The highlight of the weekend was a record-setting $13,856,030.71 handle on Saturday's Thoroughbred card at Woodbine Racetrack, which established a new record for a Ricoh Woodbine Mile card and was a 17.3 per cent increase over 2020.

Horseplayers wagered $2.2 million on the Ricoh Woodbine Mile race and $1.7 million on the Pattison Canadian International race. A quartet of multi-leg wager guarantees and a Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout, which generated $957,408.21 in new money, were also highlights of the successful 12-race card.

Sunday afternoon's card from Woodbine generated a $7.2 million handle on an 11-race program. The afternoon included a pair of Grade 1 Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series races to cap off Woodbine's Turf Festival Weekend.

The stakes action continued west at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with the Canadian Trotting Classic the marquee race on another large Saturday evening Standardbred program. Horseplayers wagered $3.1 million on the Saturday 13-race card at Mohawk Park, an increase of 9.4 per cent from last year's Trotting Classic.

The strong Saturday followed a $2.6 million handle on Friday's card from Campbellville.

Live racing resumes tonight (Tuesday) at Woodbine Mohawk Park and continues Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Post time is 7 p.m.

Woodbine Thoroughbred action picks back up on Thursday afternoon and runs through the weekend. Post time Thursday, Saturday and Sunday is 1:10 p.m., while Friday's card begins at 4:50 p.m.

For a recap of Woodbine's stakes action, click here.

For a recap of Woodbine Mohawk Park's stakes, click here. 

The post Record Woodbine Mile Handle Paces Huge Weekend With Over $30 Million Wagered appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“It's obviously exciting for all of our fans, owners and wagering customers to be able to get back to the racetrack,” Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson told cbc.ca. “A big part of horse racing is the live experience of being around the horses and watching the races.

“As great as Woodbine does in terms of simulcasting and broadcasting our product, what people really like and love is being there in person and seeing the air of excitement around the jockeys, the drivers and racing. It's a great experience.”

The reopening to spectators also applies to Woodbine Mohawk Park. More details on specific numbers will be released in the coming days.

Read more at cbc.ca.

The post Woodbine To Allow Spectators At 25 Percent Capacity Beginning July 1 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Based on that date, Woodbine Entertainment announced today that the 2021 Standardbred season at Woodbine Mohawk Park will resume on Monday, June 14, and then continue its regular five race days per week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday). The 2021 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine Racetrack will commence on Friday, June 18 and continue Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20 for the opening weekend. It will then go to four race days per week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

Woodbine Entertainment also confirmed that it is prepared to accelerate the resumption of live racing sooner if the Government of Ontario enters Step One of the 'Roadmap to Reopen' plan earlier than expected.

“On behalf of the horse racing industry and the thousands of families who depend on it, I would like to thank the Premier's Office and local health authorities for providing some much-needed clarity,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “While the timing is not ideal, we can now prepare for the resumption of live racing with a degree of certainty. I would also like to acknowledge Ontario horse people for their patience and resiliency during the past several months.”

Woodbine Entertainment also confirmed that it has received permission from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to host qualifier races at Woodbine Mohawk Park starting on Thursday, May 27.

Updated stakes schedules and condition book/sheets will be shared in the coming days.

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Halton Region will officially enter the 'Red-Control' zone as of 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Live horse racing, without spectators, is permitted in all phases of the province's current COVID-19 Response Framework except for 'Grey-Lockdown'.

With the resumption of racing on Feb. 18, Woodbine Mohawk Park will proceed with its regular schedule of live racing every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 7 p.m.

Condition sheets for the first several cards at Woodbine Mohawk Park are now posted at www.StandardbredCanada.ca. The draw for Thursday's card will take place Monday, Feb. 15, with the entry box closing at its usual time of 10:30 a.m. The full draw schedule is listed below:

Enter Monday for Thursday
Enter Tuesday for Friday
Enter Wednesday for Saturday
Enter Thursday for Monday

Woodbine Mohawk Park will host qualifiers on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m. The entry box for qualifiers closes Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 10:30 a.m.

As per the Government of Ontario's restrictions, spectators are not permitted at Woodbine Mohawk Park at this time. Only those performing essential duties relating to the operating of live horse racing are currently permitted onsite. Woodbine Entertainment will provide an update to horse owners and the public over the coming days of opportunities to watch and wager.

Any horseperson coming to Woodbine Mohawk Park for training, qualifying or racing must complete the COVID-19 Daily Screening Form prior to arriving at the racetrack and must adhere to Woodbine Entertainment's COVID-19 Racing Protocols at all times.

Any horseperson that has been outside of Ontario must provide the Director of Racing (Bill McLinchey, bmclinchey@woodbine.com) with proof of their return date and be in Ontario for 14 days before coming to Woodbine Mohawk Park for training, qualifying or live racing. Any individual outside of Ontario must also provide a negative COVID-19 test taken 10 days into their quarantine.

The post Woodbine Cleared To Resume Live Racing With No Spectators At Mohawk appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The 2020 Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine Racetrack included 96 race days as a result of starting late and finishing early. The COVID-19 pandemic postponed the start of the season from April 18 until June 6 and forced it to finish prematurely on Nov. 22, instead of Dec. 13 as scheduled. The shortened season included 35 less race days and 305 less races than in 2019.

“Like many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted our business and the entire horse racing industry in Ontario,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “However, I am very proud of how we responded and look forward to working with all of our stakeholders as we continue to manage the ongoing impacts caused by the pandemic.”

The shortened season, which had 28 percent less race dates than scheduled (133 race days were originally scheduled), was a primary contributor to a 10.5 percent decrease in all-sources handle. The closure of Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park to the public, and the closure of Woodbine Entertainment's Champions' Teletheatre Network, were also significant contributors to the decrease in handle.

“The fact that we were able to limit the decrease in handle to 10.5 percent despite losing nearly a third of our scheduled race dates speaks to the strength of our Thoroughbred racing product and our extensive efforts and focus on our wagering business in response to the pandemic,” said Lawson.

In Woodbine Entertainment's Home Market Area, wagering on Woodbine Thoroughbred racing was $54,810,867.06, down 41 percent compared to last year. In 2019, Woodbine Racetrack contributed $28 million to the all-sources handle on Thoroughbred racing. This year, Woodbine Racetrack only contributed $124,000 to the overall handle due to being closed to the public for most of the year.

However, wagering on Woodbine Thoroughbred racing continued to be strong in Foreign Markets, generating $391,395,974.30 in all-sources handle, which is down less than three percent, despite running 27 percent fewer race cards.

Handle per race was also strong at $509,417.36, up 19.6 percent year over year.

Field size per race was 8.9, up from 8.2 the year prior. The eight and a half percent growth in field size was believed to be a result of the postponed start.

“With the start of the season being postponed more than a month, this allowed more horses to be ready for the start of the season which resulted in increased field sizes,” said Lawson. “While any growth in field size is always encouraging, it continues to be a focus for us as it is impacting our ability to maximize our wagering handle and support the purse payments.”

Although The 161st Queen's Plate was not able to welcome spectators this year, it generated the third highest handle in its history. The 13-race card generated a total of $14,532,678, including $3,494,496 on The Queen's Plate race that saw one-eyed Mighty Heart live up to his name, defeating his 13 rivals after going off at 13-1.

“Overall, we will reflect back on this season as a year of overcoming many challenges that will only strengthen and benefit our industry moving forward,” said Lawson.

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A complete schedule of TSN's RACING NIGHT LIVE coverage is available at TSN.ca (schedule subject to change).

The two-hour weekly show will now feature at least three Thoroughbred races (depending on the number of races on the card) from Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, and four Standardbred races (up from three) from Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton, Ontario.

Viewers across Canada have been joining in on RACING NIGHT LIVE action and wagering on live races through Woodbine's new easy-to-use horse racing app Dark Horse. Broadcasts have also featured a slate of performances from top Canadian musical artists.

“Racing Night Live has been such a tremendous opportunity for horse racing to connect with a new audience in a dynamic way,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment.  “We are thrilled to partner with TSN to bring Racing Night Live back in an even bigger way.”

Weekly editions of RACING NIGHT LIVE are produced through a partnership between Woodbine Entertainment, TSN, and Dome Productions. The show is hosted by TSN's Laura Diakun and Woodbine Entertainment's Jason Portuondo, with Brodie Lawson and Chad Rozema contributing reports from track level.

RACING NIGHT LIVE complements TSN's live broadcast coverage of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The Queen's Plate champion Mighty Heart won the Prince of Wales Stakes last week and now holds the first two jewels of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. Should Mighty Heart win the Breeders' Stakes, airing on Saturday, October 24 live on TSN, he would become the first OLG Canadian Triple Crown winner since Wando won it in 2003.

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As Chair of the Board of Directors, Magee will provide leadership, guidance and governance as Woodbine Entertainment fulfills its mandate to sustain and grow horse racing in Ontario. This includes advancing its master plan to develop the surrounding lands at Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park to be world-class entertainment destinations while creating new revenue streams that will support the horse racing industry and the tens of thousands of jobs it directly and indirectly supports throughout the province.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Christine's business acumen, experience and leadership be the Chair of our Board of Directors while we continue to grow the sport of horse racing, support and sustain the entire industry in this province, and fulfill our vision of being the top horse racing destination in North America,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “As we continue to advance our plans to diversify our business model to sustain the horse racing industry for decades to come, Christine's knowledge, experience and leadership will be invaluable to our efforts.”

Magee, who has been on Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors since 2015, is the Chair of Sleep Country, the company she co-founded in 1994 and served as its President until 2014. The resident of Oakville, Ontario is also the Chair of the Talent Fund Advisory Council and serves on the Board of Directors of TELUS, Metro Inc., Trillium Health Partners and Plan International Canada, and is a Member of the Morrissette Entrepreneurship Advisory Board of University Western Ontario. On July 1, 2015, Magee was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her significant contributions to the Canadian business community.

“It's an absolute honour and privilege to step into this role for an organization that has such a rich history and bright future,” said Magee. “It's also humbling as I have come to appreciate how important Woodbine Entertainment is to an entire industry that is the way of life for so many Ontarians and a passion for horse racing fans throughout the world.”

Magee replaces Clay Horner who is retiring from the organization following a successful tenure as Chair of Woodbine Entertainment since 2015 and a Director since 2002. As a member of the Board, Horner helped lead Woodbine Entertainment to become one of the top destinations in North America for both Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing.

“Over the years, Clay's contributions to Woodbine Entertainment are significant and widely appreciated by the entire horse racing industry in Ontario,” commented Lawson. “His passion for the sport of horse racing and his experience in business and law has served the organization well. On behalf of our Board of Directors, and our entire horse racing community, I would like to thank Clay for everything he did.”

“My service on the Board has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life,” said Horner. “I have been fortunate to work with so many excellent board members and employees, and three terrific CEOs in David Willmot, Nick Eaves and Jim Lawson who are also cherished friends. Woodbine is an industry leader in all aspects and is wonderfully positioned for further growth and success in horse racing and development initiatives. I am proud of the commitments and involvement of Woodbine and our employees to our broader communities. As I retire from the Board, I look forward to watching Woodbine deliver in spades on its mandate to further the best interests of racing in Ontario.”

Long-time board member John Fielding also announced he is retiring from the organization as Director and Chair of the Standardbred Racing Committee. Current Woodbine Entertainment Director and former President of Western Fair District Hugh Mitchell has been appointed to Chair of the Standardbred Racing Committee.

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The facility at Mohawk Park is able to gradually reopen thanks to successfully hosting limited horse owners and connections for live racing in recent weeks. Those that recently attend live racing adhered to all the necessary protocols, including practicing physical distancing and wearing a face mask when onsite.

Preventing the spread of illnesses continues to be a top priority and Woodbine Entertainment is confident in its approaching to providing a safe experience.

What's Open at Woodbine Mohawk Park:

• Main Floor Race Book (maximum capacity of 50 guests, no persons under 18 permitted in the Race Book).
• Apron access for up to 100 guests.
• Mohawk Harvest Kitchen (MHK) will be open on Friday and Saturday evenings and has been redesigned to allow physically distant dining.
• Tim Hortons (reduced hours, consistent with hours of operation).
• Draft Beer Stand featuring sandwiches, salads, snacks, as well as non-alcoholic beverages, beer and wine.
• Wagering terminals throughout the facility

Hours of Operation:

• Monday: 6 p.m. to end of Live Racing
• Tuesday: 6 p.m. to end of Live Racing
• Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday: 6 p.m. to end of Live Racing
• Friday: 6 p.m. to end of Live Racing
• Saturday: 6 p.m. to end of Live Racing
• Sunday: Closed

For more information and to make a reservation, visit www.Woodbine.com/Mohawk/Guest-Registration/.

Outside food and drinks will no longer be permitted with the reopening of limited food and beverage services.

Woodbine Entertainment will continue to follow the latest information from governments and applicable health authorities to ensure a safe environment for all guests.

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