Down The Stretch Podcast

This podcast takes you all around the world – to Gulfstream for wins by Rafael Hernandez, Marty Drexler and Micah Husbands. Then to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup, the UAE Derby, and a surprising appearance in the $2 million Golden Shaheen by jockey Chantal Sutherland. Also, Kentucky Derby Preps from Aqueduct and Santa Anita and correspondent Ric Chapman tells us how Moira did in a $4 million race down under. The Sovereign Awards are less than 3 weeks away, so we have trainer Bob Tiller musing about Patches O’Houlihan, a lock for the Male Sprinter Trophy, but does he have a shot to be Horse of the Year? James MacDonald did it again – he won 5 on the same night at Mohawk. Jessica Hallett describes the t-shirt she made, with all the proceeds going to the family of Hunter Myers. Horse owner John Bianco pulled off one of the great claims in recent years and he talks about Air Combat and a few other good ones. And huge bombs, one at Aqueduct to kick off the baseball season and another at Mohawk that came close to causing a Longshot Panic.

We have an emotional, yet uplifting interview with Kelly Myers, the mother of harness driver Hunter who died after a spill; even during the worst time of her life, she talks about the good that has come out of Hunter Myers’ life and career. The great Roger Attfield talks about his special Sovereign award, his long-time relationship with Emma-Jayne Wilson and some of the super horses he’s trained. Marty Drexler keeps cashing at Gulfstream. Norm McKnight found the winners’ circle at Oaklawn, and check out what Sofia Vives did in her first career race at Gulfstream. Woodbine’s Bill Ford breaks down the track’s fresh 2-year deal with the HBPA, and 5 weeks from the Kentucky Derby we have the Fukuryu Stakes from Japan, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby.

Emma-Jayne Wilson updates us on her rehab, her intention to ride again, her reaction about the special Sovereign Award she is getting, and what she thinks when Down The Stretch called her Canada’s greatest female athlete of the millennium. We’ve got more Canadians extracting Trump dollars in the U.S. - Steve Owens at Tampa Bay, Marty Drexler and Bruno Schickedanz at Gulfstream and Mike De Paulo sending out his 1000th training win. Former trainer, Art Silvera reminisces about a horse called Peterthegross and he tells us why he is now the agent for jockey Omar Moreno, who talks about his new interest in driving standardbreds. We’ve got Kentucky Derby preps from Turfway Park and the fair Grounds. And there were only 10 slots drawn for the Mohawk Million – how much did Kyle and Bruce Northover defy the math to get 2 of them?

We’ve got a winner at Gulfstream from Nick Gonzalez and 2 from Marty Drexler, one of which paid off at 16-1. Two reasons to be at Colonial Downs – Woodbine trainer, Justin Nixon won a $150,000 race and 89-year-old D Wayne Lukas sent out the winner of the Virginia Derby. Harness driver Doug McNair talks with us about being invited to the Elitloppet in Sweden with the terrific trotter, Logan Park. Thoroughbred trainer, Nico Lafond tells about his side hustle – as a stuntman in major film productions. Can the filly, Chantilly do what no filly has ever done – win the North America Cup? Her trainer, Nick Gallucci tells us what he thinks. We’ve got a finish at Gulfstream in which each of the first 2 horses went off at more than 50-1, and horse woman, Jessica Hallett overheard a guy bragging when he should have known better.

March is Women’s History Month and Saturday was International Women’s Day; appropriately, this podcast has a healthy amount of female content: races at Mohawk and the Meadowlands in which all the drivers were women. Melissa Keith is North America’s only full-time harness race announcer. She was invited to the Meadowlands to call several races and she tells us how that happened. Melanie Giddings is a Canadian trainer winning races at Gulfstream. We asked her if she is any relation to the legendary Harry Giddings who won a record 8 Queen’s Plates. Giddings also opens up about the worst moment a horse person can experience. One of our favourite jockeys Katie Davis won a Stakes race on International Women’s Day at Aqueduct.

We have Kentucky Derby preps from Dundalk in Ireland and Tampa Bay Downs

We go to Gulfstream for another win by Marty Drexler Do you like long shots? How would you feel if you hit a horse that paid $200 to win? Her name is Kalico Seelster and she stressed out the tote board last Friday night at Mohawk. And what’s your favourite horse racing movie? We feature a few that we have enjoyed.

As usual, multiple racetracks, lots of Cancon and compelling people; Bill Tharrenos, Leo Salles, Marty Drexler and Melanie Giddings in the Gulfstream winners’ circle. Kentucky Derby preps from Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Santa Anita. Harness driver James MacDonald hit the 4000-win plateau, won 4 wins on Monday night, but it was all about what happened when he ‘rolled up the rim.’ Brittany Kennedy is a trainer, owner and driver - we talk with her about a great night at the Western Fair Awards Banquet and what it’s like to drive against Natasha Day. And the multi-talented Jessica Hallett tells us about an emotional visit to the industrial zone that used to be her favourite racetrack - Pompano Park.

The Down The Stretch Podcast has been named a finalist in the Sovereign Award Broadcast category. Another nominee, Jennifer Morrison assesses several of the eligible finalists with Peter Gross. We have wins in the U.S. from Bill Tharrenos, Marty Drexler, Bruno Schickedanz and Josie Carroll. Kentucky Derby Preps from Turfway, Tokyo and Oaklawn Park. Longtime horseman and agent Leroy Trotman talks about Black History Month. Lucas House is just 13, but he’s a winning owner at Western Fair. Lucas tells us what he says to dad, Lorne about steering the horse he owns. We go to Laurel Park for a monster of an exactor and to Gulfstream for a horse that not only won, but taunted rivals all the way to the finish line.

Trainer Bill Tharrenos finally broke through at Gulfstream and so did apprentice rider, Rachel Slevinsky. We have the Risen Star from the Fair Grounds as the Kentucky Derby hopefuls stake their credentials. Trainer Nick Galluci expands on Chantilly, the Canadian Harness Horse of the Year and her owner, George Millar tells us how a great horse inspires him, even after serious surgery. And if 85-year-old Don McKirgan keeps winning in the sulky, we’ll keep putting him in our podcast.

In this episode, complete coverage of the Obrien Awards featuring Chantilly, James MacDonald, Doug McNair and George Millar. We found Canadians winning at Oaklawn and a smart looking winner of the Kentucky Derby prep at Tampa Bay. The story of Johnstown Jet defies logic. He won last week at Mohawk for Kyle Bossence, but before that, he was an Amish buggy horse for 6 years. Trainer Carmen Auciello talks with us about the most excellent Points North, the latest horse to hit the million-dollar mark. Do you remember Randy Exelby’s NHL goaltending career – all 63 minutes of it? Exelby’s horse ownership is much more substantial. We’ve got a couple of race callers who got fooled in deep stretch, and songs created by artificial intelligence about your favorite horse racing personalities.

We’ve got Marty Drexler and Sahin Civaci adding to their totals in the U.S. There were Kentucky Derby preps in New York and California - favorites won each of those, but did you see all the longshots at Mohawk last Thursday? We did. We’ve got some make-up audio with Doug McNair after we stiffed him last week when he won 6 at Mohawk. Joe Santos of Acera talks about insuring your racehorse. We’ve got Chevy Chase in this podcast and artificial intelligence could never replace Garnet Barnsdale, but apparently A. I. can sing about him.