#Rafael Hernandez

Desert Encounter, winner of the 2018 and 2019 Pattison Canadian International, is back trying for a "three-peat" in Saturday's renewal at Woodbine. Photo courtesy of Woodbine Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Belmont Park returns to action this weekend with Irish and English horses, including Bolshoi Ballet, chasing the third leg of New York's rich turf…

Mr. Misunderstood wins Saturday's Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs, headed for bigger things in the year to come. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs A spate of major weekend races around the world fueled hopes for the coming season, even as this year's championships are still being debated. In Australia, Redzel silenced any lingering doubts…

Jockey John Velazquez, riding Authentic, celebrates winning the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The Breeders' Cup World Championships, just as they were designed to do, nicely wrapped up some issues for the 2020 racing season, including the "Horse of the…

Just a few minutes before Canada's most prestigious filly race, Moira lost two of her shoes. But it didn't matter. The three-year-old ran arguably the most impressive race at Woodbine this year, winning the $500000 Woodbine Oaks. And while she was sent off as the even-money favourite, a paddock incident brought some anxious moments for trainer…

As Woodbine jockeys Emma-Jayne Wilson and Rafael Hernandez stood in the Winner's Circle waiting to be interviewed following Sunday's Grade 3 $150000 Valedictory Stakes, Hernandez told commentator Jeff Bratt that, being a gentleman, he would let Wilson talk first. Not missing a beat, Wilson replied: "If he's such a gentleman, why didn't he let me…

Novo Sol wins a handicap at Gulfstream Park July 16 (Coglianese) By Chris Lomon - Woodbine Communications TORONTO- The Grade 3 $150000 Valedictory Stakes, set for 1 ½ miles on the Tapeta this Sunday at Woodbine, has attracted 12 starters, including Novo Sol (BRZ). The marathon test, for 3-year-olds and up, will mark the 19th career start for the…

Poulin in O T wins the Frost King Oct. 14 at Woodbine (Michael Burns) By Chris Lomon - Woodbine Communications TORONTO- A pair of $150000 2-year-old stakes, the Clarendon and Shady Well, share the spotlight on Saturday's 11-race card at Woodbine. Each set for 6 furlongs over the Tapeta, the Shady Well (2-year-old fillies) and Clarendon…

Two Emmys wins Saturday's Grade I Mr. D. Stakes at Arlington Park, the final gasp of what once was the Arlington Million. Photo by Coach Photography, courtesy of Arlington Park Aug. 16 (UPI) -- There was something for everyone in Saturday's presumed final run of "Million Day" at Arlington Park with a victory for top international raiders and…

Hal and jockey Justin Stein winning the Display Stakes on November 5, 2022, at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications TORONTO, Ont.- Hal, a son of Accelerate-Purely a Dream, goes for his third win in as many starts in the Grade 3 $150000 Grey Stakes, part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the Grade 3…

Hal, a son of Accelerate -Purely a Dream, goes for his third win in as many starts in the Grade 3, $150000 Grey Stakes, part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the Grade 3, $150000 Mazarine Stakes. Trained by Darwin Banach, Hal arrives at the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race for 2-year-olds off a strong debut on Oct. 2, and an equally impressive…

There's a reason we're the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. Secret Reserve will chase his second graded stakes crown when he goes postward in Sunday's Grade 2, $175000 Kennedy Road, at Woodbine. Trained by Mike Mattine for Carlo D'Amato and Stacey Van Camp, Secret Reserve will take on 10 rivals in the 6-furlong main track race for…

There's a reason we're the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. A pair of stakes, the $100000 Ashbridges Bay, and $100000 Lake Ontario, co-headline Friday afternoon's card at Woodbine. The 1 1/16-mile Tapeta events are the curtain-closers for the eight-leg stakes Heritage Series, held at Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks. Ontario…

A pair of main track stakes, the Lake Ontario and Ashbridges Bay, share top billing on Friday's eight-race card at Woodbine. The 1 1/16-mile Tapeta events represent the finale of the Ontario Sire Heritage Series, an eight-leg stakes series open to Ontario Sired 3-year-olds, contested at Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks. Ontario Racing and its…

Hazelbrook wins the G3 Ontario Fashion Oct. 15 (Michael Burns) Woodbine Press Release TORONTO- Hazelbrook, a 4-year-old daughter of Bayern, goes for another graded stakes crown, this time in Saturday's Grade 2 $175000 Bessarabian Stakes, at Woodbine. The 7-furlong main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, has drawn nine…

TORONTO, June 10, 2020 - A pair of key prep races on the road to the Queen's Plate, the $100000 Woodstock and the $100000 Star Shoot, kick off the Woodbine Thoroughbred stakes season this Saturday. The 122nd edition of the Woodstock, for three-year-olds, and the companion Star Shoot, for three-year-old fillies, share the spotlight on the second…

We're just five weeks from the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland, and final rehearsals are taking place around the world. Santa Anita's fall meet opens Friday with a welcome sign for prospects across as many as 10 divisions, while Belmont-at-Aqueduct hosts superstar Life Is Good for Saturday's Woodward Stakes. Meanwhile, Kentucky Derby…

Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $500000, Sequence Features Melody of Colors, Texas Glitter HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- Trainer Frank Russo has enjoyed'Unprecedented' success during the 2021-2022 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park. Unprecedented, a 5-year-old gelding with a modest record on turf and dirt, has come alive on Gulfstream Park's…

Keep Grinding named 4-1 morning-line favourite in 162 Queen's Plate TORONTO, August 18, 2021 - Thirteen hopefuls, including four Kevin Attard trainees, will vie for top prize in the $1 million Queen's Plate, first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, highlighting a stakes-laden, entertainment-filled Sunday card of racing at Woodbine. The 162…

TORONTO, September 28, 2020 - Queen's Plate winner Mighty Heart will continue his pursuit of the prestigious OLG Canadian Triple Crown when he takes on eight contenders at Fort Erie Race Track in the 85th Prince of Wales Stakes, on Tuesday, September 29. After a dominating 7 ½-length triumph in the Queen's Plate, Mighty Heart, bred and owned by…

The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby features points-paying preps Saturday in both Florida and California. Tampa Bay Downs hosts the Grade 3, $250000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, while the $100000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. Both races award Derby points on a 10-4-2-1 basis. This is the last Saturday until April 16 that does not feature a Kentucky…

TORONTO, October 27, 2021 - Fourteen hopefuls, including Dan Vella's charge The Minkster, are set to square-off in the $250000 Coronation Futurity, which headlines a trio of stakes on Saturday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile Tapeta event for Canadian-foaled two-year-olds is a significant race on the road to the 163 running of the Queen's Plate, the…

Heavily favored Mysterious Night ran himself into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) with a romp in Saturday's "Win and You're In" Summer (G1) at Woodbine. The companion Natalma (G1) witnessed an upset, however, as longshot Last Call broke her maiden in this Challenge race for the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Bet down to 0.55-1 favoritism in the…

Bet with the Racing Dudes TODAY using our friends at BetPTC and get a $200 new member bonus! Enter promo code DUDES! Seven first-year stars, including Kevin Attard trainee Philip My Dear, take their talents to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in Saturday's Grade 1 $500000 Pattison Summer Stakes, part of a stakes-stacked Saturday at Woodbine. The…

Bet with the Racing Dudes TODAY using our friends at BetPTC and get a $200 new member bonus! Enter promo code DUDES! Cairo Consort, a 2-year-old daughter of Cairo Prince-Absolutely Awesome, will face seven rookie rivals in the Grade 1 $500000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine. The one-mile Natalma is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win…

Seven first-year stars, including Kevin Attard trainee Philip My Dear, take their talents to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in Saturday's Grade 1 $500000 Pattison Summer Stakes, part of a stakes-stacked Saturday at Woodbine. The one-mile Summer is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, "Win and You're In" event. Up for grabs is a fees-paid date in the…

FORT ERIE - Kevin Attard didn't quite have the Queen's Plate he wanted. The veteran trainer had never won the race, but had three good chances on Aug. 22 at Woodbine. However, his best finish was third with H C Holiday. He also watched Harlan Estate finish seventh and Haddassah end up eighth. On Tuesday, a change of location and surface changed his…

TORONTO, October 28, 2021 - The Grade 3 $150000 Ontario Derby, for three-year-olds, and the $125000 Ontario Damsel, for three-year-old fillies, co-headline Sunday's 10-race card at Woodbine. Riptide Rock, a son of Point of Entry, heads into the 1 1/8-mile main track Ontario Derby off a runner-up effort to British Royalty (who'll also run) in the…

America's three premier horse racing circuits - New York, Kentucky and California - all will have a change of address this week with the opening of new meets at Aqueduct, Churchill Downs and Los Alamitos. The New York scene will call Aqueduct home until spring of 2023 because of construction at Belmont Park. The September meets at Churchill and Los…

Ryan Garcia looks to remain undefeated when he steps into the ring for a long-awaited clash with veteran Javier Fortuna. This clash of lightweight contenders seeking to make gains in the rankings is scheduled for Saturday, July 16, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Online sportsbook BetUS has all the Ryan Garcia vs Javier Fortuna odds. Garcia has…