November 27, 2021 “Come on, you raver, you seer of visions. Come on, you painter, you piper, you prisoner and shine! “ From “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” by Pink Floyd. And on Saturday, Pink Lloyd shone, against all odds. There were tears, for sure. Happy ones. Ones with mixed emotions, too. Pink Lloyd wrought a storybook ending to his long tale on … [Read more...] about Pink Lloyd: The Crazy Diamond
Woodbine
The Legacy of Terra: Amalfi Coast
Remember Big Red Mike? How can we forget? He was the horse that won the 2010 Queen’s Plate, that helped trainer Nick Gonzalez win his first Plate in his first try - in front of Queen Elizabeth, age 84. Big Red Mike wore the emerald green silks with yellow dots of the Terra Racing Stable, one of the last bastions of a way of life in the Canadian thoroughbred world that is … [Read more...] about The Legacy of Terra: Amalfi Coast
An Ode to Silent Poet
Out of the rain came the sun. And his name was Silent Poet. He was dismissed by punters in the $395,500 Highlander Stakes, run in the shadow of the Queen’s Plate. The Highlander was the next race. The aftermath. The anti-climax race. People were starting to fold up the lawn chairs. Except that Silent Poet would have none of that. With a swish of his black tail, … [Read more...] about An Ode to Silent Poet
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
Gretzky the Great: Extra Passion
There was only one choice: if a Canadian-bred colt is a son of Nyquist, what do you call him? You name him after Wayne Gretzky, the Great One. Side note: Wayne Gretzky was born the same year as Northern Dancer. What could make more sense? Nyquist, the horse, was named after Columbus Blue Jackets player Gustav Nyquist (known most for his days with the Detroit Red Wings.). … [Read more...] about Gretzky the Great: Extra Passion
A Diabolical Day
Mighty Heart Celebrates Canada Day
Back at the barn, Mighty Heart prepares for another race: laid out in his stall, snoring. His neighbours stick cotton in their ears. The racket he makes while he sleeps is rather normal for the horse they affectionately call Willie. In his slumber, his legs move, dreaming of the fun he will have after the starting gate bursts open. In the hours before his race, the Dominion … [Read more...] about Mighty Heart Celebrates Canada Day