Tag: The Biz

Start Of Woodbine Meet Postponed Due To Provincial COVID Restrictions

As a result of the Provincial State of Emergency declared today by the Government of Ontario, which includes a province-wide 28-day stay-at-home order effective Thursday, April 8 at 12:01 a.m., Woodbine Entertainment announced that the 2021 Thoroughbred Meet at Woodbine Racetrack has been postponed.

Woodbine Entertainment also confirmed that it is continuing its efforts with government officials and local health authorities to be permitted to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation which would allow the Thoroughbred season to commence after the stay-at-home order is lifted on May 6. The season was scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 17.

“This is very difficult news to share with our horse people, horse players and fans throughout North America and the world,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “Since the beginning of the pandemic more than a year ago, we have supported the Government of Ontario every step of the way and will continue to do so.

“However, if we do not receive permission to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation after the stay-at-home is lifted, our industry and business could be greatly impacted as trainers will not bring their horses to Woodbine Racetrack and more horses will be shipped-out to the United States where there are plenty of racing opportunities. This situation has the potential to have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the thoroughbred industry in Ontario.”

During stay-at-home order, Woodbine will continue to operate the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack as an essential service for the stabling, training and care of horses. Active training, including timed workouts, will continue but starting gate and receiving barn training operations will be temporarily suspended for 10 days.

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California Senate Rejects CHRB Appointment Of ‘Woman Who Is Not Beholden To The Old Boys’ Network’

In an event that hasn't occurred in over 20 years, Monday saw the California State Senate reject the governor's reappointment of Wendy Mitchell to the California Horse Racing Board. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mitchell had a 29-5 vote for confirmation at 2:30 p.m. that turned into a 17-20 denial by 3:30 p.m.

No individual senator claimed responsibility for the lobbying that occurred in that intervening hour, though one anonymously speaking senator indicated Mitchell's role as a consultant was a concern. However, she has no clients connected to horse racing.

“Change is hard,” Mitchell told the Los Angeles Times. “I get that. It's slow and sometimes painful for those accustomed to the status quo. Sadly, it would appear that [Monday's] confirmation vote was the old guard of the industry fighting back against reform — reform of horse racing and reform of being implemented by a woman who is not beholden to the old boys' network.”

Mitchell's case is expected to again be taken to a vote at an undetermined time in the future. She has served on the CHRB since 2019.

She is the principal of WM Consulting, described on its website as a firm which “translates how government operates to companies that are working to achieve specific business goals.”

Read more at the Los Angeles Times.

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Keeneland To Expand Year-Round Training Facility In Lexington

Keeneland on Wednesday announced plans to build six new barns and make other enhancements at The Thoroughbred Center (TTC), its 245-acre, year-round training facility on Paris Pike on the northeast side of Lexington. Home to 900-1,000 horses, TTC is within a six-hour drive to 10 race tracks.

Plans call for two existing concrete barns to be demolished and replaced with six state-of-the-art barns. Improvements around the barns will be made to walking rings, muck disposal and drainage, as well as to landscaping and access to and from the training track in those areas.

“Keeneland is excited to break ground on these significant improvements to the barn area at TTC for the benefit of our horses and horsemen, many of whom stable at the facility year-round,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “This investment reflects the strength of the Kentucky racing circuit and Keeneland's confidence in the future of the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky and throughout the world.”

“TTC is vital to the health of the Kentucky racing circuit, providing a home base for a number of trainers, and we are thrilled to make these enhancements for them,” TTC General Manager and Keeneland Director of Racing Surfaces Jim Pendergest said. “Horsemen are drawn to Kentucky by the strong purse structure now in place and expected to continue to improve, particularly with the support of historical horse racing.”

Work on the project is anticipated to begin in May pending approval from local planning and zoning authorities, with completion by Keeneland's 2021 Fall Meet, which begins Oct. 8. Keeneland will work with trainers stabled at TTC to find alternate locations for their horses during construction.

“This project is an important aspect of Keeneland's ongoing efforts to accommodate our horse population with safe and quality facilities throughout the year,” Keeneland Equine Safety Director Dr. Stuart Brown said.

Keeneland has owned The Thoroughbred Center, which originally opened in 1969, since April 2000. The facility has two dirt tracks: 5 furlongs and 7½ furlongs.

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