What's Love Got To Do With It?

A horse race can run smooth as silk or play out as perilously as the Wild West.

Consider the seventh race at Woodbine on November 21. As the gates burst open, Widmo, a 16-1 long shot reared, throwing jockey Jono Jones to the ground at the start of the mile and a sixteen route. As the rambunctious Widmo rushed after the field outrider Robert Love and his veteran grey, Grouch, were already in full pursuit. Within a matter seconds – in fact, before the field had passed the finish line for the first time, Love grasped Widmo’s reins.

Woodbine outrider Robert Love is the local sheriff of runaway horses


“He grabbed that horse on a long line and you can’t just pull up a horse like that so he had his work cut out for him,” admires Steve Koch, Woodbine’s Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing. “He’s got to do whatever he does to get this horse stopped and meanwhile count on his grey horse to keep a steady course. It’s a potentially dangerous situation.”

As Love and Grouch struggled for control of the runaway horse, Widmo scurried between Dr Grgurich, ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, and Northern Store under jockey Scott Williams.

“I’m always one to pay attention coming out of the gate and if I hear a “woah…” from the gate crew I usually give a glance left or right just to see if everybody made it out clean,” recalls Wilson. “I saw the loose horse right beside me and I gave the typical shout that there’s a loose horse in the field and the next thing I know I see Rob coming to grab the horse.”

In the arms of Love...Woodbine's outrider makes the catch


It’s a precarious situation but it didn’t phase Wilson one bit.

“It’s no surprise to see Rob coming to grab the horse,” states Wilson. “That’s what he does. He doesn’t hesitate and I think that’s one of the things that makes him such a great outrider.”

With Widmo under a tight hold, Love went to work on slowing down the headstrong animal before the field entered the turn.

“He comes tearing into the field and grabs this horse and I remember watching, just watching, as we’re going into the first turn,” says Wilson with a laugh. “As a jockey, you’re going into the first turn anyway and you have to make sure you’re in good position trying to, as we say, ‘get in or get out’ to avoid a troubled position getting on heels and here is Rob going full tilt into a group of horses. He’s not just wrangling his own pony but dealing with this loose horse. He handled it with such calm, cool and collected composure.”

The field heads to the paddock under the watchful eyes of the outriders


Wilson’s appreciation is not just for the outrider though.

“His pony Grouchie is just a genius,” adds Wilson. “He knew exactly what his dad was asking him to do and he just went about his business.”

It was all a bit matter of fact for Love.

“I was able to get going quick enough and caught the horse right close to the pack,” states Love. “I was closer than I wanted to be but I got a hold of him, kept him straight, and got him out of trouble and stopped.”

* * *

A native of Grand Prairie, Alberta, Love arrived at Woodbine in 2006 and, like a sheriff coming east, has been keeping peace on the track ever since. He’s a quiet man and when moved to sentences of any length, the mustachioed marshal of the track gives most of the credit to Grouch.

“He’s quick. He’s good at his job,” spits Love. “I got him when he was three after he was done racing and I’ve had him ever since. He was a quarter horse in Alberta.”

There’s a wealth of experience in the horseman’s resume.

“I rode for 22 different seasons in the bush tracks in Alberta and BC,” says Love. “I have no idea how many winners. I rode quarter horses, thoroughbreds. Everything.”

When his riding career wrapped up, Love found a new career as an outrider so he could continue doing the thing he loves best - - riding horses.

“I had the same job in Alberta as head outrider at Stampede Park in Calgary and at Northlands Park in Edmonton,” explains Love. “In 2006, I was in touch with Woodbine and I came out to see what it was like out here and I’ve been here ever since.”

Love’s athletic catch of Widmo at Woodbine might have saved the horse his life. Earlier this summer at Hastings Park, just seconds into a race, Private Mambo bucked off her rider, Geovanni Franco, and veered across the track toward the grandstand. The panicked animal crashed headfirst through security barriers and into the winner's circle, where it died on impact.

“We’re out there to catch them and hopefully keep them out of trouble so they don’t bother the other riders,” states Love sternly. “Hopefully we catch them quick enough that that type of accident doesn’t happen out there.”

Love and Grouch on patrol


Nabbing Widmo was one of many great efforts by Love this season. Earlier this year Love and another pony Clyde, a retired thoroughbred formerly named Ada Storm, performed heroics to nab Tequila Max, who reared coming out of the gate and tossed jock Betty Jo Williams to the ground.

Chasing horses can be an exhausting business and Love owns the better part of ten horses that he trains in case Grouch needs a day off.

“Grouch is going to be ten in the spring and I’ve had horses up until they were eighteen,” explains Love. “I own them all. I either board them out or keep them at my own place. We’re always working on new ones and young ones as they have to be replaced sooner or later. I retired two last year.”

Grouchie's got his eye on you...


In addition to training his horses, Love is also in charge of a select group of riders that make up the outrider team including Larry Dagg, Darren Fortune, Eddie Dyer and Amanda Bell.

“Rob and his team have made a long string of strong decisions with best outcomes,” advises Koch. “He’s able to make these maneuvers and pull them off and potentially he’s saving injury and life out there by removing that danger from the field. It’s not just Robert, it’s what Robert has built. Larry Dagg had a miracle catch of his own a few months back. This is a solid team and Robert built that.”

* * *

Catching horses is a full-time gig. Love and his crew are out on the track each day at the crack of dawn patrolling the morning workouts. Their presence is a comfort for all involved.

“The mornings can be more dangerous than in the afternoon,” drawls Wilson. “You’ll get the odd loose one running the wrong direction full tilt at everybody else and to know Rob is going to be there as fast as possible and have that horse wrangled up adds another aspect of comfort.“

Wilson and Southdale find a quiet moment on the hectic Woodbine backstretch


When a horse gets loose during morning workouts a siren will ring out across the backstretch warning the workers of a loose horse.

“When you hear that siren you know that something is happening. Not everyone can move because their horse might not be cooperative,” says Wilson.
“It used to be, “where is he, where is he, where is he…,” adds Wilson of the fear of an on rushing loose horse. “Now it’s ‘does he have him yet’ because you know he’s going to get to that horse really fast and wrangle him up.”

Even the punters in the grandstand benefit from the outrider’s unique skills.

“Anytime we get a loose horse in a race it can be dangerous, not because of inexperience, but because of the speed we are going at,” starts Wilson. “That is where the confidence we have in Rob in the afternoon helps knowing he is going to scoop that horse up. It helps the betting public, as there’s no potential of ruining the race or compromising somebody’s chances to win.”

Wilson quickly offers up a scenario that could save a handicapper from a bad beat.

“What if you have a lone speed horse and there’s no pace in the race?” proposes Wilson. “So, if a horse drops someone coming out of the gate and that other horse that’s loose is now head and head with you, pressing you, and you can’t slow your horse down. Safety is a concern but what if that’s a million dollar race and now your race strategy is messed up. It benefits the owners and the trainers and the betting public to have a good outrider out there in the afternoon.”

Woodbine’s leading trainer Mark Casse concurs with Wilson’s assessment.

“Who knows how many horses’ lives he saves every year by not letting them run loose,” exclaims Casse. “On a couple occasions he could have saved some riders lives - - in the morning and the afternoon. You never know which direction the horse is going to move or who they’re going to hit. By being so quick to catch them it’s just remarkable.”

Trainer Mark Casse sends another horse to the track


Casse offers up a chilling real-life example of how Love and crew helped one of his own horses avert disaster.

“At the beginning of the year I had a horse named King’s Command and he reared right at the start and when he did he hit Corey Fraser’s head knocking him out,” says Casse gravely. “Corey actually stayed on the horse’s back unconscious for three or four strides and then fell off. Love was right there to catch the horse and prevent injury to the horse. Who knows what could have happened. I‘ve been training for 32 years and been to pretty well every major racetrack in North America and I can honestly say I’ve never seen a better outrider.”

Thanks to Love the story has a happy ending.

“He’s (King’s Command) a really nice horse and came back to be second in his next start and won the start after that,” says Casse. “He’s worth a lot of money. If it wasn’t for Love he might not be around.”

While all this gushing is sure to make Love as red as his moustache, there’s no mistaking his talents are appreciated. And even in the precision of his stressful workday, Love finds time to enjoy his job.

He doesn't look grouchie!


“I love International day,” says Love. It’s nice to see good horses and good riders.”

Undoubtedly, from the perspective of those so-called good riders when they see Love on the track, the feeling is mutual.

* * *

This story originally appeared in the December issue of Down The Stretch newspaper.

* * *

Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter.

Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.

A Tenacious Emma-Jayne Wilson 'Just Rushing' to Philly Park...

You can’t keep a good jock down.

In the seventh race at Woodbine on August 21st of this year, Flo’s Henny broke down tossing jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson to the track. Wilson, a rugged competitor, walked to the ambulance despite having suffered a lacerated liver. Flo’s Henny had to be euthanized.

Wilson hugs a victorious Magic Broomstick


The veteran jock worked her way back to action on November 17th steering four horses to the winners circle in the week of her return. She finished the meet with 70 wins, good for seventh place in the standings and some $3,884,065 in earnings.

“I feel great,” said Wilson regarding her recovery. “ I felt great once we started and I wouldn’t have started unless I was a hundred percent. I was a little sore when I first started up but that last week was very busy and I had a few achy muscles but other than that it’s been really good. I finished well in the standings and with three months off and still finishing in the top ten, I’m pretty happy with that.”

Wilson and agent Mike Luider


During her time off Wilson kept busy by following one of her favourite Woodbine horses, multiple stakes winner Just Rushing, who at the age of nine was nearing retirement.

“Just Rushing is a horse I’ve been a partner with for the last few years. He’s won quite a few races in his time. I think he’s got about 16 and I’ve been on all of them except for three,” stated Wilson accurately. “We won plenty of races together so I said to the Tucci’s, the owners of Just Rushing, that if they were ever looking to get him a home that I would love to take him off their hands if there wasn’t anyone else they were thinking of. When I was off, I was doing my diligence and asking Mike (her agent, Luider) if he was still in training and to remind his owners that I could still take him home if that was what they wanted.”

The quirky Just Rushing


Wilson enjoyed a great deal of success with the Wild Rush gelding over his six years on the track including stakes wins in the G3 Vigil, the Mt Sassafras and a pair of Labeeb scores to name a few. In 2006, Just Rushing put together a seven-race win streak which included a half dozen pictures with a smiling Wilson in the saddle.

“Last fall, I was riding him in a stake (the 2009 Labeeb) and it was his last start of the year,” recalled Wilson. “The owners were there and they told me they were thinking of retiring him and when they did I could take him home. I was ecstatic. I remember actually dancing in the paddock that day.”

Although the music was playing it wasn't quite the last dance yet.

“The horse ran really well in that last stake,” said Wilson. “He finished second to some really good horses and he was 8 years old at the time. They sent him home for the winter and decided to bring him back and pick their spots with him on the turf.”

Trainer Sid Attard saddled up Just Rushing five times in 2010 garnering a second and a third place showing and modest earnings of $16,939. The earnings boosted the classy fellow over a million dollars lifetime but with no wins during the meet it was time to turn the music up and the house lights on.

“I got a call from Sid one day late in the season and he told me that they wanted to retire him and asked when could they ship him out. I did some more dancing that day” exclaimed Wilson.

Wilson parades Copperelle at a warm Woodbine


The horse Wilson calls “The Russian” retired with sixteen wins, six seconds and seven thirds from 44 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,011,701. He’s an omnisurface star with eight wins on traditional dirt, four wins on the poly and another four on the turf but the only surface he has to worry about now is the comfy bedding in his new stall.

“The Russian is at Kinghaven right now on a lay up,” said Wilson. “He’s up there learning how to be a horse and enjoying his retirement.”

It’s not the first time Wilson has helped out an old friend. Last season Wilson tracked down and retired Belle Gully, a rather non-descript Maria’s Mon gelding who had suffered a series of poor results in lower level claiming events south of the border. The fellow Wilson lovingly refers to as Gus is having a grand old time in retirement.

“Gus is doing very well actually,” chuckled Wilson. “Recently, I was talking to John who used to rub Gus for Julia Carey. His niece Jaclyn was interested in going out and riding him and having fun with him. She’s an experienced rider and been around racehorses. She goes out when she can as she lives about an hour from where Gus is stabled. She’s rode him once or twice already and is taking advantage of a horse in need and playing around with him.”

Wilson with old friend Belle Gully aka Gus


While Gus and The Russian are enjoying life on the farm, Wilson has moved tack to Philadelphia Park (PARX) and will be given a leg up by Woodbine-based conditioner Scott Fairlie in Tuesday’s fourth race (1:40PM EST) aboard Deacons Farm.

It will be Wilson’s first start at the frosty Philly track.

“My injury was a catalyst to do something,” said Wilson, of her decision to continue riding over the winter. "The decision for me to go to Philly would be a location that was closer to home and they have decent purses. In fact, they have probably some of the best purses in the States right now. Plus, I could get a lot busier than I could in the some of the warmer locales so I’m hoping to exploit those opportunities as well. The cold doesn’t bother me so we’ll set up shop there and ride as many winners as possible.”

Wilson wins the 2007 Queen's Plate aboard Mike Fox


Wilson will return to Woodbine for the 2011 campaign and already has her eye on a pair of potential Queen’s Plate horses.

“There’s a couple that have caught my interest that I’m intrigued about,” teased Wilson, who, in 2007, partnered with Mike Fox to become the first female jockey to capture the Canadian classic. “Their next steps over the winter will be the important part and we’ll see how they come back in the spring. They have to prove themselves to the potential they’ve shown me. So I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully I can give you some names next year.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson at the 2010 Queen's Plate Draw with trainers Ian Black and Skippy Bowen


Whether the potential Plate pair prove to be as tenacious as their jock remains to be seen, but the contenders are fortunate to be under the watchful eye of a rider that will remember them when their winning days are over.

* * *

Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter.

Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.

Photo Essay: Great Friday! Grazettes Landing Wins the Woodbine Debut Stakes

Thoroughbred racing returned to Woodbine on Good Friday and racing fans flocked to the Rexdale track to bask in the sunshine and welcome the horses home.

Woodbine's jockeys, dressed in full silks, stood at the main entrance and handed out vouchers valued anywhere from $2 to $1000 as they welcomed the public to the park.

With the weather cooperating and a competitive Debut Stakes event on offer, it made for an exciting day of racing.

What follows is a photo essay recap of the day. As always, left-click the image to enlarge and use your "Back" button to return to the photo essay.

Queen's Plate winning jock Emma-Jayne Wilson is a fan favourite


Good Luck to who?


Future Star Omar Moreno makes a new friend


Tyler Pizarro suggests a place bet on Bob N Weave in the ninth


Rob Landry wants you to PLACE A BET


Welcome to Woodbine


Jimmy Mac is back!


Rob Landry got the call on Northern Dancer - much to the delight of Tyler Pizarro


Woodbine's Chris Lomon with jockey Krista Carignan


Punters returned to Woodbine on Good Friday in search of redemption...


and Jesus (Castanon) provided with the first winner of the year - Neverrguwithrichie


Everybody loves a winner


Cliff Cottage was the first of two Melnyk winners on the day


Picking one winner is good...picking three is fantastic!


Apprentice Betty Jo Williams made her first Woodbine start aboard 10-1 shot Sir Heart Throb...


and nearly pulled off an outstanding upset in a race won by Cowboy Sheikh


After the race, I had a few quick words with the 20-year-old apprentice about her first trip around the oval.

"It was amazing," exclaimed Williams. "The horse ran great. He was real game and has good heart. (Ha! Sir Heart Throb!) I galloped him in Florida so I knew him. It was real nice. Riding races and winning is great but riding at Woodbine is another story."

Williams already has four wins to her credit at Mountaineer stopping in time to preserve her bug for the 2010 meet.

"I rode my first amateur race at Colonial Downs in Virginia," stated Williams. "My first actual jockey race was at Mountaineer."

If Williams continues to ride as she did in Saturday's sixth race, her agent David O'Connor will be a very busy man.

Betty Jo was thrilled with the result


Cowboy Sheikh shakes off Sir Heart throb to win the sixth race


Following the race, the jockey was swarmed by family and friends who promise to be back over the weekend in hope of seeing Williams first Woodbine win.

You can read more about Williams in the Globe and Mail feature Have Bug, Will Race.

Betty Jo was #2 on the chart, but remains #1 in the hearts of her proud family and friends who came out to support


Apprentice Ryan Pacheco made his second Woodbine start about Sparkling Micayla


Another relative newcomer to Woodbine is apprentice Ryan Pacheco. The apprentice took the learned route to the racetrack under the wing of a Kentucky Derby legend.

"I went to Chris McCarron's jockey school," stated Pacheco. "It's a two-year course with a four month internship which I used and went to England with John Gosden. I didn't get to race ride but I was galloping horses and learning their ways and how they breeze."

Horsemen tend to lend much of their success to experience and no doubt Pacheco has learned a great deal from the two-time Derby winning jockey (Go For Gin, Alysheba), McCarron, and the English conditioner, Gosden, who has won several important events including the St. Leger (Shantou), the Epsom Derby (Benny the Dip) and a Breeders' Cup Classic with Raven's Pass.

Though Pacheco didn't hit the board he appears to have a very bright (orange) future


The opening day feature was the Debut Stakes for Ontario sired Four-Year-Olds and Upward traveling five furlongs on the polytrack. An 11-horse field of salty veterans promised to make for a hard fought race.

Bold Nurse stares boldly into the camera


Gorgeous grey Sand Cove prefers to race without a tongue strap


Grazettes Landing made a beautiful pre-race appearance under the watchful eye of jockey Patrick Husbands


Jim McAleney Dancingall Theway to the track


Tyler Pizarro in the G.T. Heat Stable silks aboard Me the Sea and G T


Savvy veteran jockey Richard Dos Ramos struts to the track on Stray Cat Stride


Stuck in Traffic hopes to stay out of trouble by racing on the lead


Rob Landry got the nod on Sand Cove



Bold Nurse and Paso Doble led the field through the opening fractions of 21.99 and 44.72 with Grazettes Landing stalking from fourth. Yummy With Butter, who suffered a slow start, and Don's Folly waited patiently at the back of the pack as the field moved into the stretch. With a sixteenth to run, Grazettes Landing assumed the lead and drove clear of the field as Don's Folly launched a rallying bid under Emma Wilson but ran out of racing room to catch the leader.

Grazettes Landing was Eugene Melnyk's second winner of the opening day card and the first of what will be many stakes wins for Husbands in 2010.

Grazettes Landing leaps to victory over a hard charging Don's Folly and railbird Paso Doble


A great opening day of racing for Woodbine and a great opening day of handicapping for yours truly with a chalky pick three to start, an awesome $184 exactor in the Debut - - and a successful prediction on my opening day preview post entitled Omar Moreno on the Radio and Who to Bet in the Woodbine Debut.

Welcome back Woodbine!

Grazettes Landing a confident winner of the Debut Stakes

The Ballad of Emma-Jayne Wilson and Belle Gully

When leading a horse from the paddock to the track, Emma-Jayne Wilson’s face is a picture of concentration. Few can match the intensity of the Bramalea-born jock. Belle Gully, an eight-year-old gelding of modest talents, recently benefitted from Wilson’s dogged determination when the jock tracked down her old friend in a $5K claiming race at Mountaineer.

Emma-Jayne Wilson with Belle Gully aka "Gus"



Wilson first partnered up with Belle Gully, aka Gus, at Woodbine back in 2005 when the horse was under the care of trainer Julia Carey. “Gus, he wasn't a Stakes horse by any means,” drawled Wilson. “He was just a character. He's a cool dude and I had a good connection with him. He was my buddy and I enjoyed hanging out with him.”

Unfortunately, Wilson learned in the spring of 2008 that Gus was not enjoying being a racehorse anymore.


“He was at Delaware Park running for bottoms there, which is five thousand,” explained Wilson. “I pulled up his races and watched a few. He ran a good race for five thousand finishing third in a decent start. Ten days after that they ran him back again and he ran no good. Ten days after that they ran him again and he ran last. Within four starts, ten days apart, it was like beaten thirty lengths, thirty lengths, and thirty lengths. That bothered me. You never want to see a horse running that low and not being competitive. So, that's when I got the idea of seeing what I could do to help retire him.”



In the spring of 2008, a friend of Wilson went to Delaware Park and stopped in to see the listed trainer of Belle Gully to inquire about retiring the animal. The friend was advised that Gus had been retired.

"From what I could tell he was retired and gone to a good home,” said Wilson. “Julia (Carey) and I talked about it, thought it was a good thing, and we left it alone."

After ten months of inactivity, Belle Gully’s name popped up on the Equibase watch list of a Woodbine groom well known locally as Big John. The groom, one of many with a soft spot for Gus, immediately alerted Wilson.

“I was so disappointed,” stated Wilson. “This time he was at Mountaineer and a lot of the trainers there will work off a farm and then ship in for a workout to make them eligible for racing. Who knows how long he had been training. He breezed half a mile and was entered in a race."

As expected, the race did not go well and Gus finished last.

"He ran two or three times until I was able to get him,” said Wilson. “I was on a mission, where before I was casually looking into it. But now I saw this horse back in training and I really wanted to get a hold of him. It was urgent for me."

Wilson blurs down the backstretch


Wilson got in touch with Bobby Pion, a Woodbine trainer who was in Virginia racing horses at Mountaineer. Pion attempted to buy Belle Gully from his new trainer but was turned down flat.

“She said she wasn't interested,” said Wilson incredulously. “That the horse was just unfit. After being beaten thirty lengths for five thousand dollars at Mountaineer and that he would win next time.”

Gus raced once more but never threatened finishing well back. It was the first time Belle Gully had beaten a horse in five races as one horse finished behind him.

“I wasn't worried about Belle Gully because I knew his personality and figured that was just Gus,” laughed Wilson. “He was just running a little bit and then pulling up cause he was smarter than the average bear.”

At Wilson’s urging, Pion was able to get in contact with Belle Gully’s owner and arranged to purchase Wilson’s fortunate friend.

“We got him for a price well more than he was truly worth as a racehorse, but to me it wasn’t a matter of how much money it was, it was a matter of getting a hold of him,” admitted Wilson. “Bobby (Pion) made a deal with the stewards and then he sold the horse to me.”

Wilson was quick to point out that she received the horse in good order.

“The people had taken good care of him. He had a good coat, good weight on him, his feet were taken care of and he looked happy still,” said Wilson. “I can understand why they thought he still wanted to be a racehorse. He's an active little dude, always on the march.

Emma-Jayne checking out the turf pedigree of D's Wando


The son of Maria’s Mon, out of Belle Dancer, retired with a record of 43-4-6-6 and earnings of $98,653 – nearly $40K more than he was originally purchased for as a yearling. Belle Gully now happily marches about the fields of his new home on Wilson’s farm, far from the rigors of the racetrack.

“I've thrown the tack on him a few times just to bebop around and go on a walkabout or a little trail ride,” laughed Wilson. “You know, just walking about eating grass. I have a funny feeling he'll find another job whether it's as a lead pony at Woodbine or maybe a trail horse. He just needs to be re-educated. For now, I'm just letting him be a horse up at the farm.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson and D's Wando hangin' out


For Wilson, the beat goes on and the successful journeywoman looks forward to making new equine friends.

“It's always good to be around good horses, and when I say good horses, I mean horses that try hard whether it’s claimers or million-dollar Stakes horses,’ clarified Wilson. “The million-dollar Stakes horses are nice to be around because they're true competitors with lots of ability and heart but there’s also those cheaper horses that may not have been blessed with as much ability but they have just as much heart. I just want to ride good horses be around good competitive animals and just keep trucking.”

*As published in the current edition of Down The Stretch newspaper

Photo Essay: NHL Goalkeeper Curtis Joseph Saves The Best For Last in Woodbine Weekend

It was hot and humid all weekend at Woodbine and the action was hot and heavy. As predicted here in Friday's post, Todd Kabel notched a big Stakes win aboard Ginger Brew in the Belle Mahone Stakes and paid $5.30 for the trouble. Leading rider Patrick Husbands led Franny Freud to the winners circle in Saturday's Ontario Debutante Stakes barely holding off Negligee by a half-length.

On Sunday, I made my way to Woodbine in time for the fifth race. After watching my beloved Liverpool play football like drunken Sunday leaguers in a 2-1 loss to Tottenham, I was hardly in the mood to leave the house but I'm glad I made the effort.

Though I only took in six races, I managed to:

1. Collect on three of five races I wagered, while indirectly finding a positive use for Twitter.

2. Enjoy watching three turf bouts.

3. Interview NHL goalkeeper Curtis Joseph and watch his horse win.

With the hot weather on Sunday, several horses were clearly sweating it up in the paddock and as a result some horses stood out from those all a lather. From my vantage point in the paddock before the seventh race, I Tweeted that: "woodbine 7th race - #5,8,10 make a nice paddock appearance. dry, bare legs. 16 min to post!"

I boxed the trio in an exactor and added a small win wager on the five horse (D's Wando) as he was being ignored at odds of 8-1. Less than twenty minutes later, I was able to Tweet: "woo hoo! d's wando (5) beats the fave (8) for a neat $46 exactor!"

Up next was the Victoriana Stakes and this time two horses really stood out in the paddock as Tweet worthy. The favourite, Authenicat (#1), was much the best on Form but as favourites go, beatable. The pre-race Tweet sounded out as follows: "#7 and # 9 looking good in paddock for woodbine 8th race. #1 a bit wet but alert. looks like a good ex box!"

Once again I boxed the three horses mentioned in the Tweet and made a small win wager on the #9, San Nicola Whiskey at odds of 10-1. The results were satisfyingly Tweetable: "san nicola whiskey (#9) takes the victoriana stakes!! i miss the exactor but get the win!"

Just as I was getting ready to write a book on handicapping, Hip Hop Hooray (#9) stomped all over my pre-race Tweet in the ninth by beating the favoured Gold Spinner (#8). "# 3,8,11 look good in paddock for woodbine ninth. emma jayne looking for 3 in a row with the #3 horse," tweets Triple Dead Heat. Oops.

Still, the Twitter feed came in handy when the #6 horse, Looking For Action, pulled up at the top of the stretch. A quick word post race with trainer Sid Attard confirmed the horse was fine and the newsworthy Tweet of: "#6 horse, looking for action, pulled up in woodbine 9th. horse is fine. just confirmed with sid attard" was broadcast to my Tweeps.

The tenth and final race of the day was a turf race for a salty group of old-timers won by nine-year-old Awesome Action. Owned in part by Curtis Joseph, the gelding made a nice move off the rail for jockey Rob Landry and just got up in time to catch eight-year-old Omaggio. Following the race, I stood with Joseph's family and watched the replay as trainer Sue Leslie walked the group through Landry's brilliant ride. "Robbie rode him perfectly. When you see a horse nip another horse at the wire, the jockey's got to get a lot of credit," said Joseph.

Joseph has been in the racing game since 1995 and, along with Awesome Action, also has two other young fillies in training with Leslie. Currently a free agent, Joseph offered no whispers of where he might end up in the coming season but he's definitely keeping in shape. There are a few teams that could do worse than adding a goalkeeper currently fourth on the NHL's all-time list with 454 regular-season victories.

What a great way to spend an afternoon. In less than four hours at the track, I'd made off with a bit of pocket money, forgotten all about Liverpool's amateurish start to their Premiership campaign and left the track with a smile on my face.

(What follows is a photo review of my half-day at Woodbine. As always, double-left click on the photo to enlarge it and then use your "Back" button to return to the blog.)


David Clark leads Rockglen to the track in the safety orange silks of James and Alice Sapara


Emile Ramsammy gives a tip of the cap on a radiant Bear Always


River Heights continues the subtle orange theme with his saddle cloth


Bear's Prado demands inclusion in this juicy spread thanks to Todd
Kabel's orange sash


Luis Contreras give us his best "Mr. Robotto" - would have been better with orange polka dots.


Orange you glad you bet on the six? Emile Ramsammy and Bear Always sprint home much the best in the Woodbine fifth!


Trainer Mike De Paulo helps hose down Bear Always


Don't just stand there, bust a move! Reade Baker and Leroy Trotman strike a pose in the Woodbine Paddock prior to the seventh race.


Mac aboard Mac(allan) in the seventh. Happy 40th Jimmy Mac!


Check out the checkerboard on D's Wando


"Everyone" knows Patrick Husbands is the leading rider at Woodbine


Hey Waldheim, orange silks are so two races ago!


Thisonesforelmo expects to win this race by a neck


D's Wando strides home a winner


Big smile in the winners circle from jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson


Up next, the Victoriana Stakes for 3YO+, routing a 1 1/16M on the turf. Rob Landry had the favourite, Authenicat.


Slade Callaghan and Serena's Rose composed pre-race


You Will Love Me in the appropriate heart-shaped silks


KRZ Exec believes that vowels are for surnames only


Galipette and Justin Stein were looking to double up


Chantal Sutherland, with the eye of the tiger, aboard Mia d'Cougar


Jono Jones, cool as can be, was given the call aboard Tenjectory


While the other horses took a spin around the walking ring, San Nicola Whiskey stayed cool in the paddock...hmmmm


Blanket finish on the hottest day of the meet won by San Nicola Whiskey


That's two in a row for Emma-Jayne Wilson who appears ready to jump for joy


The gorgeous Renee Kierans interviews Emma-Jayne and Robert Earl Barnett


The kids love Emma-Jayne Wilson


Krista Carignan and Jono Jones sign some autographs for the future fans of horse racing


Hip Hop Hooray caught me snapping her photo after winning the ninth race


Former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Jospeh was on hand to watch his horse Awesome Action win the tenth and final race.

Down The Stretch is in safe hands with Cujo!


Joseph's Awesome Action was in safe hands with jockey Rob Landry


Guess how many winners Landry had on Sunday?


Amazing how much fun you can have in a half-day at the racetrack. I'm looking forward to next weekend already when the feature will be the G2 Sky Classic Stakes. Circle Sunday August 23rd in your calendar Woodbine fans!