Down The Stretch Podcast TMDS

Stakes races for 2-year-olds from Woodbine. Three jockeys – Emma-Jayne Wilson, Desean Bynoe and Rachel Slevinsky talk about their scary race-related accidents – all three injured in November. Owner Lou Tucci won the Queen’s Plate with Midnight Aria 10 year’s ago and has a chance to double up with a King’s Plate win after his Babbo won the Coronation Futurity. We had two longshots in the first 3 races last Thursday night at Mohawk – prices so huge, no one hit the Pick-3. Jockey Justin Stein has burst out of his long slump; in fact, recently he’s practically torrid. Nikki Cowper is the owner, trainer and exercise girl for a horse named Seattle Signal and when that filly won at 24-1, it was her first thoroughbred win. And who many people named Miller need to win on the same night before you crack open a beer?

There were 2 important Stakes races from Woodbine on Saturday, but the story was Kevin, Steve and Sid Attard taking down 5 of the 10 races, including both features. Jockey agent Neal Wilson talks about how Desean Bynoe is the 2nd of his 2 jockeys to suffer a year-ending broken leg. Natasha Day had a Monday night to remember – a win at Western Fair then a win at Mohawk, then a horse doing gymnastic moves in the winners’ circle. Woodbine’s Bill Ford tells us that re-invigorating the E. P. Taylor Turf course is a little more complicated than mowing your lawn. And 68-year-old Hall of Famer Doug Brown won a race at Mohawk for the first time in 15 months; how he did it is amazing.

This week we feature the Kennedy Road Stakes from Woodbine and it was an Australian horse that won. Rafael Hernandez is in his 20th year as a jockey and he tells us how he won 4 races on the same card recently. Sofia Vives enhanced her apprentice jockey stats with an impressive 3-win Friday at Woodbine. We have a great betting story – trainer-owner-journalist Santino DiPaola breaks down the $48,000 he and his entourage won and Garnet Barnsdale explains why betting on a second time out horse in a mandatory payout pool is the best thing to do with your betting dollar. And the pacer, Sintra had a retirement party at Mohawk last Saturday. Jody Jamieson and Dave Menary offer unforgettable memories of a wonderful 48-win warrior.

In episode 199, we have Stakes races at Woodbine on Friday and Saturday. Rafael Hernandez did not violate his wedding vows but he did score with 4 females on the same day. Tattoo Artist lost to Bythemissal and that probably affected his Dan Patch status. Cody Dorman died on the plane ride home from the Breeders’ Cup, but the story of Cody and Cody’s Wish will resonate forever. Race caller Frank Mirahmadi breaks down the races from the Breeders’ Cup that he thought were the most exciting. And photo-Journalist Jessica Hallett talks about the generosity of the industry after a horrible stable fire at Tioga Downs.

Santa Anita hosted 14 Breeders’ Cup races. This podcast has the stretch call of all of them; not many longshots and very modest returns for Canadian connections. There were 3 Stake races on the weekend at Woodbine – The Grey, the Mazarine and the Autumn and we have multiple harness racing angles: Driver Tyler Borth walks us through his 7-win night in London. James MacDonald won 6 last Friday at Mohawk. Ed Hensley hit the 6,000 win mark at Flamboro. Julie Walker stunned the bettors when she won the all-lady drivers race at Mohawk. A 2-year-old filly in Australia paced a mile in 1:49.1 and our friend from down under, Ric Chapman, previews the $8 Million Melbourne Cup.

We sent Garnet Barnsdale to Hoosier Park and he broke down the Breeders Crown races, emphasizing the Canadian Content – how did Sylvia Hanover, Tactical Approach, Scott Zeron and Tattoo Artist do? Amazing feats by horse racing athletes – Sylvain Filion hit the 10,000-win mark on Monday at Mohawk Park, then added 5 more on Friday on a night when Fort Erie race caller Doug McPherson described the action Also with the 5-bagger stunt – Kazushi Kimura who swept the Saturday Stakes at Woodbine and added 3 more wins. Legendary trainer Roger Attfield talks to us about Shirl’s Speight, who is back in next week’s Breeders’ Stakes at Santa Anita. The quarter horse season came to an end at Ajax Downs and Brian Bell punctuated his championship season by riding the winner in the final Stakes race. And Presque Isle race caller, Jeff Cernik had a bucket full of fun in a certain race last week.