What inspired you to capture that particular moment during the breeze? Raceday Ristretto Photography is a new venture of mine, so I had come out to Palm Meadows hoping to take some shots for my portfolio. I was excited to see trainer Riley Mott’s horses Argos, Grade 1 winner at Woodbine, and Coburg paired to breeze on the turf that morning. I briefly worked for Mott as a hot-walker last winter, then taking videos for owners this fall. I stuck around hoping to catch them at th

CHAUFFEUR TO THE (EQUINE) STARS IVAN VANDERBURGH BY JENNIFER MORRISON He's one of the most recognizable faces in Ontario racing and a friend to all horses and horsepeople. Ivan Vanderburgh, who began shipping horses some 70 years ago, is retiring at the end of 2025 and the HBPA and the Ontario horseracing community want to thank him. From Woodbine to Kentucky and Florida and across Canada, Ivan shipped  horsepeople's most precious cargo from track to farm and back. If anyone

Celebrating the 2-Year-Olds Coronation Futurity and Princess Elizabeth This Weekend     By Jennifer Morrison   Fanfreluche, the 1969 Princess Elizabeth winner, produced Coronation Futurity winners L'Enjoleur and Medaille d'Or. (Keeneland Library image) Two of the most important stakes races for Canadian bred 2-year-olds take place at Woodbine on Saturday, November 29 and for bettors, both race present handicapping puzzles.   The Coronation, first run in 1902 at Old Woodbine,

Sultana rallied in time to win the $150,000 Maple Leaf Stakes for Lou Donato, Lanni Bloostock and new owners Teddy Manziaris and Paul Borrelli. Michael Burns photo BY JENNIFER MORRISON Lou Donato has owned hundreds of horses and watched thousands of races and each one is exciting. But there seems to be even more of a spark to Lou when he talks about his latest winner, Sultana, who won the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on November 8 in only her fifth career race. That is

BY JENNIFER MORRISON     When the flashy chestnut filly Zabarta flew past her rivals in the South Ocean Stakes, rallying from a dozen lengths behind the leaders to seven lengths in front, it marked the first stakes win for Tara Horse Farm of Joseph and Alena Knizat, their son Thomas and wife Theresa.   Zabarta won the Oct. 19 South Ocean Stakes by seven lengths. Michael Burns photo “I was ecstatic,” said Thomas, who does the day-to-day work at the farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Mike Burns Photo A sure-cure for Breeders' Cup withdrawal is a super card of racing at Woodbine on November 8, featuring three graded stakes races. Two of Ontario's oldest stakes races are races 7 and 10, the Grade 3 Maple Leaf and Autumn Stakes and both are being run for the 119 th  time. Between those two route races is the seven-furlong Bessarabian Stakes, which has only been around since 1985. At least one of these stakes races, the Autumn, could play a role in what horse

Back row from left to right:  Todd Phillips, David Bell, Slade Jones, Ian Black, Robin Platts, Janet Black, Roger Attfield, Sarah Sullivan, Barb Przedrzymirska Middle section all seated:  Rachel Halden, Steven Bahen, Mark Dunn, Mac Benson, Jono Jones, Richard Dos Ramos, Mike Keogh  Lower level at right:  Debbie Platts, Lou Keogh, Catherine Day Phillips, Val Topp   Photo by Dylan Dunn by JENNIFER MORRISON It is said a picture is worth a thousand words but in the case of a rece

RACING CORNER   Selections for the 42nd Breeders' Cup World Championships BY JENNIFER MORRISON The two biggest days in racing, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, get underway Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1 at Del Mar Racetrack in San Diego. There are 14 Cup races with five of them on Halloween and the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf Sprint kicks off those events at 5:45 p.m. Eastern . The European contingent is a strong group (I have picked five of them on top) and tr

KIM MILLER and KEVIN BRYAN (Photos: Kim Miller and Professor Reload Kevin, Blythe and Kim with Can't Tie Me Down) BY JENNIFER MORRISON October has been a very good month for Kim Miller and husband Kevin Bryan of Tottenham. In a span of 19 days, the first two racehorses the couple purchased broke their maidens. Someday Girl won at Fort Erie on October 7 and Professor Reload won at Woodbine on Oct. 26. Both 3-year-olds are trained by Pat Dixon. Kim and Kevin were at Woodbine fo

RACING CORNER     TREVESS IS FORT ERIE'S HORSE OF THE YEAR   BY JENNIFER MORRISON     Mike burns photo The HBPA of Ontario recently celebrated the equine and humans from the 2025 Fort Erie racetrack season which concluded on October 21. There were awards handed out in 19 categories during a ceremony at the track.   The 2025 Horse of the Year was TREVESS, who had an undefeated season at Fort Erie for owner Deborah Fletcher and trainer John Simms. The 8-year-old Florida bred ma

RACING CORNER   BY JENNIFER MORRISON   Saturday's Grade 3 Ontario Derby is the runner-match between King's Plate winner MANSETTI and Prince of Wales winner RUNAWAY AGAIN.   Mike Burns photo - Prince Of Wales Stakes The pair of Canadian bred 3-year-olds threw it down in a super stretch battle in the Prince of Wales on Sept. 9 and have been freshening up for the 1 1/8 mile Ontario Derby, which celebrates its 54th running on Saturday.   The Ontario Derby was actually previously

BY JENNIFER MORRISON   It's not every day an Ontario horseperson is featured on the home page of Equibase.com , the U.S. based source for all horse racing statistics. On Wednesday, October 15 visitors to the site were greeted with this note:   Good Morning and Happy Wednesday! The trainer with the most wins across North America yesterday was Joseph Humber, with 4 wins at Fort Erie Race Track! Humber won races 1,2,3 & 7 yesterday at Fort Erie Christopher Husbands, who also had

RACING CORNER   BY JENNIFER MORRISON       At the start of 2025, trainer Dale Desruisseaux made a goal for himself and his stable of...

BY JENNIFER MORRISON   A field of nine Canadian bred 3-year-olds will race 1 1/2 miles around the inner turf on Sunday, Sept. 27 at...

BY JENNIFER MORRISON   For 17 years, Mario Serrani and his close friend, Hall of Fame Builder Glenn Sikura, owner of Hill 'n' Dale Farms,...

Racing Corner – BY JENNIFER MORRISON   PRINCE OF WALES   It was a stretch battle to remember. King's Plate winner Mansetti appeared to...

Congratulations to the Puss n Boots Cup winner! Hiatus, owned by Jeff Voyce, Herb McGirr Jr. and Greg Athoe and trained by Voyce, led...

Racing Corner – All Eyes on Fort Erie   BY JENNIFER MORRISON Fort Erie Race Track   This week we celebrate all things Fort Erie Racetrack...

Mansetti, the Ulwellings, and a Dream Fulfilled     By Jennifer Morrison     Mike Burns   About 10 years ago, Al and Bill Ulwelling from...

Cheering Section – Yearling Sales Stakes Preview   Mike Burns Photo The 2025 Yearling Sales Stakes for graduates of the CTHS Ontario sale...