In a display of sheer determination, a trait that earned him the 2025 Eclipse Award for champion turf male, Notable Speech returned to Woodbine Sept. 12 and won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Stakes for a second consecutive year.
Sixteen years ago, horse racing was at one of its periodic upticks in national exposure as fans were drawn to the exploits of an unbeaten star racemare based in Southern California, and by the time the 27th Breeders’ Cup World Championships arrived at Churchill Downs, excitement was at a fever pitch.
Saturday’s 39th running of the $1 million, Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, which provides an automatic berth into the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF, drew a field of eight older males.
With a record-breaking season comes the attention of turf writers, so Manny Franco was not surprised when I came calling for an interview. However, like many riders, he prefers to do his talking on the track.
“I’m a little bit shy of big cameras and stuff and talking to the media, but I do it,” Franco laughed. “It’s part of the job.”
