Alderson Family Horse Returns on Father's Day

RACING CORNER

JUNE 13, 2025

By Jennifer Morrison

Alderson Family Horse Returns on Father's Day

Jeffery Bowen photo

Every racing day is a special day for horsepeople and even more so when families get together at the track.

On Father's Day, June 15, jockey Jeffrey Alderson will be riding horses for his dad Anthony in both divisions of the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Stakes, in support of Ontario's successful organization that places former racehorses.

“It would mean the world if I could win even just one of those stakes,” said Jeffrey, who, like his dad, is off to a fast start in 2025. Jeffrey has six wins from 34 mounts this year, his second season with agent Jeff Stritzl.

“You know, I love it every single day,” said the resident of Dundalk, ON, who began riding about 14 years ago.

It was an uncle, Colin, who came from Pakistan to Canada with a horse racing background and paved the way for other family members to follow. Anthony was working at the track as a teenager for trainers Bonnie Bolt, Laurie Silvera and Emile Allain. He became a jockey in the 1980s and then began training a small stable in the 90s when he married his wife Kristen and started a family.

Jeffrey is one of three children for Anthony and Kristen; sister Kayla and brother Ryan, who is full involved in racing working for the powerful ICON Racing Stable and trainer Anthony Adamo.

Jeffrey and his wife Nikki, a former jockey, have three children from ages four through 12. Nikki's father is champion Quarter Horse jockey Ed Walton.

Jeffrey and Anthony will be hoping for a great run from their 'family' horse, Shakoo Makoo, who makes his 2025 debut in the colts and geldings division of the LongRun stakes, worth $30,000.

“He's been so important to us,” said Jeffrey. “We have had him for about four or five years and he has got us through those years. And he's so fast.”

Shakoo Makoo won for the Alderson family on Father's Day in 2024, taking a Battle of the Breeds dash at Ajax Downs over Quarter Horses.

In race 8 at Fort Erie on Sunday, the Aldersons will start Crafty Oaks, a filly they claimed in December of last year for $5,000. Owned by another relative, Glenn Alderson, Crafty oaks won her 2025 opener at Fort Erie at the $10,000 starter/ optional class in near-track record time.

Jeffrey, who is also riding at Woodbine as well as Fort Erie, says his family is very close and they all share a love for the horse. They will all be busy at the races on Sunday – Ryan's employer Adamo has horses in four races – and no matter who has the most luck, they will celebrate Father's Day as a family.

“Dad told me at the beginning of this year that he thought he might have a good year with his horses,” said Jeffrey. “So far, things are going well but we always just keep our head down and work hard.”

Fort Erie Sunday, June 15

Race 6 - $30,000 LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Stakes

5 1/2 furlongs

1 Bella Future J Simms A Vandermeersch

2 Sea to Air  J Voyce  I Mosqueira

3 Shakoo Makoo J Alderson A Alderson

4 Nameofthegame G Newland  K Johnson

5 Victory March J Simms  E Zenteno

6  Diomese K Buttigieg  C Husbands

7 Garofoli (A Adamo) J Crawford

Race 8 - $30,000 LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Stakes

5 1/2 furlongs

1 American of Course  A Adamo  D Rivera

2 Classy Image  M Fournier C Husbands

3 Crafty Oaks  J Alderson A Alderson

4  Nice Baby A Adamo J Crawford

5 Trevess J Simms A Vandermeersch

6 Clarayouthebest C Machesney P Mailhot

7 Foolish Games A Adamo J Crawford

8 Mountain Sound J Simms  E Zenteno

9 Frac Amour J Mathes K Johnson

LongRun Open House June 21

Head out to the LongRun Open House in Hillsburgh next Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. And meet stable stars such as Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd and many others.

See horses ready for adoption or meet sanctuary horses looking for a sponsor

The Open House will have farm tours, refreshments, merchandise, demonstrations, prizes and calendar giveaway.

LongRun suggests a donation of $20.00 per person.

Please RSVP by contacting LongRun at (416) 916-1527 or info@longrunretirement.com.