Thoroughbreds finally off and running
Opener at Woodbine is city’s first sports action in nearly three months
It was certainly worth the wait for Darryll P. Holland. The British-born jockey earned his first career win in the first race of the season at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, as the 2020 thoroughbred campaign finally started — with no fans in attendance because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holland, 47, rode 14-1 longshot Majestic Fever to a rare victory in brilliant sunshine and balmy 23C temperatures.
“This means a lot to me because it’s my first win in Canada,” Holland said.
“I’ve been galloping all week because I was in self-isolation for14 days before that, so it’s not been easy.
“I’ve had to get fit very quickly and take off a bit of weight, but I’m sure there’s better to come from me.”
The resumption of horse racing marked the first pro sports action in the Greater Toronto Area since March 10, when the Maple Leafs edged the Tampa
Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena. A total of 11 races were run at Woodbine, featuring 118 entries. Harness racing returned to Mohawk on Friday.
Prior to Saturday’s first race, Woodbine’s jockey colony all took a knee in support of anti-racism.
Holland — who also rode Candy’s Dream, a 49-1 long shot, to second place in the feature event, a $123,200 maiden special won by Fairywren with Luis Contreras aboard — had made just three starts in graded stakes at Woodbine, more than a decade ago.
His previous best result was a fourth-place finish in the 2000
E.P. Taylor Stakes (Grade I) aboard Irish-bred Alexis.
He has ridden in 20 countries over his career, but will make Woodbine his home this year.
“It’s not quite finished business, but it’s nice to ride a winner and get the monkey off my back, so to speak, and ride a winner for a good trainer (Vito Armata),” Holland said. “He had faith in putting me up, even though he probably didn’t know me.”
It was an exciting start to racing at the Toronto oval after a seven-week delay. The thoroughbred season was scheduled to open April 18. With the NHL, NBA, Major
League Baseball and Major League Soccer all sidelined, horse racing stole the spotlight with a sporting public that’s had precious little to watch these past few months.
Racing at Woodbine and Mohawk was conducted with essential personnel only, adhering to strict health and safety protocols. Jockeys and outriders wore masks on the track, although jockeys were free to remove them during their races. Starting-gate crew members also donned masks.
Holland rode Majestic Fever to victory in a $23,500 claiming event on Woodbine’s tapeta track to kick off the season. Majestic Fever, a seven-year-old gelding, covered the five-furlong event in 59.34 seconds, finishing a length ahead of Gasconade, a 5-2 pick.
“A perfect start,” Woodbine track announcer Robert Geller said once the opening race began. “A perfect start to the season.”
Majestic Fever ended a dismal 0-24 drought since its last win in October 2017. The victory was Majestic Fever’s third in 30 career starts.
Holland had Majestic Fever coming off the pace on the outside and was able to successfully surpass the leaders for the long-awaited victory.
Woodbine isn’t the first track in Canada to offer live thoroughbred racing this year. Winnipeg’s Assiniboia Downs reopened May 25 and registered an opening-night handle of $1.067 million — more than double the norm, without spectators.
Fort Erie Racetrack opened Tuesday, generating $2.09 million in wagering. That’s up 70 per cent over last year’s opening day and second only to the $2.18 million for the 2016 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown.