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Live Horse Racing Shut Down In Ontario; Mohawk Park Suspended, Woodbine Opening In Question

Woodbine Entertainment has announced that live Standardbred racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park will be temporarily suspended following this Friday's (April 2) card due to the Government of Ontario imposing a province-wide “emergency brake” of COVID-19 restrictions, effective Saturday, April 3 at 12:01 a.m.

Live horse racing, without spectators, is not currently permitted during the Government of Ontario's 'emergency brake' shutdown, which will be in place in for a minimum of four weeks.

Woodbine Entertainment continues to engage in discussions with the Provincial Government and Halton Region regarding the request to continue safely operating live racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park during this shutdown or a lockdown situation.

As part of these discussions, Woodbine continues to demonstrate its commitment to safety through its industry-leading COVID-19 Prevention Protocols and a safety record that includes not a single case of on-site transmission of the virus at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson indicated that while horse racing will pause on Saturday per provincial guidelines, local health authorities can give the green light for horse racing to resume in their region.

Live racing is schedule to be conducted Friday (April 2) prior to the shutdown. Post time is 7 p.m.

At Woodbine Racecourse, opening day is scheduled for April 17, 2021. The Woodbine backstretch is open and horses are able to train; it is afternoon racing which is currently restricted by the provincial government.

“We have made the argument all along that this is an outdoor activity and we wouldn't be allowing spectators,” Lawson said earlier this month. “Our risk profile in the afternoon is the same as our risk profile in the morning. We should be able to run.”

The Thoroughbred opener could go ahead as scheduled with approval from Toronto Public Health, according to The Battlefords News-Optimist.

“In the coming days, we will continue to discuss our request with Toronto Public Health,” Lawson wrote in a statement to horsemen. “As we head into the long weekend, I am cautiously optimistic about the situation.

“I do fully appreciate the need for a definitive answer so you can plan and prepare accordingly. Rest assured that we are doing everything we can do be able to start our season on time.”

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‘This Is About To Become A Crisis’: COVID Restrictions May Affect Woodbine’s Opening Day

Opening day at Woodbine Racecourse is scheduled for April 17, 2021. However, the Thoroughbred Daily News reports that the Ontario track is currently designated a coronavirus “Grey Zone,” where racing is among the activities that is not allowed. This is the same restriction that forced the track to close two weeks early at the end of 2020.

“I am very concerned and this is about to become a crisis for us,” Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson told the TDN. “It's a crisis because soon there will be 2,000 people back there looking after these horses. If these people lose their jobs, there's nothing else that they can do. Especially after I had heard from trainers that may not come back, I am trying to impress upon people that we are on the cusp of a very big problem that could do irreparable damage to us as a business. We will need some answers very soon as to whether or not we can make an Apr. 17 opener.”

The Woodbine backstretch is open and horses are able to train; it is the afternoon racing which is currently restricted by the provincial government.

“We have made the argument all along that this is an outdoor activity and we wouldn't be allowing spectators,” Lawson said. “Our risk profile in the afternoon is the same as our risk profile in the morning. We should be able to run.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Mighty Heart’s Groom Siobhan Brown ‘Counting Down The Days’ Before Woodbine Meet

Some 1,600 kilometres east of Woodbine in Nova Scotia, Siobhan Brown, groom of 2020 Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales champ Mighty Heart, is preparing to head back to Ontario, more specifically, to Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll's Barn 39 operation.

The native of Cape Breton, NS, who'll start her fourth year working for Carroll, is keeping her mind occupied with a daily dose of Netflix offerings.

Thinking about the five horses she'll have under her care, including one-eyed wonder Mighty Heart, takes up even more of her time.

“I'm going crazy,” said Brown. “I'm counting down the days. I just can't wait to get back. I think about Mighty Heart daily, but I also think about my other horses. It's just so exciting. You wonder what the year is going to bring. Twirling Faith, one of the horses I take care of, she won at Gulfstream on Valentine's Day. I watched the race on TV and I was screaming every step of the way, trying to tell her what to do. That's the way I am with all my horses… I really can't wait to see what the year brings.”

Brown is scheduled to arrive in Toronto around the middle of March, and in accordance with the strict safety protocols put in place by Woodbine, will quarantine for 10 days before getting to work on the backstretch.

When she does return, she'll have some special gifts in tow, including a nearly six-foot plush inchworm.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The recipient of the stuffed toy is the mare Grey Seal, aka, “Gracie,” a strong-willed 6-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast.

“Grey Seal, she needs to have a stuffed toy. She likes to have one with her at all times. But I love all of my horses. Every one of them has their own unique personality. My goal each year is always to have each horse win a race. I want them to have that moment because when a horse wins, it's as though they know they've done well. They are just so proud of themselves. It's nice when they that moment because they deserve that. More importantly, I just want them to know I'm there to take care of them and to make sure they are loved.”

Brown, who received widespread media attention after Mighty Heart's high-profile victories, is looking forward to reestablishing the bond she had with the horses under her care in 2020.

She counts those relationships as amongst the most important ones in her life.

“I've always told people that it's not a career… I just love it. Ironically, I'm not a morning person, but when I pull up to the barn and it's the warmer weather and the car windows are all down, my horses know my car and they come to the gate. You hear that nickering in the morning before it's even light out. It's a beautiful sound. It's so rewarding. Through my own sports, I've experienced the satisfaction of being successful, but it's something so different and so special with horses. Even just watching them breeze or train, it's amazing to see it all unfold and know that you've played a role in it.”

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Woodbine Announces Trio Of Initiatives To Support Backstretch Community This Winter

Woodbine Entertainment announced Friday a trio of initiatives designed to support the 130 people living on the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack during the winter months.

First, Woodbine has partnered with the Horses First Fund, which will sponsor a nutritious, hot meal each week. The program will start on Wednesday, December 23 with a roast beef lunch then continue Fridays after that. This generous offering will be incorporated into a larger effort from Woodbine to engage backstretch workers over the course of the winter months through activities, shuttles to local malls and product giveaways.

The Horses First Fund assists Thoroughbreds and their caretakers in need of emergency aid due to large scale neglect, natural disaster, or other catastrophes.

Horses First Fund founder Jaime Roth of LNJ Foxwoods said: “I was especially moved by the misfortune caused by the pandemic on the Woodbine backstretch workers. Throughout this challenging year, the Horses First Fund has provided emergency funding to seven aftercare organizations, four backstretch organizations, and contributed to two equine feed assistance programs.”

The Horses First Fund is administered by the Thoroughbred Charities of America.

Additionally, Woodbine has reduced the rent for those living on the backstretch by 50 percent. Both the sponsored meal program and the Woodbine rent program will support workers until the reopening of the backstretch in February 2021.

Finally, in addition to its regular annual donation, Woodbine will make a $4,000 donation to the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada to help ensure proper resources, programming and support for those remaining on the Woodbine Racetrack backstretch throughout the winter.

“This year has been tremendously difficult for so many people, including those that contribute to our world-class racing at Woodbine Racetrack,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We know that due to circumstances beyond their control, many are unable to be with their friends and family this winter. I would like to thank our partners the Horses First Fund and the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada, whom together with us will help ensure that everyone here at Woodbine has the support they need this holiday season and beyond.”

Earlier this month, Lawson was on-site to personally hand out holiday gifts to impacted backstretch workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for the Woodbine Thoroughbred community. Due to government restrictions, the season started late and ended early, denying the community their ability to earn money from the final three weeks of racing.

Woodbine thanks those involved in the training and care of Thoroughbred horses and wishes the entire Thoroughbred community a healthy and safe holiday season.

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