Fans of horse racing will have one last moment with Windfields Farm as the remnants of the iconic Ontario breeding operation go under the hammer
this morning.
Auctioneer Bob Dickenson told The Toronto Sun he expects "nearly 3,000 horsemen, farmers, nostalgia buffs and former workers to pass through the gates one final time" for the auction that's selling off what's left of the sprawling 1,200-plus acres.
“It’s not eerie but it is nostalgic. Quiet. All you hear is the trees moving,” said Dickenson. “It’s like going through a time tunnel. It’s stopped in time.”
The Sun also talks to Hall of Fame jockey Sandy Hawley, who got his start in the business at Windfields at the age of 16.
“I remember getting thrown off when I was breaking yearlings in 1967. One time I was walking a horse to the paddock, leaned down to open the fence and the horse took off on me and dragged me down the road.”
A preview of contents gets underway at 8:00 a.m., with the auction set for a 9:30 a.m. start.
what a trip,,,,,,astonishing
what a trip,,,,,,astonishing
Sonny Jewitt I took a
Sonny Jewitt I took a drive over there this morning got to the farm around 7 am . I was the second car in the first paddock they used for parking. This was my first trip to this farm and it was one of the most peaceful places i have ever been to at this time of the morning . I did not go to buy something i just went to see some history. It was a honor to be able to see this place . I decided to leave around 11-30am and the paddocks were full of cars . Mr Northern Dancer would have been proud.