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Mark Your Calendar: 2021 Queen’s Plate To Be Held August 22

Woodbine Entertainment announced today that the 162nd running of the $1 million Queen's Plate, first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing, will be held on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

Contested annually to showcase Canada's finest 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, The Queen's Plate is one of the country's premier sporting events and North America's oldest continuously run stakes horse race.

Held at the end of June in past years, The Queen's Plate was moved to late summer in 2020 and run on Sept. 12 without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the spectator restrictions, the beloved one-eyed champion Mighty Heart captured the hearts of sports fans across the nation that tuned in via an engaging Queen's Plate at Home digital experience. The historic 2020 Queen's Plate produced the third highest wagering handle in its history.

“While it is clear the impact of COVID-19 will continue to be felt into the new year, we are optimistic that this timing for The Queen's Plate could give us the best opportunity to welcome guests back at Woodbine Racetrack for the most exciting event on the Canadian horse racing calendar,” said Jim Lawson, President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “We look forward to the 2021 racing season and the opportunity to restore The Queen's Plate as one of the top social events in Toronto.”

Details regarding attendance and ticket sales will be announced in the coming months, along with Woodbine's full Thoroughbred stakes schedule for the 2021 meet, which is expected to begin on Saturday, April 17.

“Woodbine has successfully demonstrated our commitment to the health and safety of our staff, participants and guests throughout these unprecedented times,” said Lawson. “We will continue to practice our industry-leading guidelines and entertainment offerings to ensure another world-class Queen's Plate experience in 2021.”

Nominations for the Canadian Triple Crown are due Monday, Feb. 1, 2021.

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Woodbine Hopes To Resume Racing Nov. 28, If Government Gives Permission

Woodbine Entertainment confirmed this evening that it continues to have productive conversations with senior levels of the Government of Ontario regarding the possibility of being permitted to complete the 2020 Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine Racetrack.

As per the Grey (Lockdown) phase of the Government's COVID-19 restrictions which went into effect on Monday, Nov. 23 at 12:01 a.m., the stabling and training of horses is permitted at Woodbine Racetrack, but live horse racing is not.

Since being permitted to race without spectators in early June, Woodbine Entertainment has demonstrated that live racing poses no greater health risk to participants than training. Furthermore, it believes it has clearly demonstrated an ability to safely operate live racing without spectators during that time.

Based on the timing of these ongoing conversations, live racing on Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27 has been cancelled. Should Government make the decision that live racing is permitted to safely resume, Saturday, Nov. 28 would be the earliest date. This would require entries to be submitted on Thursday morning.

Furthermore, if Woodbine Entertainment is permitted to complete the 2020 Thoroughbred meet, it will endeavour to reschedule the cancelled races.

Woodbine Entertainment will continue to provide updates as they become available.

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Mighty Heart Conquers Second Jewel Of Canadian Triple Crown

Mighty Heart made it look mighty easy winning the Prince of Wales Stakes. The one-eyed three-year-old now holds the first two jewels in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, and if all goes well has his eye set on the Breeder's Stakes in October. The last Canadian Triple Crown winner was Wando in 2003.

Mighty Heart and Clayton were sitting fourth and fifth going into the last turn, with Clayton on the outside. Jockey Daisuke Fukumoto was intently tracking Clayton's steps, and as Clayton made a run for the front four-wide in the final turn, Mighty Heart came to call on the outside and easily took the lead with no urging. Mighty Heart beat Clayton by two and a half lengths. Dotted Line battled throughout and persisted for third, and Bold Victory made a late run for fourth.

“A couple horses went to the lead so I let them go and sat behind them. He can take a little air so I changed up the tactic, and when I asked him at the quarter pole he went on again,” said Fukumoto after the race. “Last time he won very easily, and he did it again today.”

Trainer Josie Carroll said she's excited about the possibility of running Mighty Heart in the Breeders' Stakes. “We always wait to see how the horse comes out, that's the key. He's a wonderful little horse and he gets better every time.”

Owner Lawrence Cordes called Mighty Heart a gift.

”He was handicapped from day one and his future looked bleak because of his injury, but we had faith in him from the day he stepped on the track. We have to see how he comes out of this race, but we would like to compete for the Triple Crown.”

Mighty Heart paid $3.70 to win as the 4-5 favorite, $2.60 to place, and $2.20 to show. Clayton paid $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Dotted Line paid $3.20 to show.

Despite being closed to the public and the loss of on-track wagering, Tuesday's Prince of Wales Stakes produced a record handle of $3,028,600, topping the previous record handle under Fort Erie Live Race Consortium's management of $2,188,171 from 2016 when Amis Gizmo won for Josie Carroll.

Tuesday's final race of the day featured a mandatory payout on the .20 jackpot Hi-5, with a carryover of $178,381.93. $701,151.21 in new money was wagered in the pool, with a payout of $7,657.83 on a .20 cent ticket.

The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes is the third and final jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, scheduled for Saturday, October 24. The event is one and a half miles on Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

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Jonathan Zammit Appointed Executive Director Of Ontario Racing Managment

Ontario Racing Management (ORM) is excited to announce the appointment of Jonathan Zammit as its new Executive Director. Zammit, the former Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing for Woodbine Entertainment, becomes ORM's second Executive Director, succeeding Katherine Curry who held the position since the formation of Ontario Racing in 2018.

“We are excited to welcome Jonathan's leadership, experience and financial acumen as we work with all stakeholders to further advance our efforts in sustaining a vibrant and financially sound horse racing industry for decades to come,” said John Hayes, Independent Chair of Ontario Racing's Board of Directors. “On behalf of Ontario Racing, I would like to thank Katherine for her dedication and hard work in establishing and securing the administration and management of the entire provincial horse racing industry under Ontario Racing.”

ORM is a wholly owned, Woodbine Entertainment subsidiary that implements the approved business plan of Ontario Racing's Board of Directors.

“I look forward to working with Ontario Racing's Board of Directors and the ORM team to execute the vision and strategic plan that will support, sustain and grow the sport of horse racing across the province,” said Zammit.

Zammit was most recently the Vice President, Racing Finance for Woodbine Entertainment. Prior to joining Woodbine Entertainment as the Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing in 2017, Zammit was the Director of Finance for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

“Jonathan brings a wealth of experience in financial management that positions him well to deliver Ontario Racing's strategic plan to grow and sustain the sport of horse racing that supports tens of thousands of jobs throughout the province,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment and a member of the Ontario Racing Board of Directors. “He will also benefit from the strong foundation that Ontario Racing has built, in large part thanks to the leadership and efforts of Katherine Curry.”

Curry will now solely focus on contributing to Woodbine Entertainment's strategic growth priorities as Vice President of Legal and Compliance and a member of the executive team. Curry has been with Woodbine Entertainment since 2015.

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