When Canada finally allowed international travelers back into the country, picking its way through the COVID mess, some horse racing floodgates opened and in washed Frankie Dettori. For the past two days, the Italian-born jockey, based in the UK, has livened up the place. The timing couldn’t have been better for the 50-year-old rider to re-acquaint himself with … [Read more...] about Take A Flying Leap. Please.
Eurico Rosa Da Silva
Eurico Rosa da Silva: Early Retirement
Woodbine’s leading rider, Eurico Rosa da Silva hadn’t pictured anything developing this way during his retirement ceremony at the track on Dec. 7: He found himself ass-over-tea-kettle in a bank of snow. You get a group of jockeys together, shivering in the cold like winter flies, and all sorts of naughtiness can happen. It all happened in the … [Read more...] about Eurico Rosa da Silva: Early Retirement
The Last Pot of Gold
Eurico Rosa da Silva knew time was running out, like sand in an hourglass. With three months left in his riding career, there was but one stakes race at Woodbine that he had never won. He had won two Queen’s Plates, and the Canadian International Championship Stakes two years ago on 43 to 1 shot, Bullard’s Alley, in a race dominated by non-local jockeys. But the … [Read more...] about The Last Pot of Gold
A Bit of Drama on Millions Night
The remarkable Pink Lloyd
The most remarkable thing about Pinkie (aka Pink Lloyd) is that his best days may still be ahead of him. The quirky chestnut 7-year-old just notched the 16th stakes win of his career when he overwhelmed a field in the $150,000 Vigil Stakes at Woodbine on July 14, winning by 4 ½ lengths, his ears pricked, happy as a clam in a pool. The Equibase charts noted that he … [Read more...] about The remarkable Pink Lloyd
Ivan Dalos Wizardry
Ivan Dalos shakes out the equestrian gene pool from his little band of broodmares and out come more and more stakes winners, year after year. Incredible. The latest? Avie’s Flatter, impressive winner of the Coronation Futurity on Nov. 18. He’s not to be confused with Ami’s Flatter, winner of the Breeders Stakes, third jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown a few years back. … [Read more...] about Ivan Dalos Wizardry