TORONTO, December 15, 2025 – The 2025 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack concluded on Sunday with jockey Rafael Hernandez, trainer Mark Casse and owner Bruno Schickedanz emerging as the meet’s leading performers. Rafael Hernandez captured the Woodbine riding title with 149 victories. A native of Puerto Rico, Hernandez has been a mainstay at Woodbine since 2015 and secured his second riding championship, having previously topped the standings in 2020. Among his standout performances in 2025 were victories in the Grade 2 bet365 Kennedy Road Stakes and the Breeders’ Stakes, the final leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. Hernandez also led all jockeys in purse earnings with $6.4 million (USD) and topped the stakes win category with 23 victories, including 11 graded successes. Leading jockey Rafael Hernandez and Woodbine CEO Michael Copeland (Michael Burns Photo) Pietro Moran finished second in the jockey standings with 140 wins, while Fraser Aebly ranked third with 95 victories. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse earned his 17th Woodbine training title. Casse trained 97 winners during the 2025 meet, including 12 stakes winners, with his runners accumulating more than $5.7 million (USD) in purse earnings at Woodbine. Martin Drexler placed second among trainers with 82 wins, while Kevin Attard finished third with 65 victories. Attard’s stable ranked second in purse earnings, compiling $4.2 million (USD). Owner Bruno Schickedanz secured his 11th consecutive Woodbine owners’ title (by wins). Schickedanz-owned Thoroughbreds accounted for 80 wins and more than $2 million (USD) in purse earnings during the season. Chiefswood Stables Limited finished second among owners with 27 wins and $1.6 million in purse earnings. Gary Barber ranked third in wins with 22 and purse earnings of $1.3 million, while Al and Bill Ulwelling were third in purse earnings with $1.4 million and 19 victories. Maximum Fifty topped the horse standings with six wins, followed by Indy One, Love You Lippy and Souper Success, who each won five races. Mansetti, under apprentice Pietro Moran, won The King’s Plate for trainer Kevin Attard and owners Al and Bill Ulwelling, while No Time, with John Velazquez in the irons for trainer Mark Casse and owner Gary Barber, took the Woodbine Oaks. Other notable victories include Silawi (IRE) in the Canadian International (G1T), Notable Speech in the Woodbine Mile (G1T), She Feels Pretty earning top prize in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T), Argos winning the Summer Stakes (G1T), Corsia Veloce coming out on top in the Natalma Stakes (G1T), No Nay Hudson (IRE) netting top prize in the Nearctic Stakes (G2T), Breath Away taking the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T), Ready for Shirl winning the Canadian Stakes (G2) and Gas Me Up (G2T) taking the King Edward Stakes. -30- Share This:Share
