Woodbine Mile Tournament leaves lasting impression

That guy you see in the Woodbine Club on Saturday wearing the Turkish National Team soccer jersey? That would be me. Why am I wearing the Turkish National Team soccer jersey? Because I couldn’t find their hockey jersey.

Let me explain. In 2016 I made my first-ever trip to Woodbine in June, on a Daily Racing Form junket. I liked the place so much I vowed to come back that September for the first-ever Woodbine Mile Horseplayers Tournament. I knew almost immediately that the Woodbine Mile contest would become a regular feature on my travel itinerary. Woodbine’s treatment of its players is first rate. I loved the track and the whole city of Toronto. Plus, Mile weekend coincides with the Toronto Film Festival and my anniversary, making it an easy sell to my wife, Susan, who enjoys racing and is a real film buff. Plus, it was a great day of racing highlighted by Tepin’s game win in the featured race.

But what I remember most fondly about that day was the little side wager I made with contest director Mike Eves. If a U.S. player won, he’d have to wear a hockey jersey of my choosing at the next year’s contest, and vice versa. When New York’s Don Chung won in a wild finish, it was decided. Sure enough, last year Eves sported a #22 vintage Mike Bossy number and was harassed by disgruntled Maple Leafs fans as he made his way through the grandstand. (It could have been worse, Mike. I could have made you don an Ottawa Senators sweater.)

In 2017, Eves got a measure of revenge when Ali Aksoy won the Mile contest. Since Aksoy divides time between Toronto and his native Turkey, Eves quite charitably suggested the attire I’ll be wearing proudly on Saturday.

There is still time to sign up for Saturday’s Woodbine Mile Horseplayers Tournament. Interested players should contact Mike Eves at (416) 271-3020 or mxe@hpibet.com.

The buy-in is $3,500 Canadian and walk-ups are allowed. The prize pool will include two guaranteed seats to the $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, four seats to the National Horseplayers Championship, and $10,000 Canadian in cash. The final ratio of entries to prizes will be determined by participation, but last year’s contest offered one of the best ratios around with one seat for every six players.

There’s also a $1 million Canadian bonus should the winner of this contest go on to win the NHC or BCBC. The winner must choose the tournament in which to apply the potential bonus.

Furthermore, consider this special bonus for U.S. players only, the handicapping tournament equivalent of a ship-andwin award: The winner is eligible to be flown back to Toronto on a VIP trip for the Pattison International on Oct. 15, including flight, hotel stay, quality food, and beverage at the track, and even limo service.

If you can’t make it to the Great White North this weekend, you can still compete in handicapping contests via DRF Tournaments, where there will be qualifiers for Keeneland’s Fall Challenge and the Fall Classic at the Orleans Las Vegas. Go to tournaments.drf. com for a full list of the available options.