Photo Essay: Sunrise on the Woodbine Backstretch

On Saturday morning I woke up at 5AM (5:15AM and finally 5:30AM) and made my way to Woodbine for sunrise by 6AM. The lighting in the early morning is incredible which ensures that even a hack photographer like myself can snap a few good shots.

The backstretch is a buzz of activity with horses galloping, working and being gate-schooled. The workers (trainers, grooms, exercise riders, outriders and jockeys) are busy tending to their flock, putting in the hours of work that go into preparing for just one race at Woodbine.

Like any community, it takes all types of people to make it work. This photo essay is a look into the colours and colourful people (and horses) of the backstretch.

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6AM and to the east the sky is all pink, pink, pink


Over the grandstand, the sky is already showing true blue


I know a place where the sun meets the skies


Let the sun shine in


Faster than a ray of light...


There's a big hard sun, beating on the big people, in a big hard world


Line 'em up!


Bettors lacking confidence hedge their bets


Stand up an be counted (or clocked)


Wollemi Pine out for a spin


In and out privileges are allowed on the Woodbine backstretch


Don't be led down the garden path


Woah there big horse, I didn't want to get out of bed either


However, others are clearly morning people


Multiple Queen's Plate winner Robin Platts


Emma-Jayne Wilson was busy working horses


To graze is the new craze


Reggae's so happy he could fly!


The Woodbine dirt training track is busy too


A gray horse in Audre Capuccitti silks...


In addition to a dirt track, Woodbine also has a sand ring


Perfect Bullet gets some brunch over in Brian Lynch's barn


Marchfield is busy reading the paper


Sun is up and the workers are flying around corners


Jockey Anthony Stephen was busy working horses too


This cool dude is Cool Gator


Tyler Gaskin had Rahy's Attorney out for a gallop


Emma-Jayne Wilson and D's Wando survey the landscape


Poor D can't graze with a tongue strap on!


All that hard work in the morning pays off in the afternoon


Plus, the fans will love you for it...right Corey Fraser?!


In total, I snapped nearly 300 photos over the course of the morning. Thank you to everyone who stopped by along the rail to say hello and share a story.