Today marks the start of a new weekly series on Ontario Racing. Each Tuesday, a familiar name in the sport will be spotlighted, answering some fun, offbeat questions, giving readers a unique perspective into their personality.
This Sunday, May 8, is opening day at Ajax Downs where the world’s fastest equines, the Quarter Horse, thrill fans with their speed. A recognizable face on race days at Ajax is Maddie-Jo Tilley, the track’s host who engages fans and brings them closer to the action by interviewing horsepeople.
Maddie-Jo has worked her way up in the sports reporting world, following in the footsteps of her father Joe Tilley, the longtime anchor of CTV’s sportscast. In addition to her work at Ajax Downs, Maddie-Jo is also the field reporter and team member of the Sovereign Award winning TV show, Talkin’ Horses, which airs on CTV and starts up Season 3 on June 11.
Personable, fun and friendly, Maddie-Jo has interesting things to share about herself:
1. SHE'S AN AVID COLLECTOR OF PEZ DISPENSERS AND FASCINATORS
![Image result for PEZ DISPENSER]()
I started collecting Pez dispensers when I was 10 years-old. I have more than 150 of them and I love the old ones I have from the 1960s and 70s. I have an old Santa Clause one, it looks ancient. My friends make fun of me because I keep them in the packaging. One day when I set up my wo-man cave, I will set up a display of them.
I also have about 25 fascinators (formal headpiece) I love them so much, they just ‘glam’ you up instantly. They are fun to wear and they remind me of horse racing.
2. LOVES HORSES, WON'T RIDE THEM, THOUGH!
I grew up as a racing/betting fan but I don't ride horses.I love hugging and petting horses of all kinds but I am afraid to ride them. I have ridden a couple of times but you are really high up and it’s pretty spooky.
3. SHE'S AN AVID PAINTER OF ABSTRACT ART
I love abstract art and I dabble in it myself. I started painting with both my brothers; we ruined our parents’ basement having so much fun with it. My older brother Tyler now makes a living from his abstract art with his own studio in Bangkok.
I paint once every two weeks, my place is decorated with my art and I love to give pieces for gifts. It’s kind of stress relieving since you are focused on the moment. You can use many different tools, a hammer, a stick, and I always surprise myself when I am done, I say ‘wow, I made this’!
4. A HORSE IN THE HOUSE?
I plan to buy a mini-pony one day and have it live in the house, like a dog. I love all horses but you can’t put a real horse in your house. It’s a long range goal when I move into a house I want to get a mini one that lives indoors!
5. GETTING HITCHED IN IRELAND
I am getting married in Ireland later this month. I met my fiancé, Chase, in an Irish pub here and then we got engaged on our first trip there. We just love the country. We traveled to places with names we liked and found Dingle, we thought the name was funny. It is the most beautiful place in the world, on the water with rolling hills. We are excited to share it with our family when we get married there. We are going to the Irish guineas racing festival at The Curragh before the wedding too!
(Photo below, courtesy Maddie-Jo Tilley)
More For The Love of Racing