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I had a fun Sunday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack helping Down The Stretch newspaper film our very first television commercial. Editor Peter Gross put together a fun script that will be featured on HorsePlayer Interactive television.

The commercial is part of a campaign to attract new advertisers and seek out new readership with a special subscription drive. Email me directly to find out how you can subscribe to one full year of Down The Stretch for only CDN$24.

All Woodbine locals and fans of Down The Stretch should also take a moment to join the Down The Stretch Facebook group. Over the coming weeks, we'll be filling up the group page with photos and stories culled from recent issues.

We began filming the commercial on Woodbine's second level overlooking the satellite feeds of racing from across North America. The scene begins with Peter entering a crowd of racing fans to ask if they would like to know more about Down The Stretch.

The gang squeezes in for a shot as Matt works the camera.


Big smile from associate editor Eleanor LeBlanc.


Peter mugs it up for the camera.


After a few takes, Eleanor applied a little makeup to make Peter's eyes pop!


Thanks to unseasonably warm weather, the group moved outdoors to the grandstand for the next shot. The grass is still a bit yellowed but will no doubt be ready in the spring to reclaim its standing as North America's top turf course.
Sunny skies made for great lighting in the grandstand.


Peter is resplendent in $600 jacket and $7 shoes. (Shoes not shown.)


Off to the main entrance for the third scene, where punters must pass a statue of Northern Dancer on their way to the track.


Peter, with stacks of the paper in hand, rushes through the crowds to deliver copies of Down The Stretch to the waiting masses.



Big thanks to Paul and Matt for filming and directing the commercial. They were fun, professional and had some great ideas to keep the show running smoothly.



Extra special thanks to Peter's Seneca College Radio Broadcasting students: Karin, Sandeep, Samantha, Bradley and Sadaf for taking time out on a Sunday afternoon to make up the cheering audience featured in the majority of the shots.

Look for the commercial to be run in the opening weeks of the Woodbine thoroughbred campaign on HorsePlayer Interactive television. Don't forget to join the Down The Stretch Facebook group.