HEY THERE – HORSE OF THE YEAR SEALY HILL (2007) shows off her little girl, born Feb. 2, by Distorted Humor. The filly is owned and was bred by Eugene Melnyk and was foaled at Vera Simpson’s Curraghmore Farm.
IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL BURNS
He had lots of stories to tell from the track, the curling rink, the auto track -so many other places, almost 30 of them, where he flaunted that camera.
MICHAEL BURNS SR. , and his family, has long been a fixture in canadian horse racing and other sports – but Woodbine was where he could be found most of the time.
In the early mornings or around the track in the afternoon, Burns was capturing the magnificent racehorse in action and providing a service to the horsepeople and racing fans. His family have followed suit and each one is boisterous, happy and popular.
Racing lost Burns Sr. two days ago after an illness and he will be missed by his Woodbine family.
From Woodbine media:
Eclipse Award winner for outstanding thoroughbred photography in North America, Michael Francis Donnelly
Burns, who worked at racetracks since 1943 when he started as an apprentice at “Old” Woodbine in downtown Toronto, passed away at the age of 84 on February 8.
Burns earned a record seven Sovereign Awards for “outstanding
photography,” his most recent coming in 2009. He was part of the
sports scene around the world for the past seven decades, including his
role as the official photographer for the Canadian government at five
Olympics, as well as covering several PanAm and Commonwealth Games.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, before coming to Canada when he was
11-months-old, Burns always had a special affinity for thoroughbreds.
He was the official photographer of the Ontario Jockey Club (Woodbine
Entertainment Group) since 1956 and had a well-earned reputation as one
of Canada’s most respected photographers.
His photos promoted racing for more than 60 years. While working for
Turofsky Photos in the 1940s and 1950s, Burns covered the National
Hockey League at Maple Leaf Gardens.
He also earned accolades while shooting major curling events around the
world, as the official photographer of the Canadian Curling Association
since 1958.
Motorsports was also a big part of his career, shooting the racing
circuit when Mosport opened as well as Indy and Formula One racing.
He made a significant donation of over 30,000 negatives to Canada’s
Sports Hall of Fame. Capturing over 30 different sports from the late
1940’s on, these photos are available for viewing on a section of the
Hall’s website – The Michael Burns Photography Collection.
Burns is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Canada’s
Curling Hall of Fame and the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen, and children, daughters
Mary-Ellen and Patricia, and son Michael, brothers Andrew and John
(predeceased by his sister Anne), as well as son-in-law Jonathan Gee and
granddaughters Katherine and Alexandria.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at St. Clement
Catholic Church, 409 Markland Drive, Toronto, with a reception to follow
at 1 p.m. at St. George’s Golf & Country Club, 1668 Islington Ave.
Visitation will be available from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday at the
Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. West, Toronto.
Donations can be made c/o Dr. A. Simone, Canadian Food for Children
Organization, 40 King George Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M8X 1L3.
AT MEYDAN TOMORROW – DUBAI FESTIVAL CONTINUES
Gayego is back in action
from RACING POST…
Group 1 winners clash in Al Shindagha Sprint
By Jason Ford 12:56PM 10 FEB 2010
Preview: UAE, Thursday 17.40pm GMT (live on ATR and Racing UK and Sky)
Meydan: Al Shindagha Sprint (Group 3) 6f, Tapeta
THE Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint is one of the highlights of Thursday’s fourth fixture of the Dubai Carnival, with the carnival’s leading trainers, both historically and this season, Saeed Bin Suroor and Mike De Kock, well represented in the contest.
A maximum field of 12 will go to post in the 6f Al Shindagha Sprint, with the De Kock-trained Our Giant and Bin Suroor-trained Gayego both shouldering Group 1 penalties.
De Kock’s charge is a Group 1 winner at the trip but also over 1m, both on turf, and is having his first start for the trainer.
Gayego was narrowly beaten at the Breeders’ Cup on his most recent outing, and is to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, with stable companion El Cambio the mount of Ahmed Ajtebi.
OCALA BREEDERS’ SALES CHAMPIONSHIP RACES NEXT WEEK!
The 21st OBS Championship day of racing is next week in Ocala, Florida and the card of racing has some Canadian influence.
The 3-year-old filly race, worth $100,000, is the 3rd event on the card at 1 1/16 miles and features Mark Casse’s ALLEGATION, a Closing Argument – Grazettes, Alydeed filly who won her maiden 2nd time out at Woodbine.
The filly, bred by Bill Rasco, will be ridden by Patrick Husbands and figures to be one of the choies.
Canadian jockey Rob Landry is also in the race, aboard Indulgence for trainer Darrin Miller.
http://www.obssales.com/OBSPAGES/2010PastPerf_draft.pdf
CANADIAN SOVEREIGN AWARD HORSES WORKING
palm meadows: El Brujo (Candy Ride {Arg}), 4f, :51.00, 56/102
palm meadows:
Negligee (Northern Afleet), 5f, 1:02.00, 4/8
FASIG TIPTON KENTUCKY MIXED SALE
M DANCING RHYTHM FLYING PIDGEON DANCING MONARCH ROCKWELL SALES AGENCY (CLAIRE REECE) AGENT FRANK SANSANO $1,700
F PURGE STRIKINGPERFECTION SELECT SALES AGENT DOMINION BLOODSTOCK $4,000
H BEAR’S KID LEMON DROP KID TAP TO MUSIC GLENMALURE FARM LLC (PETER & GINA KIRWAN) AGENT NOVEL GROUP $260,000
Winding Oaks Hosting Stallion Show:
Winding Oaks Farm will be hosting a stallion show
Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Ocala nursery,
which stands Graeme Hall (Dehere) and Strong Hope
(Grand Slam), is located at 5850 S.W. College Rd. Food
and beverages will be served, and drawings will be held
for complimentary breeding seasons. For more information,
contact Briggs & Cromartie at 352.591.5888 or
