Woodbine Racetrack

With the Breeders' Cup a little over four months away, the 'Win and You're In' tickets to the signature event, the GI Longines Classic, are definitely numbered. The road to Del Mar currently goes through Churchill Downs on Saturday as Classic hopefuls enter the starting gate for the GI Stephen Foster Stakes. Looking to punch his ticket to the seaside oval is Godolphin homebred First Mission (Street Sense). The 'TDN Rising Star' certainly burned brightest when he took home the GIII Essex Handicap by five lengths at Oaklawn Park in...

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Global Summit on Equine Safety and Technology took place at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada June 12-14. The Summit was attended by approximately 90 international research scientists, clinicians, veterinarians and racing regulators from at least 13 countries. "The Summit has been a major achievement for the Federation and our ongoing commitment to improving equine safety and welfare," said IFHA Executive Council Member Jim Lawson, who delivered the Summit's closing remarks. "Scientific research and technology are cornerstones of the IFHA's efforts to protect our...

3rd-Woodbine, C$70,594, Msw, 5-26, 2yo, f, 5f (AWT), :58.50, ft, 4 1/2 lengths. CARLISLE BAY (f, 2, Speightstown--Bicolour, by Tiznow) made her first start as the 6-5 choice here. Riding the rail up the backstretch, the filly took the lead and continued to hold sway around the far turn. The juvenile entered the lane under a full head of steam and posted a 4 1/2-length score over Sapphire Connect (Connect). The winner's dam is responsible for a yearling colt by Charlatan and she foaled a colt by Epicenter Apr. 21....

The International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) will hold its Global Summit on Equine Safety and Technology at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada June 12-14, the organization announced Tuesday. The last IFHA International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, which focused on safeguarding equine welfare and shifts in societal expectations, was staged in October 2023. "Equine welfare is racing's single most important priority, and it is at the center of all decisions we make," said IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. "That is why the IFHA has invested significantly in delivering an event...

3rd-Woodbine, C$77,409, Msw, 5-12, 2yo, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.57, ft, head. SOL DE VERANO (c, 2, Thousand Words--Thank You Note, by Uncle Mo) made his first start as a 6-1 shot here. The dark bay bounced out of the inside gate and immediately hugged the fence. Flashing some strong foot, the colt took the lead up the backstretch, but he felt the pressure as the rest of the field bore down on him. Bottled up just behind the leader entering the lane, Admiral Nelson (Lord Nelson) looked for running room,...

1st-Woodbine, C$87,579, Msw, 5-12, 2yo, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.26, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. FRENCH HORN (f, 2, Complexity--Emma's Encore {GISW, $398,248}, by Congrats) was rewarded for her debut as the 1-1 choice here. The filly got down to business from the bell by making the pace up the backstretch. Chased by her three rivals, she continued to make every pole a winning one around the far turn and into the lane. The juvenile dug down and found more to deliver a second win for her freshman sire (by Maclean's Music)....

Woodbine's GII Bessarabian S. and the GII Royal North S. will be downgraded to Grade III status, The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee said via a press release early Friday. After their annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes slate, the organization added that all three of the top levels will remain at 42 races. The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all Graded, Listed, and potentially Listed races in Canada. Based on this data, they also...

Woodbine Entertainment's 2023 Thoroughbred season produced an all-sources handle of $613,125,180 CAD, which was the second largest single-season recorded, but that overall number was down $8 million from 2022, the organization said in a release Wednesday. In 2023, a total of 1,180 races were contested over 128 dates of racing compared to 1,198 races over 132 dates in 2022. Woodbine ran four less dates and 18 less races in 2023 due to an unprecedented number of cancelled race cards (five) because of extreme heat and poor air quality caused by...

Sailing into the weekend fresh off the Breeders' Cup might sound like a bit of a letdown, but there is some graded racing scheduled that will cure any hangover of the purple and white variety. Across a triad of tracks, including Aqueduct, Woodbine and Churchill Downs, we find both Grade II and Grade III races over the turf and the Tapeta which should come as a welcome dose. First on Saturday, the Big A cards the GIII Pebbles S., which is a one mile battle on the Inner Turf. If...

Whether digital or the old school paper variety, it is safe to say that most of the forms will be turned to the World Championship races. However, it should be noted that Saturday does sport some graded stakes action that you will not want to miss from both Santa Anita Park and Woodbine Racetrack. 'The Great Race Place' card gets the Breeders' Cup engines warmed with the GII Twilight Derby for 3-year-olds over the turf. If you are interested in how the course sets up for what's to come, then...

5th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:01 p.m. ET. After clocking :10 flat during the OBS March under-tack show, TENNESSEE (Justify) brought $1.2 million as the second topper when the dark bay colt was purchased by Maverick Racing and Siena Farms. Unveiled here, the Brad Cox trainee races for Siena and WinStar Farm, and was purchased by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds for $250,000 at Keeneland September. Out of GSP Zinzay (Smart Strike), who went for $525,000 to Summer Wind Equine back in 2016 during Keeneland November when she carrying eventual SW &...

After a claim of foul by Twin City (Klimt) which took place at the first turn against Solo Album (Curlin), Touch'n Ride (g, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}--Niigon's Touch, by Niigon) was promoted to the winner's circle in Saturday's Ontario Derby. The bay gelding won over the Tapeta in Toronto by 5 1/4 lengths at second asking July 30 before running a well-beaten fifth in the King's Plate Aug. 20. Winning the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown Oct. 1 in the Breeders' Stakes by a nose over SW Elysian...