Woodbine Entertainment’s Monte McNaughton / Woodbine Apprentice Jockeys Pietro Moran & Austin Adams

Ponies 24-7 The Radio Magazine

Larry and Ann are joined by Woodbine Entertainment’s Monte McNaughton, who discusses Woodbine’s new initiative ‘Helmets to Hardhats Canada’ that will be recognized as the official Building Trades Liaison of the 165th Running of the King’s Plate. Monte also talks about how he has settled into his role as Executive Vice President, Industry Relations and People Experience and what the role entails. Woodbine Apprentice Jockey Pietro Moran, who discusses his young career to date which included winning his first stakes race at Woodbine several weeks ago and the special relationship that he has enjoyed with Trainer Kevin Attard. He also mentions whether he has any goals set for the remainder of the Thoroughbred season and talks about how he is still going to school, where he will end up with a degree and how is father, David, who is also a Jockey has helped him navigate his riding career so far. Austin Adams, another Woodbine Apprentice Jockey, who mentions why he got a late start to his riding career and how his father was a major influence in him deciding to become a Jockey. Austin also talks about how he felt when he won his first race of his career at Woodbine last November and talks about his own Training regime and why he believes this helps him make his riding weight. In our feature, ‘In Case You Missed It’ A Look at The Way It Was in Horse Racing News, Larry discusses the recent Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park last Saturday night and in particular the winning horse, Nijinsky, and his connections. In our new regular feature, ‘Road Trip,’ Larry talks about todays Ohio Derby at Thistledown and mentions about some of the history behind the race itself and who he believes the race ‘goes through’ later today. He also provides his ‘Ponies Picks of the Day’ selections for several North American Racetracks today, later in the show.

Key Points:

• Monte talks first about Woodbine Entertainments new initiative, ‘Helmets to Hardhats Canada’ whose mission it is to support veterans, reservists, senior cadets, military family members, etc., in finding meaningful second careers in the unionized construction industry. He also mentions how a Canadian Veteran will be included in this years King’s Plate Ceremony and why it was important to Woodbine to support ‘Helmet’s to Horses Canada.’ Monte also discusses whether he has settled into his new position after almost a year and what he believes are the major differences between working for Woodbine and working in politics and exactly what his position at Woodbine entails.

• Pietro discusses his recent stakes win at Woodbine in the Belle Mahone and what it felt like to win a stakes race this early in his career. He also talks about Trainer Kevin Attard who trained the stakes winner and how Kevin has supported Pietro’s career since Day 1. Pietro also mentions how he is sharing time between going to school and race riding and whether he has set any goals for himself for the remainder of 2024. He also talks about the influence he has received from his father and mother, who were both Jockey’s and what it was like to ride against his father recently at Woodbine. Pietro also mentions whether winning either an Eclipse Award or Sovereign Award is on his radar this season, and if there is a race he would like to win, sometime in his career.

• Austin speaks in depth about how when he was younger, he was nervous around horses and went to the North American Racing Academy in Kentucky to learn how to become a Jockey. He also talks about how it felt to win his first race as a Jockey at Woodbine last November and how his father worked at two jobs at Woodbine, as an exercise rider and a parking attendant. Austin also discusses his regular training regime which has helped him ride at a low weight and talks about the Woodbine Jockey room and how the other Jockey’s have been welcoming to give advice, especially Raphael Hernandez. Austin also discusses whether he has any goals set for the remainder of the Woodbine Thoroughbred season.