Today, Larry goes one on one with Jim Lawson, Woodbine Entertainment’s Executive Chair, who discusses in depth what his role entails and whether this is a position that is voted on by the Woodbine Board of Directors. He also expands on a press release that was sent out by Woodbine, the City of Toronto and the Ontario Government, on Thursday, that will see a new Metrolinx GO Station built on 684 acres of Woodbine’s property and will anchor one of Canada’s most ambitious urban developments and eventually create new revenue streams to support horse racing. Jim also talks about the King’s Plate, the Mohawk Million and the Breeders Crown and how these event nights, including the recently concluded Pepsi North America Cup help to increase ongoing interest in the Woodbine products across North America; Rebecca Maker, a former Thoroughbred Trainer who is now making her mark by rehabilitating horses and preparing them to race again, from her farm in Versailles, Kentucky. She also mentions some of the more familiar horses that she has had an opportunity to work on and bring them back to the track to race and mentions if in some cases, whether the problems on some of the horses she works on, the cause is more mental than physical; Thoroughbred Jockey Deshawn Parker talks about how he was injured in an early morning Training accident in April and whether there is any date set when we may see him back in the saddle. Deshawn also talks about how he became a Jockey and dives into who he looked up to in his younger years.

In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way That Was In Horse Racing News, Larry talks about the recent health news of Hall of Fame Trainer D Wayne Lukas, which forced him to retire from Training Horses. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks, later on in the show and in our ‘Road Trip’ feature, Larry visits Churchill Downs , home today to the Stephen Foster Stakes.

Bullet points of key topics, guests (who they are) & time stamps:

● (10:32) Jim initially talks about his role at Woodbine as Executive Chair and whether the role is one that he has to be voted in by the Board. He also talks about the announcement on Thursday where a new GO Station that will anchor the urban development project situated on 684 acres of land which will take shape over the next 25 years. Jim also discusses how this project will help to create new revenue streams that will support horse racing and its 250-yeare history. Jim is also asked if there is anything that he hasn’t accomplished in his career with Woodbine and also breaks down some of the upcoming feature stakes events at Woodbine and Woodbine Mohawk Park and why these races are great ways to sell the sport of horse racing to new generations.

● (26:32) Rebecca initially talks about how she became involved in rehabilitating Thoroughbreds and whether she believes being a Trainer at first has helped her establiblish her rehabilitation and lay-up business better , as she can discuss equine problems with other Trainers and find the problem that is hindering the horse. She also mentions some of the horses that she has worked on and talks about her Versailles, Kentucky farm and some of the equipment that she uses when treating the horses and sometimes, whether a problem with a horse could be more mental instead of physical. She also talks about how upsetting the demise of horse racing in the State of Michigan is for someone like herself that grew up there and raced at Detroit Racecourse.

● (40:48) Deshawn initially talks about how he was injured in a morning Training accident and how he has been slowly working to get himself back to possibly ride again at a later date. He also talks about his career and some of its highlights and some of the better horses he had an opportunity to ride in his career so far. He also talks about how he became a Jockey and whether he remembers his first ride and initial win, and whether when he broke into the business, if there was another Jockey that acted like a mentor for him at the beginning. He also mentions whether he has a date circled on the calendar, where we may see him back riding.