May, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Woodbine Unveils Updated Stakes Schedule Worth Over $16.5 Million

Woodbine Entertainment today unveiled its updated stakes schedule for the 2021 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The commencement of the 2021 Thoroughbred season, originally scheduled for April 17, at Woodbine Racetrack has been delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions in the province of Ontario. Based on recent Government announcements, Woodbine Entertainment is targeting June 18 as a start date for the Thoroughbred season, with the possibility of the start date occurring earlier.

The lucrative 2021 Thoroughbred stakes program offers more than $16.5 million in stakes purses, 39 graded stakes and two $1 million classics, The Queen's Plate and Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1).

The delayed start of the 2021 Thoroughbred season has forced Woodbine Entertainment to restructure the dates for the majority of its stakes races. Despite the delay, Woodbine was able to maintain the original dates for most of its marquee races.

“We are pleased that we were able to avoid major changes to our stakes schedule, setting up for an exciting 2021 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “As a result if the delayed start, we expect our season to start strong and build momentum as it heads into the summer with The Queen's Plate and its prep races, followed by a really exciting stakes schedule in the fall, including an unprecedented Ricoh Woodbine Mile weekend that includes two other Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' races, and the return of the Pattison Canadian International.”

The Queen's Plate remains on its original date of Sunday, August 22, with this year's running marking the 162nd edition of the iconic race. The Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race, returning $600,000 Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) and $250,000 Canadian Stakes (Grade 2) will be contested on Saturday, September 18. The Natalma (Grade 1) and Summer (Grade 1), each with boosted purses of $400,000 and part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, will run on Sunday, September 19. The $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (Grade 1) and $250,000 Nearctic Stakes (Grade 2) remain slated for Sunday, October 17 and will be contested on the world-renowned mile and a half E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

With most marquee events remaining untouched on the schedule, the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and $150,000 Plate Trial, a key prep race for the Queen's Plate, have been moved back a week from Sunday, July 25 to Sunday, August 1.

The dates for the Canadian Triple Crown legs remain intact, with the $1 million Queen's Plate on August 22, $400,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie on September 14 and $400,000 Breeders' Stakes on October 3.

Throughout the recent shutdown of racing in Ontario, Woodbine Entertainment has remained committed to offering as much of its 2021 stakes program as possible through rescheduling and strategic planning. The majority of Woodbine's original stakes schedule has received a facelift to accommodate the new starting date and racing opportunities.

The entire updated 2021 Thoroughbred stakes schedule can be viewed here.

Earlier this year, Woodbine Entertainment announced all Grade 3 stakes would receive a purse increase of 20 per cent, while Listed races would be boosted from $100,000 to $125,000. This announcement was made in conjunction with news of the returning Pattison Canadian International and purse increases for the $400,000 Natalma Stakes (Grade 1), $400,000 Summer Stakes (Grade 1) and $350,000 Highlander Stakes (Grade 1).

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Kelsi Harr Rides First Stakes Winner In Off-The-Turf Minnesota HBPA Distaff

Weather was no friend on Thursday to Canterbury Park which had three $50,000 turf stakes scheduled. Relentless rain in Shakopee that began in the early morning hours and continued into late afternoon forced those stakes races to be transferred from the soaked grass course to a sloppy main track resulting in numerous scratches in the Brooks Fields, Minnesota HBPA Distaff and Honor the Hero Stakes.

Best Kept Secret and jockey Kelsi Harr led a four-horse field gate to wire in the one-mile Minnesota HBPA Distaff, holding off defending champion Beach Flower. The victory provided jockey Kelsi Harr with her first stakes win. Best Kept Secret is trained by Robert Cline and owned by Tracy Hersman.

“This is a great way to start the meet. We backed off on her after Oaklawn,” Cline said. “I was worried we didn't have her tight enough. It showed in the last sixteenth [of a mile].”

Harr sent Best Kept Secret to the front, setting comfortable fractions early. At the top of the stretch the 2 1/2 length lead began to diminish as Beach Flower gained ground.

“She was drifting out and I could hear [Beach Flower] coming,” Harr said.

Best Kept Secret had just enough left to hold on to win by a head. She paid $2.60 as the prohibitive favorite.

Lord Dragon took advantage of a quick pace set by favorite Hieronymus and Tut's Revenge, closing in the stretch to win the one-mile Brooks Fields Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths. Rider Ruben Fuentes and Lord Dragon survived a claim of foul by the rider of Tut's Revenge, the second-place finisher, after bumping between those two and Hieronymus in deep stretch. The stewards ruled there would be no change in the order of finish. Lord Dragon, trained by Chris Richard and owned by Jason Totaram, paid $9.60.

Drena's Star, the 3/5 favorite, won the five-furlong Honor the Hero Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths for trainer Robertino Diodoro and owners Randy Marriot, Clayton Weist and Rick Weist. Lindey Wade guided the winner along the rail to victory, returning $3.40.

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Full Seated Capacity for Upcoming Del Mar Meet

California's Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) will open its 2021 summer race meet Friday, July 16, with 100% capacity in its seating areas. All attendees must obtain a seating package, which will include admission and parking passes, in advance. Seats will be on sale online Friday, June 18, with a pre-sale available Thursday, June 17. Reserved seating packages will also be available by phone (858-792-4242) beginning Monday, June 21.

Under current California Department of Public Health guidelines, fans will be required to wear masks at Del Mar, except when eating or drinking in designated areas. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to issue revised guidance June 15 and track officials will adjust requirements if necessary.

General admission access will be determined over the next several weeks. The first two weeks of the season will feature Friday-through-Sunday three-day weekends. For the remainder of the meet, racing will be conducted on a Thursday-through-Sunday basis. Del Mar's 82nd season will close Labor Day, Sept. 6.

The post Full Seated Capacity for Upcoming Del Mar Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Del Mar To Open Summer Meet With 100% Capacity In Seating Areas

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., has announced plans to open its 2021 summer race meet with 100% capacity for fans in its seating areas throughout its facility. This decision was made in accordance with state and county public health guidelines effective June 15, 2021.

Del Mar's 82nd racing season will open on Friday, July 16, and run through Labor Day Monday, September 6.

All fans wishing to attend must obtain a seating package in advance of their arrival. Admission tickets and parking passes will be included in the package. The track will put seats on sale online on Friday, June 18 (go to DMTC.com/tickets) with a pre-sale available on Thursday, June 17, for those that sign up at the Del Mar website (DMTC.com/2021).

“We are delighted to be able to welcome our fans back to Del Mar,” said DMTC president and COO Josh Rubinstein. “We appreciate their patience as we have all adapted to the changing circumstances over the last 15 months. We also appreciate the thoughtful guidance and cooperation we have received from the California Department of Public Health, the San Diego County Department of Public Health along with Dr. Ghazala Sharieff, Chief Medical Officer of Scripps Health, and her expert staff.”

Under current California Department of Public Health guidelines, fans will be required to wear masks when visiting Del Mar, except when eating or drinking in designated areas. However, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is scheduled to issue revised guidance on June 15th and track officials will adjust requirements on face coverings based on the new guidelines.

Del Mar will offer seating in its Stretch Run (Grandstand), Clubhouse, Turf Club, Skyrooms, Luxury and Celebrity Suites and its five major restaurants. Total seating at the track is 14,994. Track officials will have more to say about General Admission access over the next several weeks.

“We will continue to monitor public health guidelines and adjust our plans as the state makes additional progress and updates its recommendations,” said Rubinstein.

Besides the sale and pre-sale arrangements online, Del Mar will be offering the purchase of reserved seating packages by phone (858 792-4242) starting on Monday, June 21.

First post daily at the seaside oval will be 2 p.m. on all days except Fridays. Opening Day Friday will have a 2 p.m. post, but then Fridays thereafter will see a 4 p.m. start with the exceptions of the last two Fridays of the meet (August 27 and September 3) when things get started at 3:30 p.m. The first two weeks of the season will feature Friday-through-Sunday three-day weekends. For the remainder of the meet, racing will be conducted on a Thursdays-through-Sunday basis with Closing Day on Labor Day Monday.

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