final 70 yards to capture her first career added-money triumph. Victory Romance finished third.

Owned and bred by Knob Hill Stable, Nicki Knew traveled 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.82.

Saturday, June 28 2008

Juliet’s Spirit faces seven in My Dear

TORONTO, June 27 - Juliet's Spirit makes her added-money debut in Monday's $150,000 My Dear Stakes at Woodbine.

The five-furlong event for two-year-old fillies has attracted a field of eight.

A Florida-bred daughter of Exchange Rate, Juliet's Spirit is one of two homebreds owned by Padua Stables and one of three fillies trained by Steven Asmussen competing in the open event.

Thursday, June 26 2008

Plate trio seek another stakes score in King Edward

Owner Charles Fipke, trainer Roger Attfield and jockey Jono Jones, who teamed to take the Queen's Plate with Not Bourbon, look to keep their winning ways going, this time in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 King Edward Breeders' Cup Stakes, at Woodbine.

After taking Sunday's 149th running of the Plate, which gave Attfield a record-tying eighth score in the "Gallop for the Guineas," the Hall of Fame conditioner will saddle Society's Chairman in the King Edward, a 1 1/8-mile event on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

The five-year-old, who is co-owned by George Waud, will be making his fourth career start and second consecutive at the Toronto oval. Like the aforementioned Not Bourbon, his sire is the late Not Impossible.

Woodbine Reaction to Industry Review Panel Report

TORONTO, June 25 - A healthy horse racing industry is dependent, first and foremost, on the financial viability of racetracks which provide the venue for the racing product. With respect to the report, It's All about Leadership Strategic Vision and Direction for the Ontario Horse Racing and Breeding Industry, Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) believes that while there are some interesting and thought-provoking suggestions, its recommendations are entirely impractical, unrealistic and unworkable from a financial perspective. Racetracks simply would not be able to internally finance their operations or obtain bank financing.

Wednesday, June 25 2008

Queen’s Plate television audience grows

Woodbine Entertainment Group reports that the CBC coverage of Sunday's Queen's Plate attracted 289,000 viewers. This year's edition, won by Not Bourbon after an exciting stretch duel with filly Ginger Brew, increased total audience size by 165% versus 2007.

"We are very encouraged to see heightened interest in Canada's oldest and most prestigious horse race," said Andrew Macdonald, WEG's Vice-President of Marketing and Communications. "The CBC is a terrific partner and Woodbine Entertainment is delighted that the Queen's Plate was presented in High-Definition for the first time ever."

Trainer Roger Attfield collected a record-tying eighth Plate victory with Not Bourbon's tally. Jockey Jono Jones and owner Charles Fipke each earned their first win.

Monday, June 23 2008

Not Bourbon gives trainer Roger Attfield a record-tying eighth Queen’s Plate

Charles Fipke's homebred Not Bourbon, trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, gamely held off a determined bid from Ginger Brew to capture the 149th running of the Queen's Plate, Canada's most famous horse race, Sunday at Woodbine.

At the wire of the mile and one-quarter classic for Canadian foaled three-year-olds over the Polytrack, Not Bourbon, expertly ridden by Jono Jones, had prevailed by a diminishing head, getting the distance in 2:03.59, with a final quarter-mile timed in a sizzling 24.29 seconds.

Solitaire, who had dropped back to last halfway through the race, came widest of all into the stretch and gained third place in a four-horse photo, four and one-half lengths further back, with Deputiformer fourth.

Sunday, June 22 2008

Not Bourbon heads field of 15 in Queen’s Plate

Charles Fipke's Not Bourbon, winner of the Plate Trial Stakes on June 1, is the 3-1 morning line choice for Sunday's historic Queen's Plate at Woodbine.

The 149th edition of the Plate, the oldest continuously run stakes race in North America, will be televised live on CBC-TV (as well as on CBC's digital channel, bold and webstreamed at http://www.cbcsports.ca) from 4:30 - 5:30 pm ET. Post time will be 5:06 pm. It's the first time since 1998 that CBC-TV has televised the Plate and, for the first time ever, the telecast will be in High Definition.

The large 15-horse field of Canadian-bred three-year-olds will be chasing the $600,000 lion's share of the $1 million purse.

Saturday, June 21 2008

Queen’s Plate What If?

D. FLUTIE wins the Queen's Plate:
a) It would be the third Plate win for owner-breeder Gus Schickedanz, trainer Mike Keogh and jockey Emile Ramsammy. Schickedanz and Keogh teamed to win the 1999 Plate with Woodcarver and the 2003 edition with eventual Triple Crown champion Wando. Ramsammy won the 1996 Plate aboard Victor Cooley and the 2006 renewal with Edenwold.

b) He would become the first maiden since Scatter The Gold in 2000 to win the Plate. Prior to that, Golden Choice in 1986 was also a maiden when he won the Plate and before him, Epigram in 1952.

Friday, June 20 2008

Woodbine Queen’s Plate advisory

Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) is advising its customers who will be attending the 149th running of the Queen's Plate Stakes on Sunday, June 22 that they may want to arrive at Woodbine Racetrack early. There is currently a labour dispute between the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) representing the Ontario Lottery Gaming (OLG) security staff and the OLG.

This CAW labour dispute does not relate in any way to Woodbine Entertainment Group.

Not Bourbon heads $1 million Queen’s Plate

Charles Fipke's Not Bourbon, winner of the Plate Trial Stakes on June 1, has been installed as the 3-1 morning line choice in a large 15 horse field of Canadian-bred three-year-olds for Sunday's historic Queen's Plate at Woodbine.

The 149th edition of the Plate, the oldest continuously run stakes race in North America, will be televised live on CBC-TV (as well as on CBC's digital channel, bold and webstreamed at http://www.cbcsports.ca) from 4:30 - 5:30 pm ET. Post time will be 5:06 pm. It's the first time since 1998 that CBC-TV has televised the Plate and, for the first time ever, the telecast will be in High Definition.