From Winnipeg to Toronto: Badrie Eyes Breakthrough at Woodbine

TORONTO, June 16, 2026 – With former Assiniboia Downs leading jockey Prayven Badrie’s decision to relocate to Toronto, Woodbine Racetrack has a new but experienced rider working to break into the track’s competitive colony.

Badrie was leading jockey at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg in 2024 and 2025 until an injury in August put him out of commission for the rest of the 2025 meet.

“It wasn’t my first time getting injured and I know there are obstacles, it’s part of my job,” Badrie said. “It’s just heal and get back out there.”

Throughout his racing career, beginning in 2009, Badrie has frequently moved between tracks.

But now, after deliberation with his agent, David Brockhill, Badrie ultimately made the decision to try his luck at Woodbine.

“We had a chat and he said I can make it here and I believe I can make it here as well,” said Badrie. “I’ve got a couple trainers that are helping me a lot in the morning, smaller barns. Phil Hall is helping me and other trainers. Also, I’m working really hard so I’m getting a lot of horses in the morning.”

Badrie is confident in his abilities but understands the volume of jockeys at Woodbine represents an issue when trying to stand out as a rider.

“They’ve got so many riders here and they have so many riders that are established here, they’ve been here longer than I am, so I’ve got to start from scratch because I’m new to everyone,” he said. “I wouldn’t say the competition is tough because I believe I’m just as good as those others, but I just need opportunity.”

Not everything at Woodbine is new to Badrie.

Shortly before Badrie’s own move to the Toronto oval, Assiniboia Downs stakes winner Blazing Bo made the move and the two have since reunited.

Blazing Bo, by Oxbow, is owned by ICON Racing Stables and trained by Anthony Adamo and delivered Badrie his first Woodbine win in a $7,500 claiming race.

The pair broke as the favourite and led by narrow margins all the way in the 5 ½-furlong race, winning by a nose.

“I know him pretty good,” said Badrie. “We have a connection together, we’re never off the money.”

Badrie also rode the 6-year-old gelding from May of 2024 until May of 2025 during his time at Assiniboia Downs, collecting three firsts, two seconds, and three thirds.

It included a win in the R. J. Speers Memorial Stakes and the Black Type Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile Stakes as well as a second in the Nephrite Overnight Stakes and a third in the Gold Cup Stakes in 2024.

In his short time at Woodbine, Badrie has secured three wins, six seconds, and four thirds in 39 starts.

During his time racing in North America, he has amassed 301 wins from 1,789 starts and more than $3.1 million in purse earnings.

The 35-year-old rider has been given several chances at Woodbine by graded stakes winning trainer Philip Hall.

“From what I’ve seen, he’s very good on animals. I think he’s very patient,” said Hall. “I put him on some horses in the morning and he gets along well with them. He’s got good hands, he’s got a good demeanor, he’s very positive. Nothing negative comes out of his mouth and he’s always willing to fix the problem.”

As the season continues, Hall has one piece of advice for the jockey.

“I think he just has to keep doing what he’s doing if he really wants to make it here, because I think it’s a very competitive room, there’s a lot of riders there. It’s not easy, right? You need trainers to give him a shot. To get a shot, he has to do some good things. It can be very tough for a rider to get going. I need owners to make my business go, to have better horses. He needs me to keep him going. It’s kind of a trickle down, I think if he sticks it out, I think he’ll do good.”

Badrie is looking forward to longer races later in the season to match his preferred racing style.

“For me, if I have a choice, I like to come off of it [the pace] but these 5-furlong races, it’s tough to come off of it so you’ve got a good horse you’ve got to go, go, go coming from off it, 5 furlongs, it’s going to be really tough.”

Badrie is also excited now that Woodbine’s inner turf races have begun.

“I learned to ride in Trinidad and Tobago. We’ve got a sand track and we’ve got a turf track and it’s a mile as well, it’s just as big as here so that’s what I learned to ride,” he said. “I did really good back home in my country on the turf, I just love the turf racing.”

For now, Badrie has one objective.

“I just try to make it so the next year will be a little easier,” he said. “Because it’s tough. Being new here, it’s really tough, but I’m working hard.”

Anna Jeffs, for Woodbine