Photo Essay: Woodbine Workouts

The thoroughbred season is almost upon us here at Woodbine and though the calendar says it's officially spring, you wouldn't dare be on the backstretch at six in the morning without your jacket. While watching the early session workouts, I saw a number of Woodbine favourites and the return of Emma-Jayne Wilson who breezed Wollemi Pine through four furlongs in 47.80. The Ian Black trained grey owns a Woodbine track record for covering a mile and seventy yards in 1:40.13.

Also on hand was Koonunga Hill, who bulleted through five furlongs in 59.40. Koonunga Hill performed well on the turf last season winning the Ice Water Stakes at seven furlongs before finishing third in the GIII Natalma Stakes. Gospel Hill, a full brother to Koonunga Hill, took a gallop over the dirt training track. This lanky lad looked strong and should be on track before summer.

What follows is a series of photos posted in sequence as the sun begins to rise. The lighting went from pitch black to sunny blue skies in less than an hour.
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I was on track well before sunrise to be greeted by a busy training track under cover of a tri-colour sky.



The lights of the city twinkled in the distance beyond the harness barns on Woodbine's west side.



The grandstand was empty and it was cold enough to see your breath.


Feeling a bit isolated, I moved from the grandstand to the backstretch.


With the turf course in front of me, you can just make out the horses on the poly.


Moving further west along the backstretch, I was surprised to see a layer of frost over the polytrack.



Blurring down the backstretch is the galloping grey Wollemi Pine.


Here's Emma-Jayne Wilson leading Wollemi Pine back to the stables.


Check out the light dusting of frost over the poly.


The clockers are doing their best to keep hands warm and record the times.


In the thirty minutes that has elapsed since the first photo, the sun has finally decided to rise.



A heavenly light shines along the rail that seems to span to the horizon.

We'll call this one the "Marlboro Man" shot. Look at the steam rising off the hard working horses.


The sun is nearly up, but it's no warmer on the backstretch.


Almost up....here comes the sun!


This grey seems to be stretching for a photo finish.



Lighting is playing havoc with these shots as a returning rider appears sun kissed.


I didn't see which horse ran fast enough to run out of their shoe, but I hope I have $2 on it come opening day!


The sun radiates over the backstretch...


...but the early session is over.


Making my way over to the training track, I walk by the intersection of Dance Smartly Street and Chief Bearheart Avenue...


..continuing along Dance Smartly Street, I pass Deputy Minister Avenue...


...before finally arriving at Woodbine's beachy secondary dirt training track.


...where I take a photo that makes the outside horse appear to have special powers. Note the "Care Bear Stare" as he accelerates beyond his running mate.


Some 300+ photos later, I pack up my camera and head home. You can check out the full Woodbine workout report by clicking here. Get ready Woodbine racing fans, the game is just about ready to begin again!