Keeneland’s Vice President of Equine Safety - Dr. Stuart Brown / Woodbine Trainer Kevin Attard / Retired Woodbine Jockey Gary Boulanger

Larry and Ann are joined by Keeneland’s Vice President of Equine Safety, Dr. Stuart Brown, who talks about the StrideSAFE program that uses sensors to help analyze the gait of a horse and can then find any early signs of any problems that may arise. Dr. Brown also talks about whether there was any resistance from the riders with StrideSAFE and discusses where his passion for horses was born and the story behind how he became involved with the Keeneland organization. Woodbine Trainer Kevin Attard, who talks about last years season and some of the highlights for his stable. He also talks about the upcoming 2024 Woodbine racing season and some of the returning horses that he is expecting big things from and Moira. Kevin also discusses what its like to run such a large racing operation and why he hasn’t trained in warmer climates during the off season most recently. Retired Woodbine Jockey Gary Boulanger who is now Farm Manager for the Caledon based CamHaven Farm who discusses his new role at the Rehabilitation Facility  and how he has been able to rely on his skills as a Jockey to aid in working with the horses at CamHaven. He also reflects on his career as a Jockey and in particular what it meant to him when he won the prestigious Avelino Gomez Award in 2017. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry talks about the win by Sierra Leone in last weeks Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and also mentions that the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame recently  announced the list of finalists for the 2024 Class, with the inductees being announced on April 24th. In our new feature, ‘Road Trip,’ Larry talks about todays Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse   and the history behind the race itself and who he believes the race ‘goes through’ later today. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today, later in the show. 

 

Key Points: 

Dr. Brown talks first about how he became involved with Keeneland and more so his role as Vice President of Equine Safety, which he has held since June 2020. He also discusses StrideSAFE, a program that Keeneland recently introduced, that uses sensors to help analyze the gait of the horse and can find any early signs of problems that may arise. Dr. Brown also mentions how every horse racing at Keeneland in the current Spring meet will be equipped with the StrideSAFE sensor within their saddle pad and whether there has been any type of resistance from the riders. Dr. Brown also mentions how other riders’ groups are becoming involved with StrideSAFE and says how he became so passionate about horses which has led to his career as a successful Veterinarian. He also mentions about the Keeneland racing surface and the measures that have been taken to make the track as safe as possible. 

Kevin talks first about last season and whether there were any disappointments with his stable. He also talks about the 2024 season and mentions some of the horses that will be coming back from 2023 and how he has some high expectations for. He also discusses Moira, as he prepares her for her five-year-old racing season and says whether he has mapped out any potential races this year for her and mentions why he hasn’t shipped to warmer climates recently, instead he chooses to train in Ontario. Kevin also talks about what it is like to be part of the ‘Attard family’ and is asked whether he remembers his first win as a Trainer and then states who the best horse that he ever trained was. Kevin also discusses what it is like to train a large stable of horses each year.

Gary talks about his new position with CamHaven Farm as Farm Manager and how his experience and skills as a Jockey has helped him adjust to his new role. Gary also discusses CamHaven and talks about some of the great work they are doing in rehabilitating horses of any breed, which he finds exciting. He also talks about how he knew it was time to quit riding last year and how in 2017 being named the winner of the Avelino Gomez, was so important to his riding career. Gary also discusses CamHaven’s racing division that are being trained by Steve Flint and how they are now at Woodbine preparing for the 2024 racing season. He also talks about who was the best horse that he rode during his career and why.