Page 137 - February 2017

CLIVE COHEN
I loved photography as a kid, so I continued doing it through high school and then at the University.
by John Moorehouse
Olympic Games. The World Series. Trips to Albania and the
Ukraine. Through the years, Clive Cohen has captured
it all through the lens of his camera. A resident of the Toronto area since he was seven, Clive Cohen originally
hails from South Africa.
Approximately two decades ago, Cohen made
the transition to the photography world of horses
and horse racing. At New Image Media, he oversees
a staff that, among other things, provides a visual chronicle of Quarter Horse racing at Ajax Downs and Standardbred racing for Woodbine Entertainment Group.
“At that time, I was freelancing for the The Canadian Sportsman,” Cohen recalled. “He (the previous owner of New Image Media) saw my name in the photo credits and called me asking if I was interested in buying his photo business from him. That was way back in 1997.”
Cohen purchased New Image Media and hasn’t looked back. Cohen has won several awards for his photography skills in recent years, including the Standardbred Canada Media Excellence Award for Outstanding Photography (twice) and the Smallsreed International Media Award for Excellence in Harness Racing Photography. Get to know more about this award-winning figure and gain a greater insight into Clive Cohen and his perspective in the latest install- ment of “The Lighter Side.”
Q: How did you get started as a professional photographer?
A: I loved photography as a kid, so I continued doing it through high school and then at the University. I stud- ied Photo Journalism at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. Before that, I got my Bachelor’s in History at York University.
Q: Where were you born?
A: Johannesburg, South Africa. I moved to Toronto with my family when I was 7 years old.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of horse racing?
A: Photography, movies and travel.
Q: What is your favorite movie, and why?
A: I love movies, and over the last 10 years TV has put out some amazing shows. It’s impossible to nail down a favorite movie . . . but I love things like “The Departed” and “Hateful Eight”. I also love Marvel movies and stu- pid comedies like “Step Brothers” and “Old School”. In regards to cable shows, I can’t (or couldn’t) get enough of shows like “Justified”, “Game of Thrones”, “The Americans”, “Better Things” and “Louie.”
Q: Give an interesting fact about your family.
A: I am married to my beautiful wife, Stephanie, and we have four kids—two boys and two girls, aged 10 to 17.
Q: If you were not in the horse racing business, what job would you like to have? A: Probably working at a newspaper.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living where you live?
A: Lots of great restaurants in Toronto. My wife and I love to go out for good dinners.
Q: If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would it be & what would you do there?
A: We’d love to go to Peru (hike to Machu Picchu) and Chile (Torres del Paine National Park and every- thing else).
Q: If you could sit down and visit with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
A: My grandfather Walter. I’d love to hear a few more of his stories.
Q: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time, and why?
A: Wayne Gretzky because he was such an unbeatable monster when he played.
Q: If you were making a movie about yourself, who would you cast to play you, and why?
A: Sacha Baron Cohen or Will Ferrell, because the hair is similar.
Q: What’s one thing you like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: I love the speed.
John Moorehouse
134 SPEEDHORSE, February 2017
THE LIGHTER SIDE