Down The Stretch Podcast

On this far-ranging Down The Stretch Podcast, host Peter Gross welcomes back horse racing to Ontario with many race calls from Woodbine and Mohawk. Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson flips the narrative by grilling Peter. Garnet Barnsdale provides an interview with driver Jonathan Drury and Jennifer Morrison sets up the quarter horse season at Ajax Downs. We have two jockeys on this show – Darryl Holland has come over from England to ride at Woodbine and all he did was win the first race he was in and Tony Phillips shows why he’s possibly the most entertaining jockey at Ajax Downs. Only on this Down The Stretch Podcast will you hear Tony’s latest rap! Frank Salive has called races at 75 tracks, but he’s never too busy to talk about Fort Erie with his long-time friend, Peter Gross. And this was perfect timing for Santino Di Paola and his wonderful Letter to Horse Racing which is getting hearts pounding on Facebook and YouTube.

In this jam-packed podcast, host Peter Gross actually has calls of Canadian horse races. Woodbine CEO informs what racing will look like when Mohawk’s standardbreds kick back in on June 5 and the thoroughbreds go on June 6. Australian horse racing expert Ric Chapman explains why we should consider ‘fixed odds’ wagering. Ryan Clements talks about his creation, Catch Driver, a phone app that puts you in the sulky. Ajax Downs General Manager Emilio Trotta warms us up for some quarter horse racing. When Mohawk race caller Ken Middleton was a little insecure about describing the action after being quiet for so long, he turned to us for a little race calling ‘refreshing.’ And after little Fonner Park completed the most remarkable meet in its history, its CEO Chris Kotulak looks back at the extraordinary circumstances that multiplied the handle by 900%.

A podcast designed to make you feel better about the world. Host Peter Gross breaks down the Virtual Sovereigns with real interviews with Kevin Attard, Bob Tiller and David Whitford of Sam Son Farm. We have three races from the U.S. in which Canadian-owned horses win and pay large. Quarter Horse owner Craig Spada tells us how training two year-olds is similar to the hockey players he had to control when he was an NHL referee. Garnet Barnsdale hooks up with harness driver Doug McNair who is looking to continue the winning ways he was executing before racing was turned off. We touch base with Keith McCalmont of the NYRA to find out if there will be racing at Saratoga this summer. Trainer Shana Lopez has a heart-warming story about saving her favourite horse from slaughter. And you have to listen to the response of Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson when our host accuses him of being “out to lunch.”

This episode of the Down The Stretch Podcast has many exciting segments. The temporarily reclusive Bob McCown reveals his connection to harness racing and his affection for enjoying the races in the dining room. Jim Lawson sounds relieved that both thoroughbred and standardbred racing will return the first week of June. Adriana Sorella talks about his latest idea to promote harness racing and writer Dave Briggs tells us which horses his money is on for the virtual Sovereign Awards. From Ajax Downs, jockey Cassandra Jeschke says she’s really anxious to get back on a quarter horse. Harness race handicapper and lasagna maestro Garnet Barnsdale offers some insightful ideas on how to bet horses we haven’t seen for weeks and with the first weekend in June welcoming the return of horse racing on two fronts, we search through the annals of history for the greatest events of June 5 and June 6.

In this episode of the Down The Stretch Podcast, Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson explains what Historical Horse Racing is. We play for you the spine-tingling Kentucky Turtle Derby and quarter horse racing caller Frank Ferrari reveals how he’s spending his down time. Emma-Jayne Wilson’s agent Mike Luider reveals how he has stayed with the same jockey for over 16 years and what new rider he is planning to import. Jim McKenny, former NHL star and a close friend of this podcast developed a pari-mutuel crush on jockey Ademar Santos at Tampa Bay and we will tell you how much he cashed when Santos went on a longshot streak. And if you enjoy hearing stories of massive scores at the racetrack, your brain will explode when you find out what Tommy ‘The Hammer’ Massis did in a pick-6 at Happy Valley in Hong Kong.

In this episode of the Down The Stretch Podcast, Jennifer Morrison expands on the history of quarter horse racing in Ontario and former NHL star Eddie Olczyk talks about cancer, fighting Bob Probert and some of the huge scores he's pulled off betting on the horses. Anthony MacDonald of thestable.ca explains why having well-known hockey players investing in harness horses helps promote the sport. We have races won by Canadians from Gulfstream and Tampa Bay and, of course, the brilliant call of the 'virtual' Kentucky Derby. And Woodbine CEO, Jim Lawson, in his weekly appearance, talks about the return of horse racing and accuses host Peter Gross of being a 'sophisticated bettor.'

Episode 15 of the Down The Stretch Podcast proves you can still have fun in the midst of a raging pandemic. Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson demonstrates his lighter side answering silly questions from Peter Gross. There's two wonderful interviews with jockeys; Mickey Walls ruled Woodbine in the '90s and Ed Walton, even though he's almost 6 feet tall and 56 years old, is planning to ride quarter horses this year. And what can horse racing fans do when there's no horse racing in Ontario? Watch movies. This podcast counts down the 10 Greatest Horse Racing Movies and you are invited to dispute the selections by host Peter Gross.

All kinds of exciting stuff in this episode of the Down The Stretch Podcast. Two wins in two days on the grass by Roger Attfield at Gulfstream. A $35,000 Pick 6 score ...that wasn’t at Remington. We talk with trainers Chantelle Bourgeois and Kevin Attard and find out from Jason Portuondo, Kenny Middleton, Dan Loiselle, Jim McKenny, Mike Romeo, Jennifer Morrison, Bill O’Donnell, Tommy Massis, Garnet Barnsdale and Angus Buntain which horse changed their lives. And of course, every Monday, Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson updates us on the status of racing in Ontario.

This episode of the Down The Stretch Podcast includes Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson, HBPA President Sue Leslie, incoming Hall of Fame driver Paul MacDonell, Toronto Sun racing writer Steve Buffery, Canadian jockey Chantal Sutherland and former NHL Goalie Gary 'Suitcase' Smith and some of his wild horse betting stories. Peter Gross asks listeners to send him stories about their 'life changing' horses and a creative Aussie race caller delivers the hilarious 'Coronavirus Stakes.'

The 12th episode of the Down The Stretch Podcast covers a lot of ground. Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson reveals that no backstretch worker has yet tested positive as he assesses the status of racing in Ontario and, specifically, the Queen's Plate. Peter Gross interviews David Onley, whose experience with the poliovirus in 1953 sheds perspective on the crisis today. Also the CEO of Fonner Park in Nebraska tells how his little track suddenly got nation-wide attention. And, despite a couple of live 'tips', Peter Gross failed to cash, but his buddy Jim McKenny sure did!