On Friday, millions of spectators across the globe will focus their attention on the Opening Ceremonies to kick off the London 2012 Olympics.

The extravagant ceremony, arranged by film director Danny Boyle of Slumdog Millionaire fame, is set to thrill Olympic Stadium in Stratford which will be packed with 62,000 spectators, 16,000 athletes, 10,000 performers, 70 sheep, 12 horses, 10 chickens, three cows, two goats, eight geese and three dogs.

Among that array of athletes and performers will be 28-year-old Uxbridge, Ontario equestrian Jessica Phoenix, who will compete in the upcoming Olympics with her star horse, 15-year-old Exponential, once a hard-knocking claimer named War Buckaroo who raced at Woodbine and Fort Erie.

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