No cherub, he, this God of Love, this horse with the winged feet, at least until he’s good and ready. Jockey Rafael Hernandez thought it would be an excellent idea to get God of Love (the horse) closer to the pace on the yielding turf of Woodbine during the 85th running of the $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes on Oct. 10. But God of Love would have none of it. “Nah,” he told … [Read more...] about Never Underestimate the Power of Love
Mark Casse
The Power of Mark Casse
Believe it or not, Canada’s leading trainer for a dozen years – Mark Casse – does not have a horse entered in the $1-million Queen’s Plate on Sunday. But that doesn’t mean the 60-year-old conditioner, who has been inducted into two Halls of Fame, is sitting idle somewhere. He’s not physically at Woodbine - very rarely indeed is he there any more - but he has a stable of … [Read more...] about The Power of Mark Casse
When a Cup and Saucer is Golden
Mrs. Orpen would have loved it. It all sounded so dramatic: a horse called Master Spy came out of the mists at Woodbine Racetrack and won the 84th running of the Cup and Saucer Stakes, a dark streak that could not be caught. The Cup and Saucer was Mrs. Orpen’s race, all those years ago, when it first was held. Her husband Abe Orpen was an Irish immigrant who … [Read more...] about When a Cup and Saucer is Golden
Queen’s Plate or bust
We’ve waited a long time for this 161st running of the Queen’s Plate, as in an extra three months or so, but finally we have the clues as to what it will look like. Aside from fences instead of spectators, sanitizer stations instead of Timbits, and barely familiar faces wrapped in all manner of masks, Woodbine and its premier $1-million race looks like a close … [Read more...] about Queen’s Plate or bust
Kentucky Derby Unplugged
What a muddle, this 145th running of the Kentucky Derby. This $3-million race will be forever known for its rough corners, and the thoughts of what could have been, and the catastrophe that was avoided. Were it not for the athleticism of War of Will, this Derby could have been the most grievous in history. “We were inches from maybe seeing the biggest disaster in horse … [Read more...] about Kentucky Derby Unplugged
Wonder Gadot in Search of History
Wonder Gadot (alias Wonder Woman, check her halter) couldn’t care less about the apparent devilishness of her role in the $1.25-million Travers Stakes on Saturday at old Saratoga. The Queen’s Plate winner is, well, a FEMALE running against the best American 3-year MALES (minus Triple Crown winner Justify, retired with a minor injury.) Six fillies have won the … [Read more...] about Wonder Gadot in Search of History
Wonder in the Mud
The torrent of rain that pummeled Fort Erie Racetrack three races before the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown was apocalyptic. In a few minutes a track that had been rated fast became sloppy. It was gumbo. It was soul sucking. After all, it is a dirt track, not Tapeta, like Woodbine. The scene looked like the end of the world. There … [Read more...] about Wonder in the Mud