Trainer Kenny McPeek / Woodbine’s Senior Manager Communications, Mark McKelvie / Truro Raceway’s General Manager Steve Fitzsimmons

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Larry and Ann are joined by Trainer Kenny McPeek, who recently won the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby on the same weekend and who talks about his horse Mystik Dan, who won the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago and is favored today to win the Preakness Stakes. Kenny also discusses in quite detail the path to becoming a Trainer and his various career choices before and mentions when did he know that Mystik Dan was a special type of horse. He also discusses Jockey Brian Hernandez and why he believes that Mystik Dan get’s along with him so well. Woodbine’s Senior Manager Communications, Mark McKelvie, who initially discusses the current Woodbine Thoroughbred meet and some of the social events so far, including the recent opening of the Stella Artois Terrace on the Woodbine 3rd Floor of the Grandstand. He also talks about the King’s Plate and whether moving it to a Saturday this year will help to exceed last years record betting handles for the day and discusses Woodbine Mohawk Park and the upcoming stakes season and in particular the final for the Pepsi North America Cup to be raced on Saturday June 15th. Truro Raceway’s General Manager Steve Fitzsimmons, who discusses Opening Day at the track on Sunday and mentions some of the feature days at the track this season. He also discusses a horse by the name of Mappos Lion who has recently qualified twice at Truro, as he prepares probably for a season of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park and mentions whether there are any major differences in working at Truro as compared to his former track, Hanover Raceway in Ontario. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look at The Way It Was in Horse Racing News, Larry discusses last weeks press release from Woodbine, asking for National Anthem singers to sing at Woodbine Mohawk Park this Summer. In our new feature, ‘Road Trip’, Larry talks about todays Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse and mentions about some of 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:

• Kenny talks first about what it meant to win both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky on the same weekend and both with the same Jockey. He also says how he felt when watching the Kentucky Derby and when in Mystik Dan’s career, did he realize that he was a better than normal horse. He also talks about how Mystik Dan has been training up to todays Preakness and discusses in depth the path he took to becoming a successful Trainer and the significant influence that some of his family also had on him. Kenny also discusses why he and Mystik Dan’s Jockey Brian Hernandez work so well together, which has accounted for some tremendous success to date and mentions an App, ‘Horses Now’ that he is involved in, which helps to inform racing fans more about Thoroughbred racing, while also providing an additional new option to attract more racing fans.

• Mark discusses the current Thoroughbred racing season and in particular the various events that have been hosted at Woodbine, including a successful Kentucky Derby party two weeks ago. He also mentions about the popular Stella Artois Terrace opening this past week and some of its features and discusses the King’s Plate which is set for Saturday August 17th and whether moving it to a Saturday will help eclipse last years record handle on Plate Day. Mark also talks about Woodbine Mohawk Park, namely the $ Million Pepsi North America Cup and how some of the horses nominated to that race are competing at Woodbine Mohawk Park this evening. He also mentions what makes winning the Final of the North America Cup so special and that this year there will be free admission to the race night, to be held on June 15th. Mark also discusses the special fireworks shows at Woodbine Mohawk Park tonight and that there is a special post time for Family Night of 6:30 p.m.

• Steve talks about Opening Day at Truro Raceway tomorrow and how they have ninety-three horses entered and a card of fourteen races. He also mentions how many race dates they have this year and if there would be any possibility of the track receiving some extra dates over the Summer. He also talks about some of the more popular special days they featured at the track last season and mentions a horse by the name of Mappos Lion, who recently Qualified twice at Truro and why he believes the horse will be shipped to Woodbine Mohawk Park shortly. Steve also discusses the major differences in his role at Hanover. Raceway and now Truro and talks in depth how he became so involved in harness racing for almost his entire life. Also, as a former hockey broadcaster, Steve related whether he misses hockey and if there may be a channel that he will get involved in the sport again.