Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson / Woodbine Senior Manager, Communication, Mark McKelvie

Ann and Larry conduct an extended interview with Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson, who officially retires as CEO of the company on October 1st. The three talk in length about Jim’s involvement in the horse racing industry, his work as CEO and some of the new initiatives that he oversaw. They also discuss tonight’s Woodbine Mohawk Park racing card and in particular the Mohawk Million, a race that Jim played a large part in bringing to its fruition several years ago. Jim also discusses one particular initiative that he was part of as CEO and why it may have been the most important. Woodbine Senior Manager, Communication, Mark McKelvie, who discusses Thursday’s Little Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio and how its winner validated the North America Cup as one of the leading stakes races for three-year-olds in North America. Mark also discusses tonight’s card at Woodbine Mohawk Park and the several stakes races that make up the card and also talks about the recent appearance of the RCMP Musical Ride at Mohawk. Mark also discusses Woodbine’s upcoming Thoroughbred schedule and in particular the Breeders Stakes and the Pattison International. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry discusses the Little Brown Jug that was won by a Canadian driver for the second time in his career and that the same driver and trainer also combined to win the Jugette for three-year-old fillies the day before. Larry also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks. 

Key Points:

Jim discusses his career at Woodbine which culminated with him taking on the CEO position and whether it was a difficult decision for him to step away. He also mentions his family ties to horse racing which included his father who is part of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and how he was working around the horses with his dad at a very early age. Jim also talks about the importance of the integration of sports betting and horse racing and how the plan is to expand this initiative over the next 12 months and also across Canada. He also talks about the Mohawk Million race at Woodbine Mohawk Park and why it is important to harness racing and is asked if there was one initiative that he was involved in as CEO , that was probably more important than any others and why. 

Mark discusses the win by It’s My Show in Thursday's $1 Million Little Brown Jug Pace at Delaware, Ohio and why the victory helped to stamp the North America Cup as one of the more important stakes races for three-year-old pacers in North America. He also discusses tonight's stakes filled card of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park and in particular talks about some of the horses in the Mohawk Million and is asked if he would best describe the Mohawk Summer meet as being highly successful. He also talks about the two performances at Woodbine Mohawk Park by the RCMP Musical Ride this week and how they were both well attended and why they could have helped in drawing in potential new fans to harness racing and where the efforts could be reflected in tonight’s crowd. Mark also talks about the upcoming stakes schedule still to be completed at Woodbine, that includes the running of the Breeders Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, which will be contested on October 1st on the Woodbine Turf Course. He also discusses the fact that the Pattison Canadian International is back this year after a two year hiatus because of Covid restrictions and that this famed race will be run on October 8th and is also on the Woodbine Turf Course.