Trainer Mark Casse / Woodbine Apprentice Jockey Sofia Vives / Woodbine’s Assistant Clerk of Scales Dino Luciani

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Larry and Ann are joined by Trainer Mark Casse, who recently won his 16th Sovereign Award for leading Trainer in Canada, and he discusses what it means to be recognized with this award and what he attributes its success to. He also discusses his two racing companies, one in Canada and the other in the United States and how his wife Tina plays a significant role in running both with him and discusses in depth his stable at Woodbine and some of the major stakes races he is pointing to this summer. Woodbine, Apprentice Jockey Sofia Vives, who discusses what it meant to win her Sovereign Award for Leading Apprentice in Canada for 2023 and to be considered for the Eclipse Award for Leading Apprentice in North America and she also explains why the other two finalists had more winners in 2023 than she had. Sofia also talks about the great start she has had at Woodbine so far this year and discusses her riding style and whether there was a Jockey that she followed when she was younger that she looked up to and why she respected their riding style. Woodbine’s Assistant Clerk of Scales Dino Luciani, who talks about his position and what it entails and what would be a typical race day for him now. He also talks about his riding career and how he knew it was time to retire and what it is about horse racing that makes him so excited about being part of the industry in some form. He also touches upon some of his other career paths after retiring from race riding and why he was happy to be back at Woodbine on a full-time scale again. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, Larry discusses last weeks Kentucky Derby and also touches upon Canadian born Jockey Stewart Elliott and how his 18-year-old son is following him into the Thoroughbred industry as a Jockey and actually won with his first mount recently. In our new feature, ‘Road Trip’, Larry talks about todays Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct 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:

• Mark talks first about winning the recent Sovereign Award for Canadian Trainer of the year for the 16th time and why the award still means so much to him and talks about the crew working for him, that helped make the 2023 season so successful. He also mentions about his two racing divisions, one in Canada and the other in the United States and how his wife Tina has been instrumental in assisting him with the day-to-day business and how she helps keep him grounded in a sense. Mark also mentions what race he would still like to win and add to his Training accomplishments and discusses his Canadian division at Woodbine and some of the Stake’s events that he is looking forward to over the Summer including the King’s Plate. Mark also talks about the influence that his father had on his career and is asked if he remembers his first win as a Trainer and where it took place.

• Sofia discusses winning her first Sovereign Award as leading Apprentice Jockey in Canada and how why she was thrilled to finish second in the Eclipse Award voting for Leading Apprentice Jockey in North America. She also discusses the early success she has had at Woodbine so far this year and talks about her riding style and why she excels at getting a horse to leave the Starting Gate quickly. Sofia also mentions the influence her father has had on her career and whether there was a Jockey that she followed growing up that also influenced how she prepared for and then actually ride a race. For our listeners, Sofia also discusses the process of going from an Apprentice rider to a Journeyman and when this will happen for her. She also adds why it would be nice to have a mount in this years King’s Plate.

• Dino speaks about his role at Woodbine as Assistant Clerk of Scales and what the job entails. He also mentions what a typical day is like for him when Woodbine is racing now, and he is in the Jockey’s Room and talks about how he knew it was time to retire from race riding. He also talks about the close relationship he has with Trainer Mike De Paulo and his wife Josie over the years and how he still works horses out for them in the morning. Dino also talks about how he became so interested in horse racing and especially becoming a Jockey and mentions some of the top horses that he had an opportunity to ride over the years. He also talks about some of his career paths he followed retiring from riding, only to return to Woodbine in his new role.