Down the Stretch for May 3, 2021

A huge portion of this podcast is consumed by Canadian harness drivers winning races at U.S. tracks. In fact, this podcast has 19 harness race calls, unofficially a record for a podcast. Down The Stretch interviewed Louis-Philippe Roy then watched him win at Hoosier Park. Other Canadians taking down U,S. purses are Scott Zeron, James MacDonald, Mark MacDonald, Bob McClure and Trevor Henry. Chantal Sutherland makes this podcast again, thanks to a brilliant ride on an 8-1 shot at Gulfstream. Jockey John Velazquez had the kind of weekend all athletes dream about. He won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday with Malathaat, then delivered 12-1 shot, Medina Spirit to victory in the Kentucky Derby. Writer Robin Dawson has been around horses for several decades and he gifted us his first novel, Last Hurrah, which is a great read. Dawson tells us it’s about murder, money laundering, horses killed for insurance and crumbling racetracks. And we ‘sampled’ Mic’d Up to hear Jody Jamieson giving us the play-by-play while he wins with the outstanding Sintra.