Beginning with the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on Aug. 7, current Jockey Club of Canada members will be attending various key race days at tracks in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

The presentation dates and locations include:

• Aug. 7 at Assiniboia Downs
• Aug. 26 at Century Mile
• Aug. 27 at Grande Prairie, Evergreen Park
• Sept. 12 at Fort Erie Race Track
• Sept. 16 at Hastings Racecourse
• Sept. 16 at Century Downs
• Oct. 8 at Woodbine Racetrack

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In the mid-70s, the Leamington native was a star junior goalie for the Peterborough Petes. After hanging up his skates, he seamlessly transitioned into the world of mainstream sports broadcasting, working for various networks including CTV, CBC as well as TSN. In 1976, at the age of 21, Salive's first network assignment was covering five events a day at the Montreal Summer Olympics for CTV.

In 1990 he stepped into the world of horse racing at Woodbine Racetrack. Salive worked at Woodbine for a decade and a half before heading west to London, Ontario to call races at Western Fair for four years from 2005 to 2009. His next venture would be Pompano Park in Florida where his voiced filled the atmosphere and racing apron until 2012. As he developed his craft calling races, Salive credits several announcers that impacted his career in the announcer's booth.

“I would say Stan Bergstein was a foundation announcer that I really patterned myself after for harness racing. Certainly, Dan Loiselle (thoroughbred racing) helped me a lot in my years at Woodbine. I went a lot by his example – to transform a race from just the look of horses going on an oval into a little bit of a story,” said Salive.

In 2016, the venerable track announcer landed his feet at Fort Erie Race Track. He's called the border oval home for the last six racing seasons.

Narrating a fleet of horses as they move from gate to wire jockeying for top spot might seem like a fairly straightforward task, but Salive knows there's a lot more to it than that.

“You really don't know how your body and mind are going to react, but its kind counterintuitive to the crowd. The crowd is excited, and they are all cheering, and you have to be exactly the opposite. Before The Prince of Wales – a live national tv broadcast, you challenge yourself on how far you can slow down your heart rate and breathing because you can't be out of control with excitement from gate to wire. You have to build it up to the finish. So, it's different than being in the crowd as a race fan, you have to go the opposite direction and stay calm.”

Asked to recall career highlights at the border oval, the track announcer is quick to respond.

“I came from a strong Standardbred past so to get to cross over and do six of the Canadian Triple Crown races in my tenure here.”

To date, Salive has called close to 200,000 races during his illustrious career. Salive will call his last card at Fort Erie Race Track this afternoon.

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“Following suit with the provincial government regulations, all our fans must be fully vaccinated if they intend to come and watch live racing at our venue,” said Tom Valiquette, FELRC's chief financial officer. “This will also apply to anyone who intends to watch simulcast racing at the Racebook throughout the week as well as the weekend.”

Government regulations stipulate that a fully vaccinated person is one that has received a full series of the vaccine authorized by Health Canada. This would include any combination of the vaccines. A person is also considered fully vaccinated if they have received one or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada, followed by one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine authorized by Health Canada. Additionally, a person is fully vaccinated if they received three doses of the vaccine not authorized by Health Canada and received their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine 14 days before providing proof.

Proof of vaccination includes a paper or emailed receipt provided by the Ontario government. Individuals can print or download their vaccine receipt from the provincial booking portal. Additionally, individuals needing support in obtaining their vaccination receipt can also call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

Spectators that are 18 years old or younger are exempt from the government's mandate to be fully vaccinated to attend live racing.

Medical exemptions will be allowed for a multitude of reasons and as outlined by Ontario's Ministry of Health. One valid exemption is if the individual suffered an allergic reaction related to a component in the vaccine. The second valid exemption is if the individual suffers a heart condition after the first dose of the vaccine. Individuals must provide written documentation completed by a physician or registered nurse stating the medical reason for not being full vaccinated as well as the effective time-period for the medical reason.

All Fort Erie Race Track employees, contractors and horsepeople will be required to be fully vaccinated, or they must enter into an enhanced screening program for the foreseeable future.

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The 124-year-old border oval will feature racing on Mondays at 1 p.m. as well as twilight racing on Tuesday afternoons commencing at 4 p.m. Enhanced racing COVID protocols are in place to ensure the health and safety of all racing participants.

The opening day card will include two Cup races: The Sprint into Summer and the Summer Solstice Cup. The Sprint into Summer is for colts and geldings (maidens), aged three or older going five furlongs on the dirt. The Summer Solstice is for fillies and mares (maidens), aged three or older going five furlongs on the dirt as well.

“We wanted to start off this season with a strong card and we think the Cup races are a great addition to our opening day,” said Drew Cady, the general manager of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “Every horseperson has been working hard to prepare their horses for this year's meet and we believe it will be a great season despite delays due to the provincial lockdown.”

The Prince of Wales Stakes is scheduled to take place at the end of summer on Tuesday, September 14. The $400,000 race will feature Canada's finest three-year-old thoroughbreds, running 1 mile and 3/16 on Fort Erie's dirt track. Given the current COVID-19 restrictions it remains uncertain whether fans will be able to attend the 86th running of the second jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

While fans are not able to attend live racing, they can watch racing online at www.forterieracing.com/streaming-and-replays. Wagering on horse racing in Ontario will be available through www.hpibet.com.

For more information on the upcoming 2021 racing season please visit www.forterieracing.com.

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Thursday, the Government of Ontario announced a three-step plan to gradually reopen the economy. Horse racing will be allowed to reopen in Step One of their 'Roadmap to Reopen.' Live racing will resume on June 15 pending the province meets its target to complete 60 percent of first dose COVID-19 vaccinations for adults in Ontario.

“We are very grateful that the province has recognized the importance of racing in Ontario in Step One of their 'Roadmap to Reopen,” said Drew Cady, general manager of the FELRC. “All the horse people at the Fort are following strict COVID-19 protocols in order to get this racing season up and going as soon as possible.”

Live racing at the border oval will take place on Mondays at 1 p.m. as well as Tuesday afternoons at 4 p.m. Following strict COVID-19 protocols in line with the provincial government, the track will remain closed to spectators. The backstretch remains open to essential workers who oversee the care of the horses.

Three race days will be lost at the start of the season. The FELRC may consider adding these race days at the end of the season, however, this is to be confirmed and pending regulatory approvals. Despite the delayed meet, Fort Erie has increased the number of race days from 40 to 42 for the 2021 racing season.

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Racing will commence when the province ends the lockdown and gives approval for horse racing to resume in Ontario. Fort Erie's backstretch will remain open in order to provide essential care for horses. 

“Following the government's announcement and keeping in line with the province's COVID-19 guidelines, the track will remain closed for racing at this time,” said Drew Cady, general manager of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “We are ready to begin our racing season and will continue to work with Ontario Racing and the province to safely commence live racing as quickly as possible.”

When the season begins, live racing will run on Mondays at 1 p.m. and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. For updates on the upcoming season visit www.forterieracing.com.

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The race is the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, between the Queen's Plate (scheduled for Aug. 22), and the Breeders' Stakes, both held at Woodbine Racetrack.

For the second year in a row COVID-19 has pushed the race from its traditional date at the end of July to September. It is too early to predict if fans will be permitted to attend, or if COVID-19 will continue to impact attendance.

“This event is our most prestigious race at Fort Erie Race Track, and we are committed to running this historic race for the 86th year,” said Drew Cady, general manager of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “Although we were able to safely host a racing season last year, it wasn't the same without fans. We hope that in the upcoming season we will once again be able to open our grandstand to our loyal fans, especially for our signature day.”

In 2020, the one-eyed Mighty Heart was the Prince of Wales Stakes victor with jockey Daisuke Fukumoto. Trained by Josie Carroll for Lawrence Cordes, Mighty Heart captured the first two jewels of the crown but was defeated on the turf in the Breeders' Stakes. The last horse to win all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown was Wando in 2003.

Fort Erie Race Track's 2021 season is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 1 at a 4:00 p.m. post time, and will run primarily Mondays and Tuesdays through to October 19.

For more information about the upcoming season visit www.FortErieRacing.com.

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The man known as “Si” makes sure everything runs as smooth as silk at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario.

For the past seven years, Richard Simons has been the “colors man” at the Thoroughbred border oval, responsible for more than 2,500 “silks” – the long-sleeved shirts worn by jockeys – that hang from large racks in the space that's connected to the jockeys' room.

His little corner of the world is a literal kaleidoscope of color.

Four washers and four dryers – each of them heavy-duty machines – are in constant use on race days at Fort Erie. Simons will also put them to work on the days prior to and the days after live racing, depending on what he's able to get done.

It is, despite the odd challenge, a labor of love for the 74-year-old.

“I was at the racetrack here in Fort Erie starting when I was about 10, selling newspapers in the jocks' room,” recalled Simons. “From there, I worked in the administration building. I was involved with horses for a long time when I was a kid. But I left the sport for 35 years before I came back to the track. I worked in the railroad industry for 12 years and I had my own business for 19 years. But I came back and I'm sure glad I did. I worked in the backside walking horses, but Harry Eder [Horsepeople's Relations at Fort Erie] asked me if I'd be interested in being a valet. I felt I was too old, so he asked if I wanted to do the colors.”

Accompanied by a somewhat self-deprecating laugh, Simons initially had little understanding of what the role was about.

An affinity for the Thoroughbred world, and the opportunity to learn his craft from one of the best in the business, convinced Simons to give it a try.

“I had no idea what Harry was talking about, but the guy who was doing it, Des McMahon… nobody is as good as Des, who does the same job at Woodbine. The guy's got a memory like a copy machine. You could call him at Woodbine and ask him for anybody's colors, and he'd know the whole bit. He's really good and he taught me. He's unreal.”

It took Simons less than a six-furlong race to appreciate the colors job was anything but black and white.

“Looking back, I'd say this job took me five years to feel really comfortable. But no one day is like the next. You have to be really focused and organized.”

Not surprisingly, the more horses entered for a race card means more work and longer hours.

“If we have eight races with nine horses in each race – after each race I wash the silks and I do the saddlecloths. Say if in the third race that you have a comeback [set of silks] that was used in the first race, you have to make sure that you have done it and it's ready for that third race.”

Preparation is paramount, offered Simons.

“We race Monday and Tuesday. I start my job on Sunday. I work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Sunday, I'll go in and get all my silks ready, and all the saddlecloths ready. We race Monday and Tuesday, and whatever I didn't get done Tuesday, I'll take care of it Wednesday morning.”

In a sport dominated by numbers, Simons has an important one of his own: eight.

It's the amount of time the washer takes to clean each load of silks.

“Eight minutes, that's it. Then I throw them in the dryer. There have been a couple of times when the same silks are being used soon after the first time in a day when they haven't been ready. But that's rare. You just do what everybody else in this sport – work hard, take pride in what you do, and always do the best you can.”

Not even a sloppy Fort Erie main track can diminish Simons' love for racing.

Rain and mud are, however, an unwelcome coupled entry for the man at the control of the washers and dryers.

“What happens is after you wash the silks and the saddlecloths, there's always sand in the bottom of the washing machine, and it's tough. What happens is that sometimes I have to take them out, throw a rinse in them, and put them back in the machine. When it's muddy, that's the hardest part.”

The best part?

“The guys and girls in the jocks' room. They're all good. It's just like a family. They all call me 'Papa.' I get along with everybody.”

Among the countless color combinations, some traditional pairings, others bolder in appearance, Simons does have a particular set of silks that he counts as his favorite.

They belong to owner-trainer Layne Giliforte.

Richard Simons in the silks room (photo courtesy of Fort Erie)

“They're Miami Dolphins colors,” noted Simons. “And I'm a Dolphins fan.”

He's also a stickler for organization.

“I have my silks all alphabetically arranged. You get to know where they are. For example, Julie Mathes, she's the leading trainer this year. I can tell you exactly where hers are, and her husband's are right beside hers.”

Don't expect Simons to be calling it a career any time soon. He's too busy enjoying his time at Fort Erie.

“I love the job. My bosses are great and they treat me very well. I always keep busy. And I love the racing.”

After the Fort Erie racing season ended on Oct. 13, Simons doesn't plan to kick back and wait for the new campaign to begin.

He's still attached to colors, albeit in this instance just two, specifically, green grass and white snow.

“I do lawns. I have six lawns that I do for elderly people and in the wintertime, I do their driveways with a snow blower. I just keep on trying to go.”

Simons, who lives three blocks from the racetrack, is encouraging his wife to have the same approach.

“My wife is sick, but the [health] benefits we receive are very good. She's battling lung cancer. But if you ever saw her, you'd never know she had it. It's her second bout with it. She tries to keep busy. All you can do is hope and pray.”

And, with a little good fortune, Simons can keep on doing what he loves to do.

“I would like to do my job as long as I can. Why wouldn't I want to? It puts a smile on my face every day.”

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“This season we had a backstretch community with close to 500 essential horse people, and more than 100 active staff members, and we were able to complete our meet safely and without any positive COVID-19 cases,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “It was crucial that we were able to operate this season, and I want to thank all of our community members for working together safely and following our COVID-19 protocols. Through the efforts of every one of our team members, we were able to put on another successful season during one of the most challenging years in our history.”

Despite being closed to fans, Fort Erie saw a record year for wagering, with $40.2 million wagered this season on 39 days, up from $29.9 million last year with 40 days. This includes 15 days this season where more than $1 million was wagered.

Closing day  on Tuesday featured the Tour de Fort at two miles and 70 yards on the main track. Auntie Katherine took the lead early on with jockey Emile Ramsammy, and she held on to that position for both laps around the track until she crossed the finish line. Trained by Jennifer Davis for owner Big Boy Racing, Auntie Katherine also won the Puss n Boots Cup and the Molson Cup earlier this season. With four wins from five starts, Auntie Katherine was this year's meet leading horse.

It was a very successful season for jockey Juan Crawford, who claimed the title of leading rider this year with 48 wins. Among his many victories, highlights included the Puss n Boots Cup and the Molson Cup, both with Auntie Katherine.

“I try to make use of every shot that I get, whether it's a long shot or a favorite. I just want to give every horse a fair chance and do my best for the people that I'm riding for,” said Crawford.

Jockey Melanie Pinto was second this year with 37 wins, followed by Kirk Johnson.  Julie Mathes finished the season as leading trainer with 29 wins at Fort Erie, and her husband David Mathes took home the title of leading owner.

Fort Erie recently hosted the 85th Prince of Wales Stakes on September 29. The event is the 2nd jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, won by Mighty Heart, who now holds the first two legs of the series. Trained by Josie Carroll for owner Lawrence Cordes, the one-eyed wonder will be looking to make a run at the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine on October 24, in his quest to be the first horse to win the OLG Canadian Triple Crown since Wando in 2003.

Looking towards 2021, Fort Erie has applied for 40 race days again next year, operating primarily on Mondays and Tuesdays, beginning June 1 through to October 19. At this time, Fort Erie's Racebook will continue to remain closed due to COVID-19.

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After a dominating 7 ½-length triumph in the Queen's Plate, Mighty Heart, bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, and trained by Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, will look to continue his winning ways in the $400,000 Prince of Wales, second jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. On Friday, he was installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite.

Daisuke Fukumoto, who rode the one-eyed Ontario-bred to his stirring Plate score, is back in the irons for Tuesday's engagement for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, set for 1 3/16 miles on the Fort Erie dirt surface. Carroll, who won the 2006 Plate with Edenwold and the 2011 edition with the filly Inglorious, won the 2016 running of the Prince of Wales with Amis Gizmo.

Mighty Heart, who will leave from post two, faces Plate rivals Clayton (third in the Plate), Dotted Line (seventh), Tecumseh's War (fourth), and Truebelieve (ninth), as well as Bold Victory, Enchant Me, Muskoka Giant, and Red Victory.

Some of the sport's top experts have delivered their picks (see below) that comprise the Prince of Wales Power Rankings presented by the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The Power Rankings spotlight top contenders as voted on by expert horseplayers and racing commentators from Woodbine Racetrack and Fort Erie Race Track, including Jeff Bratt, Robert Geller, Ashley Mailloux, Doug McPherson, Jason Portuondo and Monique Vag. The rankings are based on votes following a 5-4-3-2-1 points system for the top five selections.

Should Mighty Heart, whose Plate time of 2:01.98 was the second fastest Plate run since 1957, emerge victorious in the Prince of Wales, it could set up a possible date in the starting gate for the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, third and final jewel in the Triple Crown Series, set for 1 ½ miles on the world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, October 24 at Woodbine.

The last horse to sweep all three races was Wando in 2003. Bred and owned by the late Gus Schickedanz, and trained by Mike Keogh, the son of Langfuhr garnered front-page coverage in the lead-up and aftermath of his Triple Crown quest.

First race post time on September 29 is 2:10 p.m., with the Prince of Wales scheduled for approximately 5:37 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Fort Erie Race Track will be closed to spectators. Fans can watch online or tune in to the Canadian Triple Crown broadcast, sponsored by OLG, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on TSN.

FIELD FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES

Post – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Morning Line Odds

1 – Truebelieve – Cole Bennett – Keveh Nicholls – 30-1

2 – Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – Daisuke Fukumoto – 7-5

3 – Dotted Line – Sid Attard – Justin Stein – 8-1

4 – Red Mercury – Paul Lepiane – Simon Husbands – 30-1

5 – Enchant Me – Santino Di Paola – Luis Contreras – 20-1

6 – Bold Victory – Mark Casse – Patrick Husbands – 12-1

7 – Tecumseh's War – Catherine Day Phillips – Emma-Jayne Wilson – 4-1

8 – Muskoka Giant – Mark Casse – Kazushi Kimura – 12-1

9 – Clayton – Kevin Attard – Rafael Hernandez – 5-2

PRINCE OF WALES POWER RANKINGS PRESENTED BY THE OLG CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN

Horse – Trainer – Points – First-Place Votes

1 Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – 27 – 4

2 Clayton – Kevin Attard – 23 – 1

3 Tecumseh's War – Catherine Day Phillips – 18 – 1

4 Dotted Line – Sid Attard – 14 – 0

5 Muskoka Giant – Mark Casse – 4 – 0

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