The year-end drama had played out well before Sunday’s huge 13-race season-ending card at Woodbine, but many of the magical moments of the meet were no less historic.
Mark Casse set records in both major training categories. It was a fifth straight training title and sixth overall for Casse, who won 119 races, shattering the mark established by the late Frank Passero in 1995 (89 wins). Casse also won more purses in one Woodbine meet than any horseman ever, collecting $6,670,906 eclipsing his own 2007 mark.
Reade Baker was second on the trainers’ chart with 61 wins, with Robert Tiller and Steve Asmussen third, each notching 45 victories.
Luis Contreras collected his first Woodbine jockey title, recording 212 wins on the meet, falling just short of Mickey Walls’ classic 1991 record of 221 wins in a single meet. Contreras did write himself into the record books by earning more purses at Woodbine in one season than any other rider, collecting $11,563,915, edging Todd Kabel’s 2003 mark of $11,284,853.
Patrick Husbands was a clear second in the standings with 192 wins, while Emma-Jayne Wilson was third (135 wins).
Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc. led all owners at Woodbine with $1,622,395 in purse earnings. Bear Stables Ltd. was second with $1,581,254 and had the most wins with 33. Donver Stable was third with $1,520,979.
Fillies had a fabulous year as the top three money earners at Woodbine meet were all distaffers. Inglorious, who won both the Queen’s Plate ($11) and Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser ($5.20) led all horses with $1,053,000 in earnings. Sarah Lynx, who beat 15 colts in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Pattison Canadian International ($46.90) was second with $900,000, with E.P. Taylor Stakes Miss Keller rounding out the top three with $624,000.
Hank’s Hill had seven wins to lead all runners at the 165-day season (two cancelled dates).
In the other major stakes events, Turallure ($14.90) won the Woodbine Mile, and Pender Harbour ($6.20) won the Breeders’ Stakes, giving him two-thirds of Canadian Triple Crown Series (he also won the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie).
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