Lichman’s show is improvisational. Although there are specific things the horses know, the horses have a say in what happens, depending on how they are feeling.  The result is a display of affection, bonding and respect.  By asking instead of telling them to do things, Lichman puts his relationship with the horse above all else.

“I try to help people connect with horses so that it’s fun for both the human and the horse,” said the California based horse trainer.

The show will take place from 7:00p.m. to 9:00pm at:  Northfield Farm, 8368 Hwy 7 Rockwood, Ontario. N0B 2K0.

Gayle Ecker, Director of Equine Guelph, will share the spotlight with Lichman and his three horses as the evening’s guest speaker.

Lichman’s lifelong passion for helping humans and horses has inspired him to collaborate with equine organizations worldwide.  His first encounter with Equine Guelph was with researcher Dr. Jeff Thomason, a leading expert in measuring stress in the hoof. Lichman was intrigued with the future research applications that could be made with the ability to electronically measure and quantify stress applied to the hoof.

Fifty percent of the proceeds of the one and only Canadian show date on Lichman’s North American  tour will go to Equine Guelph.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door (children 12 and under are free). Tickets are available through this link:

http://lichmancanada-es2005.eventbrite.ca/?rank=3

Due to the delay in confirming race dates and details of the 2013 OSS program, the guides are later than usual this year, but they have now been printed. They will be mailed on Thursday to the corresponding officer of each horse sustained for the 2013 season. As well, they will be available in the race offices of most Ontario racetracks by Friday or by request from the OSS Administration.

The 2013 schedule and details of the OSS Program were released in April. However, information printed in the racing guide supersedes anything that has been communicated previously. Therefore, participants are encouraged to review the details in the guide.

Of particular note is the schedule change for all of the three-year-old Gold Mid-Summer Challenge events that were originally scheduled for August 10 at Georgian Downs. As published in the racing guide, these events will now be contested at Mohawk Racetrack on the same date. The box for these events will close on Tuesday, August 6 at 10:30 a.m.

Information included in the Racing Guide can also be found on the OSS website.

(OSS)

“We are shocked and disappointed by Toronto City Council’s actions, which have put thousands of jobs at risk. Despite the fact that a majority of Torontonians supported expanded gaming at Woodbine, council rejected an opportunity to protect 7500 existing jobs in Toronto and tens of thousands more throughout the province,” said Nick Eaves, President and CEO of WEG. “Now, with all those jobs in jeopardy, we need to get this right and look forward to continuing the dialogue with Premier Wynne to ensure they are not lost.”

Since the province’s cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks Program and throughout the Toronto casino debate, WEG has consistently warned that without the long-term, sustainable revenue offered by expansion of the existing gaming facility at Woodbine, its horse racing operations – and, by extension, the entire sector – would be at risk.

“Woodbine is vital to the horse racing industry and thousands of people in communities across Ontario whose livelihoods depend on it,” Eaves said. “We are deeply concerned that Council’s decision may open the door for a competing casino in a neighbouring municipality, which could be devastating to our operations, to our core business and to horse racing in Ontario.

“Premier Wynne, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, has indicated that horse racing will be part of Ontario’s new gaming strategy going forward. With this in mind, we want to work with her to ensure that horse racing and the 55,000 jobs it supports across this province have a viable, sustainable future.”

(WEG)

Woodbine CEO Nick Eaves consequently termed the decision “extraordinarily disappointing”.

At the same meeting, Council also dealt a deathblow to the much-debated  issue of a  casino for downtown Toronto.

Read the full story here on Standardbred Canada.

The one-hour broadcast, a joint production of WEG and Sportsnet, is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. (EDT), with the race set for 9:42 p.m.

It will be the first time that a Standardbred race will be shot and aired live in high-definition (HD) in Canada.

The Cup, which carries a $1 million purse, spotlights the best three-year-old pacers on the continent.

“We are very pleased to partner with Sportsnet and have the Pepsi North America Cup aired in high-definition,” said Jamie Martin, WEG’s Executive Vice-President of Racing.  “Standardbred racing is an exciting sport and Mohawk – in its 50^th year – is a terrific venue.  Both will really shine in HD.”

Eclipse Award winner Rob Platts will produce the show. Jason Portuondo will host, while Chad Rozema and Dawn Lupul will report on all the action and offer expert analysis. Ken Middleton Jr. will call the race.

The 84-date Mohawk meet, which kicks off Thursday, May 23, will offer racing Thursday through Saturday, and Mondays.  Post-time is 7:25 p.m.

First race post-time on Pepsi North America Cup night is 7:05 p.m.

(WEG)

When standardbred racing returns to the Campbellville, Ont. oval on May 23, there will be a double draw held on Tuesdays for Friday and Saturday’s card. The entry box will close at 10:30 a.m. on draw days.

Additionally, Woodbine Entertainment Group would like to announce a change to two-year-old qualifying sessions.

Originally scheduled for Fridays, all freshmen qualifiers will now take place on Saturday mornings during the month of June, beginning at 10 a.m.

The box will close every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

“Ontario’s horse racing and breeding industry has been reeling since March 2012 when the Government of Ontario announced the cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks Program. Our industry’s concerns were compounded by what we perceived to be process failures on the part of the OLG Board to ensure our industry had a role to play in their modernization plan.

Under Premier Wynne, our industry has seen the start of a number of positive steps, including the government’s announcement that horse racing will become an integrated partner in the government’s future gaming strategy.

We have welcomed these changes, and with the departure of the OLG board that designed the province’s modernization strategy, we believe there is a real opportunity for Premier Wynne to develop a new strategy that engages Ontario’s horse racing and breeding sector, brings communities into the decision making process, and creates an approach to gaming modernization that is more palatable to everyone.

The horse racing industry believes that Premier Wynne has an opportunity to formally pause the OLG’s current modernization process, including the RFPQs underway in Sudbury, Peterborough and Ottawa, to ensure the OLG does not make any decisions regarding gaming zones where racetracks currently exist.

The horse racing and breeding industry is ready to work with the Premier to develop a program that substantially increases government revenues and ensures the sustainability of horse racing and breeding in Ontario.”

Sue Leslie had the opportunity to meet personally with Premier Wynne at the end of April to discuss Ontario’s horse racing and breeding sector, “Premier Wynne’s actions indicate that she will continue to make good on the commitments she made during that meeting to the horse racing and breeding industry in Ontario.”

(OHRIA)

The entire OLG Board of Directors subsequently tendered their resignations in sympathy later the same day.

Premier Wynne’s decision can  only be seen as a godsend for Ontario horse racing.  OLG’s avowed ”modernization strategy”  has already ravaged the industry by deliberately leaving racing participants completely out of the mix with the abrupt cancellation of the Slots At Racetracks Program.

Read more details on the OLG shakeup here in The Globe & Mail.

Horsepeople will now be allowed to train on Friday mornings from 7:00 a.m. until noon, beginning on May 17.

The track is also available for training on Tuesdays from 7:00 a.m. until noon and Wednesdays from 7:00 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Horsepeople will also be able to train before a night’s card except Fridays in June and major stakes nights. Any horses coming into train on race nights or qualifying days will be asked to ship into either Barn 5 or Barn 8.

(WEG)

Two Ontario breeding farms, High Stakes Farm in Moffat and Oak Knoll Stables in Campbellcroft, opened their farms to the general public from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12).

Despite inclement weather that included everything from snow, hail and sleet, over 300 people ventured out to the two farms.

The horses were the stars of the event, but in addition to meeting the resident mares, foals, yearlings and stallions at the farms, the guests were able to interact with the breeders, their families and staff to learn about the province’s standardbred breeding and racing industry and a typical day in their lives.

“This is an excellent event that should be done each year,” said Joanne Colville of High Stakes. “From my personal experience yesterday, the event was a stepping stone for me to now take several interested parties to Mohawk to see live racing.”

Caroline Thornton of Oak Knoll stated that the tours were very well received. “Most of the people who came had never seen a breeding environment and were quite fascinated by the facility and the information,” she said. “We had detailed posters up at every paddock describing the mares and foals and yearlings, people seemed to like the fact they knew which horse was which and also had a volunteer there to answer any questions.”

“The SBOA is extremely pleased with the response received at the Mother’s Day Open House promotion,” said Walter Parkinson, president of the SBOA. “From talking to our hosts at the farms, the people who made the trek in less than ideal weather conditions were sincerely interested in learning more about the breeding industry. For many, it was an opportunity to see a mare and foal close up for the first time. We feel that this type of educational opportunity is important as it exposes people to the sport and helps them understand the importance of the breeding industry to the rural economy. Many of the guests said they would be making a trip to the racetrack for the first time in the next few weeks as a follow up.

“A very special thanks goes out to Joanne Colville and her staff and family at High Stakes Farm, and Caroline Thornton, Ken Morden and their staff and volunteers at Oak Knoll Stables for all of their hard work and effort in ensuring the continuance of this successful promotion.”

Colville is actively involved with the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society. Anyone interested in owning a horse of their own can contact Colville through the OSAS website.

(Standardbred Canada)