Woodbine’s VP-Stakeholder Relations Jorge Soares / Announcer Robert Geller / Marketing Manager, Racing and Wagering - Tony Elliott

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

It is an all-Woodbine show, as Ann and Larry are joined by Woodbine’s VP-Stakeholder Relations Jorge Soares, Announcer Robert Geller and Marketing Manager, Racing and Wagering, Tony Elliott. Jorge talks about his new role at Woodbine, his background with the company and a recent honor that was instilled upon him as the new Chair of Directors of the esteemed Ontario Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Association. He also discusses the recent King’s Plate at Woodbine and how the plans are moving ahead for next years edition. Robert summarizes the 2023 Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine and some of the amazing performances on the track both equine and human. Robert also talks about his plans once the racing season shuts down tomorrow and handicaps a couple of races on the Woodbine Saturday racing card and provides two of his best bets of the day. Tony talks about the 2023 racing season at Woodbine Mohawk Park and one of the surprise performances during the year and discusses the upsurge in betting on both HPIbet and Dark Horse. He also talks about the major differences in marketing the Standardbred industry to the Thoroughbred one. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look At The Way It Was In Horse Racing News, being our last show of 2023, Larry talks about in his opinion what were the three major highlights in horse racing this year and also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today.

Key Points:

• Jorge talks first about his role as VP Stakeholder Relations with Woodbine and what his role encompasses. He also discusses where it all began for him with Woodbine and recently, how he was named the Chair of Directors for the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association and why the Association is so important to him. He also talks about the role that the Association plays and why the Chair of Directors position was so important to him and Woodbine. Jorge also reflects on this year’s King’s Plate and why it was such a highlight of the Woodbine race meet and talks about the status of some of the plans for next year’s event, which includes taking advantage of some of the other assets on the Woodbine property.

• Robert describes the 2023 racing season at Woodbine and some of the major performances on the track both equine and human. He also mentions a horse who he believes is a rising star at Woodbine and will be a force to reckon with next season as a four-year-old and discusses his routine when preparing to call a Woodbine race card. Robert also talks about his plans for the Winter once the Woodbine season wraps up tomorrow and handicaps two of the races on today’s Woodbine card and gives out his two Best Bet’s of the day.

• Tony discusses some of the highlights of the current Woodbine Mohawk Park race meet and talks about the HPIbet and Dark Horse products and how both have continued to grow in popularity. He also talks about some of the ‘break out’ performances on the track and a Standardbred performance that to him was a major surprise and whether there was an adjustment for him going from two smaller harness tracks, Clinton and Western Fair Raceway to his role at Woodbine. He also gives his opinion on who should be Standardbred ‘Horse of the Year’ when the O’Brien Awards are handed out early next year and mentions what is the biggest difference in marketing the Standardbred product as compared to the Thoroughbred one. Tony also mentions how the Winter Mohawk meet will race through to the end of March when it then shuts down for track renovations.