Woodbine

Woodbine Entertainment announced the 2020 stakes schedule for the 2020 Thoroughbred meet. Among changes for 2020, the Thoroughbred season kicks off Apr. 18, featuring the Star Shoot S. and Woodstock S. Also moved this season, The Fury S. and Queenston S. will be contested May 2, while the GIII Selene S. and GIII Marine S. have been rescheduled to May 16. Additional changes to the 2020 stakes schedule include the South Ocean S. (Nov. 14), Frost King S. (Nov. 15), GIII Mazarine S. (Nov. 22), GIII Grey S. (Nov. 22),...

Since the TDN first interviewed Katie Larsen, who founded Southern Belle Thoroughbreds in 2017, the organization's impact on safe placement of racehorses at Woodbine and Fort Erie has grown exponentially. Southern Belle has placed 257 racehorses in two years and it has become a regular source for Thoroughbred Makeover prospects. The operational model at Southern Belle resembles that of Canter in the United States. Southern Belle has volunteers on the racetrack grounds who serve as the organization's ambassadors and facilitators, making contact with trainers who have racehorses they wish to...

Owner Charles E. Fipke, who will be represented by his homebred Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) in the GI Pegasus World Cup S., will receive the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit at the 2019 Sovereign Award ceremony to be held Thursday, Apr. 16, at Universal Eventspace in Vaughn, Ontario. Selected by Jockey Club of Canada stewards, the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit is given to those who have accomplished outstanding individual achievements and have made a significant contribution to the Thoroughbred industry in Canada. For nearly four decades, Fipke...

Japanese-born, Woodbine-based Kazushi Kimura built on a strong first season of riding in 2018 (104 wins, $2,451,326 in earnings) in 2019, booting home 148 winners (17%) and racking up $4,746,556 in earnings. Those stats were good for third-best by wins and fourth-best by earnings at Woodbine's April to December meet. He lost his bug Oct. 26. Accepting the Award... "First, I want to say congratulations to everyone. I am proud of the Eclipse Award and to be nominated with so many great trainers, owners and jockeys. Let me say thank...

The GI Pattison Canadian International winner Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), who was sold by private treaty in early July, will stand next season at Graham Heal's Vauterhill Stud in Devon. The 8-year-old stallion—a half-brother to this season's Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})—formerly stood at Worsall Grange Farm in Yorkshire and was offered for sale when his previous owner Killashee House Ltd was placed in administration. A number of broodmares and young stock under the same ownership were sold at the Exeter Livestock Centre through...

Arlington's GI Secretariat S., contested at a mile and a quarter since 1985, has been turned back in distance to a one-mile event this year, and drew a competitive nine-horse field for Saturday's running at the Chicago area oval. True to form, Chad Brown has a pair of imposing runners in Peter Brant's Fog of War (War Front) and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Mike Ryan's Valid Point (Scat Daddy). Fog of War, who followed up a debut victory with a popular score in the GI Summer S. at Woodbine,...

The Stronach Group has announced that industry executive Steve Koch has been appointed Senior Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We are thrilled to have Steve join our team at this pivotal moment in our sport," said Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group. "Steve has a proven track record as an executive committed to safety and integrity in racing that is fully in line with our company's priority to put horse and rider safety at the forefront." Koch will work in tandem with the company's...

The powerful ownership group involved with juvenile colt Eight Rings (Empire Maker) celebrated their first win as a team Sunday as the buzzed-about Bob Baffert trainee blitzed Del Mar maiden company to become a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star'. A $520,000 Keeneland September yearling, the dark bay prepped for this with a bullet five-furlong drill from the gate in 1:00 flat here July 25 in company with unraced Garth (Into Mischief--Country Star) (Click for XBTV Video) and was crushed down to 3-5 favoritism despite the presence of several other well-bred and...

A diverse mix of shippers and local hopes will line up in the one-mile GIII Ontario Colleen S. for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Woodbine. One of only two graded/group winners in the field, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Seek and Destroy (Verrazano) has been given the slight nod on the morning line at 5-2. Off the board in her first two tries last summer at Saratoga, she graduated by daylight in an off-the-turfer Oct. 8 at Belmont and repeated in the washed-off Chelsey Flower S. there 20 days later. Getting back...