News and Insight On Winbak Farm
Read below for the latest on Winbak achievements and graduates. Stories are from the leading industry news sources.
2019 NEWS
Pollack is looking forward to Wisdom Tree 2019 debut
Hightstown, NJ — When it comes to reasons for admiring a horse, Wisdom Tree checks all the boxes for Tom Pollack.
Click Here to Read MoreCasino Classic Clings To Victory
Driver Ryan Holliday completed a sweep of the Tuesday (May 21) features at The Raceway at Western Fair District when Casino Classic turned away a late-mile bid from odds-on favourite Buttermilk Hanover to win the $11,600 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace in 1:56.
Click Here to Read MoreOSS Gets Boost Of $2.375 Million
Ontario Racing today announced an additional boost of $2.375 million in funds to the 2019 Standardbred Horse Improvement Program (SIP) as part of the $10 million of Horse Improvement Payment (HIP) funds earmarked for the horse racing industry by the Ontario government.
Click Here to Read MoreOSS Season Kicks Off Sunday
The 46th Ontario Sires Stakes season gets under way this Sunday (May 19) with eight races on the $538,551 Confederation Cup program at Flamboro Downs.
Click Here to Read MoreArtspeak's Book Now Full & Closed
Winbak Farm of Ontario and the Artspeak syndicate are proud to jointly announce that Artspeak’s book is full and closed for 2019.
Click Here to Read MoreThomson Grandchildren Visit Farm
Recently the Thomson grandchildren were at the farm for a visit.
Click Here to Read MoreZero Tolerance, Brooklyn Lilacs win NYSS races at Yonkers
Yonkers, NY — New York Sire Stakes continued downstate Tuesday night (May 14), with Yonkers Raceway hosting the soggy $170,500 Art Watson Pace for 3-year-old fillies. Two consecutively-contested divisions, at $85,250 each, comprised the event.
Click Here to Read MoreTequila Monday, Guardian Angel AS score in Great Northeast Series
Wilkes Barre, PA — Tequila Monday was a repeat winner in the Great Northeast Open Series (GNOS) for female pacers Sunday night (May 12) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:52.1 over a sloppy track.
Click Here to Read MoreStars Navigate Sloppy Qualifiers
The qualifying conditions for Woodbine Mohawk Park’s eight-dash morning session on Monday (May 13) were less than optimal, as cold, wind, rain and general dampness was the order of the day. The track was rated ‘sloppy’ and a variant of three seconds was applied.
Click Here to Read MoreHickfromfrenchlick leads New York Sire Stakes winners at Monticello
Monticello, NY — On Monday (May 13), 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings made their first stop of the New York Sire Stakes season at Monticello Raceway. The conditions were less than ideal as it was a cold, rainy, raw day that was more reminiscent of a fall day than the middle of May.
Click Here to Read MoreNew York Sire Stakes to make 2019 debut at Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — On Monday afternoon (May 13), the New York Sire Stakes circuit will make its 2019 debut at Monticello Raceway as the glamour division of 3-year-old pacing colts come to town.
Click Here to Read MoreGraduate keeping stars in sight
East Rutherford, NJ — Finding a way to keep harness racing’s marquee performers on the track has always been a puzzle that if solved would allow the sport’s fan base to follow equine standouts not only through the end of their 3-year-old seasons, but beyond.
Click Here to Read MoreJammin Jack takes the Open Trot at Harrington
Harrington, DE – Victor Kirby’s Jammin Jack ($3, Kirby) won his third straight race as he marched to a 1:56.2 triumph in the $18,000 Open Trot Wednesday (May 8) at Harrington Raceway.
Click Here to Read MoreWith Out A Doubt Fastest In NYSS
New York Sire Stakes season began Tuesday night, May 7, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $163,499 Joe Goldstein Trot for 3-year-old fillies. The lasses went as three divisions, two six-horse fields—purses $54,833 each—and a five-horse event at $1,000 less with With Out A Doubt going the quickest mile.
Click Here to Read MoreRollinlikethunder braves the breeze at Harrahs Philadelphia
Chester, PA — A week after being narrowly defeated by Cruise Patrol in the final yards, Daniel Warrington and Donald Hawk’s Rollinlikethunder ($3.80) braved an uncovered journey and sloppy going en route to a 1:52 win in Sunday’s (May 5) featured $18,000 top-level conditioned pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Click Here to Read MoreSicario Steps Up For Back-To-Back Wins
Richard Moreau trainee Sicario moved up into the $12,700 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot off a win in the Preferred 3 and claimed victory by going wire to wire in 1:56 at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, May 5.
Click Here to Read MoreFamiliar Bunch To Qualify Monday
A group of familiar faces is scheduled to face the starting gate Monday morning (May 6) during Woodbine Mohawk Park’s nine-race qualifying session. An O’Brien Award recipient, some major stakes winners from 2018, and North America Cup eligibles are all set to be in action.
Click Here to Read MoreSaratoga Hosts Series Finals
A trio of memorials served as features on the Saturday night card at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Click Here to Read MoreStars Shine At The Meadowlands
A star studded cast of characters invaded the Meadowlands on Saturday evening as the track hosted the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial and the opening leg of the Graduate Series.
Click Here to Read MoreFront End Holds In Moores Mile
The front end was the place to be as the 2019 stakes season kicked off at Century Downs on Saturday (May 4) with the Moores Mile for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Click Here to Read MoreMelady’s Monet, Tequila Monday impressive at Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — Melady’s Monet and Tequila Monday proved most photogenic at Harrah’s Philadelphia on a special Derby Day Saturday (May 4) afternoon card of racing, helping to inaugurate the 2019 Great Northeast Open Series by capturing their $30,000 sections of the Open Trot and Mares Open Pace, respectively.
Click Here to Read MoreAngus Hall Takes His Rightful Place In The Hall of Fame
When Winbak Farm of Canada's Manager Pat Woods heard the news that Angus Hall was among the inductees of the 2019 Hall Of Fame class in Canada, he was 'over the moon.'
Click Here to Read MoreTrotting Fillies To Flaunt It At Yonkers
New York Sire Stakes season gets underway Tuesday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting the $163,499 Joe Goldstein Trot for three-year-old fillies.
Click Here to Read MoreBuckeye Stallion Series Underway
The 2019 Buckeye Stallion Series launched on Wednesday afternoon (May 1) with nine $17,500 divisions of Ohio-bred sophomore fillies: five for pacers and four for trotters.
Click Here to Read MoreStars Align Saturday At The Meadowlands
Meadowlands Racetrack will open the 2019 Championship Meet with several champions making appearances in stakes competition on Saturday, May 4.
Click Here to Read MoreOntario Sires Stakes 2-year-old sustained list posted to website
Toronto, ON — The list of 2-year-olds that have been sustained to race in the Ontario Sires Stakes program in 2019 has now been posted to the OSS website under the Notices and Updates section.
Click Here to Read MoreCasino Classic Upsets In London Feature
Casino Classic was treated to a perfect, second over trip in Monday’s $11,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Handicap at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and after race favourite The Joy Luck Club got roughed up it left the door wide-open for the Robert Manders trainee to capitalize.
Click Here to Read MoreTequila Monday Takes Yonkers Open
Odds-on favourite Tequila Monday returned to the adult table and made it look facile Friday night, easily winning Yonkers Raceway’s soggy $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace.
Click Here to Read MoreCourtly Choice Serves Notice
After having made a splash in qualifying action last week at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Courtly Choice, the returning son of Art Major, upped his game on Thursday (April 18) during the morning session at the Campbellville, Ont. oval.
Click Here to Read MoreSpring In Paris remains undefeated in Weiss action at Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Spring In Paris, a sophomore daughter of Explosive Matter, went 3-for-3 in her Bobby Weiss Series preliminary action at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, taking one of Tuesday’s (April 16) $15,000 prelim divisions in a lifetime best 1:55.3.
Click Here to Read MoreDream Nation Returns
Ontario Sires Stakes star Dream Nation put in his first sophomore steps south of the border in qualifying action at Pompano Park on Tuesday, April 16.
Click Here to Read MoreCourtly Choice qualifies in 1:53
Mississauga, ON — The weather may not have been the best for the Thursday (April 11) qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but that didn’t stop those in attendance from enjoying watching 2018 Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug winner Courtly Choice make his 4-year-old charted debut.
Click Here to Read MoreSpring In Paris undefeated in Pocono Weiss Series action for Trotting Distaffs
Wilkes-Barre, PA –- The Explosive Matter filly Spring In Paris emerged as the only female with a 2-for-2 record in the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting distaffs after three $15,000 second round preliminary divisions on Tuesday (April 9) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Click Here to Read MoreCanadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame Class Of 2019
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Class of 2019 features international stars of the industry, two horses bred in Québec, a female trainer and individuals representing British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
Click Here to Read MoreGhosttothepost, Ashlee Sparkles repeat in Weiss at Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA — Perennial local driving leader George Napolitano Jr. accounted for half of the twelve races on the Monday (April 8) twilight card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, including a pair of second-round Weiss Series events.
Click Here to Read MorePollack And Cullipher's latest has run the table
Last season, the partnership of Tom Pollack and Jeff Cullipher, campagined sophomore pacing filly Wisdom Tree...
View From The Deck
Beautiful weather great horses and lower than usual attendance made this reporter a happy man.
Before I get to the more mundane writing I want to make note of a few horses that appear to be rising to the upper echelon of the training ranks.
In And Out Again Sweeps DSBF Series
In And Out Again completed a sweep of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund series for three-year-old pacing fillies, capturing the $100,000 final in 1:54.2 on Wednesday night (April 3) at Dover Downs.
Click Here to Read MoreLarry and Jackie Drysdale
Larry and Jackie Drysdale, the husband and wife team that managed Winbak Farm of Canada for many years, celebrated their retirement last August.
Click Here to Read MoreHiteman and Farwick Championships decided at Miami Valley
Lebanon, OH — Champions were determined in two popular Lebanon Legends series on Tuesday afternoon (April 2) at Miami Valley.
Click Here to Read MoreRide Away Shark Rips Around London
Post-five starter Ride Away Shark shot to the front of a six-horse field and led at every station to win the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Tuesday, April 2.
Click Here to Read MoreWeiss Series for Trotting Distaffs underway Tuesday at Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Ron Burke combined to take two of the four $15,000 first preliminaries in the Bobby Weiss Series for trotting distaffs during the Tuesday twilight card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Click Here to Read MoreRoddys At It Again looks for DSBF crown again
Hightstown, NJ — Tim Torbert got to race New Zealand-bred mare Terro Franco only a handful of times, but he has enjoyed a good deal of success with her offspring.
Click Here to Read MoreDistaff pacers kick off Weiss Series at Pocono
Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Bobby Weiss Series, a traditional launching pad for young talent named after the man who developed the racetrack at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono into one of the most popular surfaces in the world, opened its 2019 campaign during the Monday (April 1) twilight card, with all three first-round winners posting lifetime bests.
Click Here to Read MoreLifetime marks in Delaware 3-year-old trotting finals
Dover, DE — Both $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-year-old trotting finals resulted in lifetime marks on a chilly but still Monday night (April 1) at Dover Downs.
Click Here to Read MoreLady Neigh Neigh Nabs Bath Memorial
Away third, second-betting choice Lady Neigh Neigh brushed to the top passing three-quarters and coasted to a three-and-a-half length 1:53.1 victory to take the $75,000 Penny Bath Memorial Final on Sunday, March 31 at Fraser Downs.
Click Here to Read MoreNational Debt Rebounds At Rideau
Finishing second in the $8,100 Preferred Pace after winning at the class in his two starts prior, Yves Tessier-trainee National Debt returned to the Rideau Carleton winner's circle with a 1:55 win in the top class on Sunday, March 31.
Click Here to Read MoreMale pacers in DSBF spotlight on Thursday
Dover, DE — Thursday (March 28) was a beautiful clear spring night and the boys came to Dover Downs for Leg 2 of the DSBF series. Eleven pacers comprised the first and second half of the Daily Double, finalizing the top eight point earners for next week’s $100,000 final on closing night, April 4.
Click Here to Read MoreDSBF second leg Dover Series for 3-year-old filly pacers
Dover, DE – On the eve of the Twin River merger, the fillies paced swiftly around the oval in two $20,000 divisions for the second leg of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Series, one early as a non-wagering event and the second as the second half of the daily double.
Click Here to Read MoreDewhurst with a big day at Saratoga
Saratoga Springs, NY- Trainer Dave Dewhurst got off to a bit of a slow start to his 2019 campaign at Saratoga Casino Hotel, but the most recent week’s action has shown that the veteran conditioner has turned the corner.
Click Here to Read MoreDSBF Trotters Clash At Dover
The threat of rain and dropping temperatures didn’t stop the winners of both early non-wagering Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) events on Monday (March 25) at Dover Downs from obtaining new lifetime records.
Click Here to Read MoreLifetime marks abound in DSBF trotting prelims
Dover, DE — The threat of rain and dropping temperatures didn’t stop the winners of both early non-wagering Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) events on Monday (March 25) at Dover Downs from obtaining new lifetime records.
Click Here to Read MoreCatch An Ace Clicks In Petticoat
Catch An Ace rallied from third-over Monday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $58,000 ‘blanketed’ final of the Petticoat Pacing Series.
Click Here to Read MoreCanadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame 2019 Ballot Announced
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its 2019 ballot. A total of 30 people and horses comprised of 15 Standardbred and 15 Thoroughbred candidates have been selected to appear on the voting ballot.
Click Here to Read MoreSophomore pacers contest DSBF splits
Dover, DE — On a very rainy Thursday (March 21) at Dover Downs, sophomore pacing colts got their Dover series of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund underway. There was an early non-wagering event followed by the first half of the daily double, with each carrying a purse of $20,000.
Click Here to Read MoreIn and Out Again, Vistamist win first legs of DSBF series at Dover
Dover, DE – Sophomore pacing fillies comprised the Daily Double — In and Out Again and Vistamist ($13.80) — in two divisions of the first leg of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund series at Dover Downs for a purse of $20,000 each.
Click Here to Read MoreVatanna, Dealer’s Table quickest in Miami Valley late closers
Lebanon, OH — The Tuesday (March 19) matinee at Miami Valley Raceway featured both trotters and pacers in Lebanon Legends late-closing series action.
Click Here to Read MoreDSBF 3-year-old trotters in action at Dover Downs
Dover, DE – Post St Patrick’s Day celebrations for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-year old trotters kicked off in leg one on Monday (March 18) at Dover Downs.
Click Here to Read MorePhoos Girl Goes The Distance
Assigned Post 5 in the five-horse field, Phoos Girl grabbed the lead and cruised to a 1:59 wire-to-wire victory in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace at Flamboro Downs on Saturday, March 16.
Click Here to Read MoreAngels Pride seeks first win in Yonkers distaff feature
Yonkers, NY — When Scott Di Domenico thinks back on the journey Angel’s Pride has taken so far, he feels a sense of pride.
Click Here to Read MoreHigh expectations for Heston Blue Chip
Elkton, MD — The tools are all there for Pennsylvania’s newest stallion, Heston Blue Chip, to become one of harness racing’s top sires.
Click Here to Read MoreBrett Miller wins seven at Miami Valley matinee
Lebanon, OH – Brett Miller dominated the Monday afternoon (March 4) action at Miami Valley Raceway winning one-half of the 14 races, a feat equaled only by leading driver Trace Tetrick last Monday (Feb. 25).
Click Here to Read MoreWinbak of Canada Seeks Office Clerk
We are currently looking for a dedicated, energetic candidate to join our Winbak Farm of Canada team.
Click Here to Read MoreHanover, Winbak donate breedings to MSOA Scholarship Fund
Washington, PA — The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association has announced that Hanover Shoe Farms and Winbak Farm have each donated a breeding to be auctioned in order to benefit the MSOA’s Collegiate Scholarship Fund.
Click Here to Read More'Absolut' London's Leading Lady
Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin's Absolut Seelster ($10.50) was the beneficiary of a crafty Colin Kelly drive en route to victory over the boys in Wednesday's (Feb. 20) $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Click Here to Read MoreGeez Joe primed for breakout year
Elkton, MD — After a relatively slow start to his career, and a few ‘hard luck’ stretches, 5-year-old pacer Geez Joe is starting to find his stride. He has established himself as a major force in the Preferred ranks at The Meadowlands, and is looking for even bigger things in 2019.
Click Here to Read MoreVan Wagoner highlights Thursday Post Time
Elkton, MD — Post Time with Mike and Mike presented by the USTA/BetAmerica, is excited to announce the line-up for Thursday morning (Feb. 21) at 10:30 a.m.
Click Here to Read MoreWagner and Still post driving doubles at Rosecroft
Ft. Washington, MD — John Wagner and Ricky Still posted driving doubles on the Wednesday night (Feb. 13) card at Rosecroft Raceway.
Click Here to Read More2019 Goshen Yearling Sale date announced
Middletown, NY — Goshen Standardbred Horse Sales has announced that the 2019 Goshen Yearling Sale will be held on Sunday (Sept. 8) at the Mark Ford Training Center in Middletown, N.Y.
Click Here to Read MoreTuxedo Bay repeats in Big M feature
East Rutherford, NJ — Trainer Mark Silva purchased Tuxedo Bay last fall and started out racing the 5-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere-Spring Break in the middle of the road conditioned classes at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Click Here to Read MoreMy MVP goes BOGO in Canada
Winbak Farm has announced that the newest member of its stallion roster at Winbak of Canada, My MVP, is going to a “bogo” stud fee for the upcoming breeding season.
Click Here to Read MoreThree In A Row For Phoos Girl
After overcoming her assigned post 6 to clear the early lead, owner-trainer Danielle Neil's Phoos Girl ($5.80) made every call a winning one and parried a late rush from Cenalta Call Girl to take Saturday's (Feb. 2) featured $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace at Flamboro Downs.
Click Here to Read MoreRide Away Shark Rolls In London
Sent the odds-on favourite, Ride Away Shark overtook early leader Southwind Ion and maintained a neck advantage at the finish to take the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Tuesday, Jan. 29.
Click Here to Read MoreTuxedo Bay scores in Big M feature
East Rutherford, NJ — Tuxedo Bay proved that he belonged in the Preferred Handicap ranks on Jan. 12 when he finished a heart-breaking second to a game Constntlysidewys A.
Click Here to Read MoreBurke trainees come back fresh at Big M
East Rutherford, NJ — If you were wondering whether Ron Burke trainees could be bet with confidence off a layoff, wonder no more. The answer is a resounding “Yes!”.
Click Here to Read MoreCheesman has found her niche in harness racing
Elkton, MD — Ever since she was a child, Winbak Farm Public Relations and Marketing Director Elizabeth Cheesman has been following her passion.
Click Here to Read MoreMillers sweep features as Big M weathers storm
East Rutherford, NJ — The father-son, trainer-driver team of Erv and Marcus Miller won both featured events — the Preferred Handicaps for trotters and pacers — and horsemen and track regulars otherwise made it through a rough Saturday night of inclement weather unscathed over the course of an eventful two days (Jan. 18-19) last weekend at the Meadowlands.
Click Here to Read MoreDream Season Brings Owner Back
Montreal horseman Marc Camirand went to the yearling auction in Kentucky in 2017 looking to buy one horse and get back in the sport after a couple of years on the sidelines.
Click Here to Read MoreWinbak Farm Welcomes First Foal of 2019
Early Sunday morning, Winbak welcomed their first foal of 2019. The foal is sired by CR Commando (a leading trotting stallion in Delaware) and out of the mare Too Fast For Math.
Click Here to Read MoreGeez Joe noses K Ryan Bluechip in Big M feature
East Rutherford, NJ — Geez Joe got back into the win column after consecutive failures as the favorite, scoring by the smallest of margins over rival K Ryan Bluechip in the Saturday night (Jan. 19) feature at the Meadowlands, the $21,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers.
Click Here to Read MoreView From The Deck
To say that I was verbally brutalized upon my entrance to the Deck this morning would be an understatement. The main critique was why I didn’t mention George Segal in my answer to Murray Browns question about my “Rise” in the Harness Racing world.
Click Here to Read MoreStakes success for Cheesy Fingers
Cheesy Fingers raced in to the record books after a stunning win in the Group 2 Raith Memorial at Menangle.
Click Here to Read MoreKendall Seelster Continues Hot Streak
Kendall Seelster continued her dominance of the Mares Preferred at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a 1:53.2 victory Saturday, Jan. 12.
Click Here to Read MoreMacIntosh hopes for big year with Courtly Choice and Clear Idea
Blake MacIntosh has to wait several months to see if multiple-stakes-winner Courtly Choice can return this year to take care of unfinished business — more on that in a moment — but only a day to get an indication whether Clear Idea can return to business as usual.
Click Here to Read MoreSpring Garden Ranch 2019 Training Roster
DeLeon Springs, FL — Stallions with first crop foals in training at Spring Garden Ranch in DeLeon Springs, Fla., include Artspeak, Bigrisk, Bring On The Beach, Santa Fe Beach Boy, Sebastian K S and Wheeling N Dealin.
Click Here to Read MoreMy MVP a great new choice for Ontario breeders
The classics-winning son of Cantab Hall My MVP 2,1:56.1; 3,1:52 ($879,804), a proven sire with a leading Grand Circuit stakes winner already under his belt, has moved to Ontario for the 2019 season, where he will stand at Winbak Farm at a fee of $4,000 Cdn.
Click Here to Read MoreSouthern Oaks 2019 training roster
Sorrento, FL — Stallions with first crops in training at Southern Oaks include Artspeak, Bolt The Duer, He’s Watching, Sebastian K S, Time To Roll and Whom Shall I Fear.
Click Here to Read MoreDuspiva doing big things at Winbak
Elkton, MD — A great many horsemen and women got their start in the sport of harness racing at an early age. Winbak Farm of New York Farm Manager Noelle Duspiva was no different.
Faves Connect In Flamboro Features
The first harness racing card of 2019 at Flamboro Downs featured two Preferred Trots, with public choices delivering to their supporters in each event.
Click Here to Read MoreThankyaverymuch Wins 2019 Opener
Midnight marked the beginning of the 2019 harness racing season and Fraser Downs on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 1 hosted the first North American race of the year: a $5,800 maiden pace. Favourite Thankyaverymuch rode the rail for most of the mile before surging to a length and a half victory in 2:00.2.
Click Here to Read More