The Meadowlands COO and General Manager - Jason Settlemoir / Woodbine Thoroughbred Trainer Harold Ladouceur / James Macdonald, Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Leading Driver

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Ann and Larry are joined by The Meadowlands COO and General Manager, Jason Settlemoir, who talks about his recent prestigious Stan Bergstein Proximity Award, which is given for outstanding achievement in the harness racing sport. He also talks about the influence that Meadowland’s owner Jeff Gural has had on his career in racing and mentions about the Meadowlands hosting the Breeders Crown races again this October. Woodbine Thoroughbred Trainer Harold Ladouceur, who talks about the important significance of his recent Hall of Fame induction into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame and why winning the award left him ‘speechless.’ Harold also discusses how he became involved in Thoroughbred racing and if he had any influencers throughout his training career. James Macdonald, Woodbine Mohawk Park’s leading driver, who talks about his record-breaking season in 2023 and if he has any set goals for the 2024 racing season. James also talks about the importance of winning an O’Brien Award as Canada’s leading harness driver and why the award holds a special significance to him. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look at The Way It Was in Horse Racing News, Larry talks about the closing figures of the 2023 Woodbine Thoroughbred Race Meet and talks about a former successful Woodbine Trainer, who recently passed away. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks.

Key Points:

• Jason talks first about what winning the prestigious Proximity award for harness racing and why the award has a special meaning, being named after legendary harness racing icon Stan Bergstein. He also talks about his working relationship with Meadowlands Racetrack owner Jeff Gural and especially what Jeff has meant to his career in harness racing and discusses the 2023 Meadowland’s racing season. He also talks about the recent announcement where the Meadowlands Racetrack will be hosting the Breeders Crown Championship races once again in October and why he is looking forward to the stakes events.

• Harold talks first about what it felt like to be named to the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame and the story of how he finally found that he had been selected. He also talks about how he originally got involved in Thoroughbred racing and a couple of people who had a major influence on him at the very beginning. Harold also discusses what he looks for exactly in a young horse, as he is known to have a ‘keen eye’ when selecting them at auction and who was the best horse that he has trained to date. He also discusses the 2024 season which should see him in charge of seventeen horses and talks about some of the horses that raced well for him in 2023, that he is expecting great things from in 2024.

• James discusses his record season last year and whether he has any goals set for the 2024 Standardbred harness racing season. He also discusses the upcoming O’Brien Awards of which he is nominated for Outstanding Driver in 2023 and why the O’Brien’s hold a special significance to him. He also talks about what he does when he is not driving to relax and whether he has a support group and what his routine is like before a race night and whether the routine changes if he is preparing for a major stakes race. James also discusses driving styles, namely if it is difficult to go from a 7/8ths mile track like Woodbine Mohawk Park to a smaller half mile track.