Woodbine Mohawk Park Racing Secretary Tony O’Sullivan

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

English - October 22, 2022 12:00 - 57 minutes - 79.6 MB
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Previous Episode: Jay Kornegay, VP of Race And Sports Book Operations at the SuperBook / James Macdonald - Reigning O’Brien Award Winning Harness Driver / Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame’s Managing Director Linda Rainey

Next Episode: Hambletonian Society President John Campbell / Woodbine Entertainment’s Chair of the Board Hugh Mitchell / Woodbine’s Communication Manager Mark McKelvie

Key Topics:
• Kevin talks about the upcoming plans to enter Moira into a Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf event at Keeneland on November 5th and what winning would mean to Moira moving forward. He also discusses how he has been able to secure famed jockey Frankie Dettori to ride Moira and also his filly Last Call, who is entered in another Breeders’ Cup event and how Last Call has been training up to the race. Kevin also talks about why he believes Moira should be considered ‘Horse of the Year’ in Canada and whether he believes that Moira is the best horse that he has ever trained. Finally, Kevin also mentions whether we will see Moira back racing next season.
• Moira reflects on the significance of the Breeders Crown and what it means to the Standardbred racing industry. Moira also discusses how Canadian horses and horsemen have earned the respect from the entire harness racing industry now and how the Breeders Crown likes holding the event at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Moira also discusses how the Breeders Crown has continued to show resiliency over the years and able to continue as an annual event. Finally, Moira discusses her role at the Hambletonian Society and how she became interested in harness racing.
• Tony talks about the current Woodbine Mohawk Park race meet and gives an example of how they have handled one of the issues facing racetracks, a shortage of horses. He also discusses how he has handled the transition from a trainer to Racing Secretary and if it is still a work in progress. Tony also speaks about growing up in New Zealand and how he became interested in harness racing through his father, which eventually led him to travel to New Jersey and begin a career as a Standardbred trainer. Tony also discusses whether it was a difficult decision to go from trainer to the Race Office and what it was like to replace Scott McKelvie, considered an icon in the Standardbred business. Finally he talks about whether being a former horsemen gives him a better understanding of the Racing Secretary position and how he is preparing for next weeks Breeders Crown race cards on Friday and Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.