5 in Front: Chantal Mitchell

MILTON, ON – March 1, 2023 – Twice monthly until April, a familiar Woodbine Mohawk Park harness racing horse person will step into the spotlight to answer a handful of fun, offbeat questions, while giving readers a unique perspective into their personality on and off the racetrack.

Chantal Mitchell is on track to surpass $5 million in lifetime purse earnings this year. The top-10 Woodbine Mohawk Park trainer keeps a barn of around 20 Standardbreds with her partner Kris DiCenzo, at Classy Lane Training Centre in Puslinch, Ontario. Mitchell’s star performers include Awesome Hill, Chedda Chedda, Pointomygranson and O’Brien award-winner Alicorn.

What are you looking forward to this year?

“Hopefully, the same kind of success as last year. We’d be happy to duplicate the year, but we’re always looking to do a little bit better. We have some nice three-year-old fillies that are coming back and I’m anxious to race them.”

Do you have a favourite success story?

“Last year, we were pretty proud of Awesome Hill. In less than a year she went from winning a maiden to the fillies and mares preferred. So, we’re pretty proud of her. I think she would be our best success story that we had for the year.”

What is something you wish you could tell your younger self? 

“Well, I guess just to never be discouraged. Just keep plugging away. Keep doing your work to the best of your abilities and eventually things pan out.”

Who in the industry inspires you?

“I think the person in this business that I look up to the most is probably Chris Ryder. I have a lot of experience working with him. If I have any questions to ask, he has lots of knowledge for me.”

If you could have dinner with any celebrity, who would you choose?

“I would like to have a drink with Derek Jeter while watching a game at Yankee Stadium.”

by Grace Martin, for Woodbine Communications