Andrew Gaughan, Ontario Racing Independent Chair / Jose Ferrer, Jockey / Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Senior Manager of Communications

Today, Larry goes one-on-one with Ontario Racing Independent Chair Andrew Gaughan, who returns to Ponies 24-7 with plenty to discuss as he prepares to step down from his role in late October after nearly four years. Andrew provides an update on the state of Ontario Racing and discusses the recent commitment of an additional thirty-five million dollars annually in provincial government funding for each of the next five years and what that support means for the province’s horse racing industry. He reflects on the challenges the Ontario Racing Board has faced during his tenure, his more than three decades of experience in the horse racing and gaming industries, and the goals that remain for the organization through the remainder of twenty twenty-six and into twenty twenty-seven. Andrew also discusses his decision to step down, what he is most proud of from his time as Independent Chair, and the initiatives he wishes the organization had been able to accomplish. Also today, veteran jockey Jose Ferrer joins Ponies 24-7 for the first time following his recent decision to put retirement plans on hold and remain in the saddle. Since beginning his career in nineteen eighty-three, Ferrer has accumulated more than thirty-two thousand mounts, four thousand eight hundred eighty-five victories, twenty-nine graded stakes wins and more than eighty-nine million dollars in career purse earnings. Jose discusses why he originally planned to retire after reaching four thousand nine hundred wins and pursue a second career as a steward, what changed his mind following a strong summer at Monmouth Park, and why he now has his sights set on reaching five thousand victories. He also reflects on the beginnings of his riding career, the best horses and jockeys he has encountered along the way, the mentors who helped shape him as a rider, and the advice he now shares with younger jockeys in the room. Then, Woodbine Senior Manager of Communications Mark McKelvie returns to the show on a huge afternoon of racing at Woodbine as the track hosts Turf Champions Day. Mark previews a quartet of Grade one Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, headlined by the thirtieth running of the one million dollar Woodbine Mile, where Deterministic and defending champion Notable Speech are among the major names to watch. He also breaks down the five hundred thousand dollar Natalma Stakes and five hundred thousand dollar Summer Stakes, discusses television coverage for the day, and reflects on the success of this year’s King’s Plate and Woodbine meet. Mark also looks ahead to the Breeders’ Stakes before turning his attention to Woodbine Mohawk Park, where the Grand Circuit season continues with several major race days still to come, including the Mohawk Million. In our feature “In Case You Missed It,” Larry recaps the biggest racing headlines from the past week across North America. Later, he delivers his Ponies Picks of the Day, sponsored by Rocket Ship Racing, highlighting potential wagering opportunities at Woodbine, Woodbine Mohawk Park, and several other tracks racing today. And in this week’s Road Trip, powered by Amplify Logistics and The Cargo Group, Larry heads to Woodbine for the Grade one one million dollar Woodbine Mile, a one-mile turf test for three-year-olds and upward. LINK TO NEW MAGAZINE  https://tinyurl.com/Ponies247August2026  https://tinyurl.com/Ponies247August2026  https://tinyurl.com/Ponies247August2026