Blogs

Winter Racing in London

Posted Date:

Monday, February 15, 2021

Handicapping ‘off a layoff’ is one thing - handicapping ‘off a lockdown’ is another… Ontario returns to horse racing this week and if you’re playing - you’re probably already ‘capping… It may be tough to find winners, over the next few weeks, but you can count on the players to be playing and the pools to be swelling. I always say it’s tough coming back in October at Western Fair - seeing our programmed horses coming in from tracks all over - then trying to come up with selections that have success. This time around we...

Raceway Regulars At Northfield Park

Posted Date:

Monday, February 8, 2021

Trainer Taylor Fritz with Brocks Fortune - in to go Monday at Northfield Park.

With currently no horse racing permitted in Canada – some Ontario horse people have ventured south of the border and have had some luck in recent weeks. Driver Brett MacDonald, a Raceway regular, has been doing it and doing it well at Northfield Park – coming off a huge Mares Open Pace victory with Bettor Trix N for New Jersey’s Curtin Anz Stable and trainer Patrick Shepherd. She literally ran the competition off their feet, on Saturday night, as a pair of race favourites made breaks going to the quarter mile – just as she made front. After that it was fractions of 26....

2020 O'BRIEN AWARD WINNERS

Posted Date:

Monday, February 1, 2021

Congratulations to all the well-deserved 2020 O'Brien Award winners - a wonderful job to all involved in the ‘virtual event’. Here’s hoping we get back to enjoying it in person this time next year! 2020 O'BRIEN AWARD WINNERS - Courtesy of Standardbred Canada PACERS TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER Scarlett Hanover Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, JandT Silva Purnel & Libby & Weaver Bruscemi LLC TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT PACER Lawless Shadow Owned by Dr. Ian Moore, R G McGroup Ltd., Serge Savard & Frank Cannon...

Flashback: Mohawk Raceway 1978 - 'Mohawk Gold Cup'

Posted Date:

Monday, January 25, 2021

Mohawk Raceway 1978

Last week’s ‘flashback’ blog had me thinking about where and when I first remember seeing old harness racing programs and taking a huge interest in browsing through them. It would be almost 40 years ago where I'd be on the road with my Aunt Sadie and late Cousin Steve... Sadie had made a stop in town and while Steve and I waited for her in the car - we opened up the glove box to find a few old race programs rolled up - likely stashed away there by my late Uncle Ed Doyle. I remember looking though them - saying the names of the horses and drivers -...

Flashback: 1992 International Drivers' Challenge

Posted Date:

Monday, January 18, 2021

This Coca-Cola International Drivers’ Challenge was an afternoon program held on Monday, May 18, 1992 at Western Fair Raceway - featuring 8 leading drivers - with ‘The Voice’ Roger Huston calling the action.

On this day 9 of 12 races would feature the following leading drivers... DOUG BROWN BILL FAHY BILL GALE MICKEY MCNICHOL JACK MOISEYEV BILL O'DONNELL DAVE WALL RON WAPLES Race 1 - Cindy Ley (Gale), off a pocket ride, would win this trot for owners Fred and Terry Heatherley in 2:05. Garmor Dexter (Wall), the longest shot on the board, made a break at the start and still managed a second-best showing. B A Speedstick (Brown) was third. Race 2 - Bethel Park (Moiseyev), from off the pace, won for Joyce and George Dipierdomenico in a 2:01 life best...

What Came In Anyway?

Posted Date:

Monday, January 11, 2021

A term sometimes used by bettors following a horse race is ‘What came in anyway?’… Our Raceway team follows the numbers closely… From what numbers are winning, to field size, to the wagering numbers – per card, per race, per type of bet – there has always been plenty to look at for numbers in London. More tracks are beginning to take a very close look at their overall numbers as well and have managed to make changes to aid in ‘driving their handle’ – especially since the return to horse racing after a ‘first wave’...

While The Raceway Is Dark...

Posted Date:

Monday, January 4, 2021

While The Raceway is dark, we'll be looking for some shining lights as we step on into 2021's harness racing season. To stay busy, within racing, we've been posting picks for my favourite 'south of the border' half-mile oval Northfield Park - based in Cleveland, Ohio. You can find those picks + many more cappers' selections for North American horse racing tracks at www.atbforum.com. Speaking of favourite 'south of the border' ovals - you may want to check out the current Cal Expo harness racing meet - racing...

"They're off and it is on!" - soon at The Raceway!

Posted Date:

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

The Raceway Ready For October 7th! So here we go - live horse racing action, at The Raceway, is just around the corner... It’ll be a Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening schedule for this brand new season of racing at The Raceway, in London, Ontario - with all post times set for 6:15 PM EST. After spending my summer in Alberta, calling the thoroughbred races at Century Mile, I’m now back in London - preparing for our opening night next Wednesday evening… Century Mile's signature event is the Canadian Derby - which took place this past Sunday evening - you can...

Top 4's & More... Good luck this weekend!

Posted Date:

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Ontario harness racing returns this weekend with 7 race programs taking place, over Friday & Saturday, at 6 different tracks. The last 2 harness tracks to race, in Ontario, were Woodbine Mohawk Park (a Premier track) on Thursday, March 19 - with a total wager of $1,879,809 over 10 races and The Raceway at Western Fair District (a Signature track) on Wednesday, March 18 - with a total wager of $992,517 over 11 races. It will be interesting to see how the wagering numbers continue as tracks will proceed to race without spectators - as was the case back in March. Here we go then - I...

New Looks At Hanover For 2020 / Camluck Classic Highlights

Posted Date:

Monday, June 1, 2020

New Looks At Hanover For 2020 A changing of the guard at Hanover Raceway, for 2020, will see Steve Fitzsimmons looking after the General Manager duties - while Tony Elliott will assume the Assistant to the General Manager role. “It’s pretty much the role I was looking for,” says Elliott. “This puts me in line for what I’m aiming for in my career… I’m looking forward to getting some experience in both the marketing and managing sides of the horse racing business.” Elliott was a familiar face around The Raceway, in London, this past race...