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COVID Lockdown Threatens Opening Day at Woodbine

The Ontario government has put in place new COVID-19 restrictions that will last a minium of four weeks and include a ban on horse racing. What is being called an “emergency brake” went into effect Saturday, putting the Apr. 17 opener at Woodbine in doubt. Its sister track, the harness facility Mohawk Park, was not able to run on Saturday and will be shut down indefinitely.

There were 2,557 reported cases of COVID-19 Thursday in Ontario, the most in a single day since Jan. 22.

While understanding the serious of the pandemic, Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson has been frustrated by the government's efforts and said that people are not looking at the facts when it comes to horse racing. According to Lawson, there was only one case of COVID reported in 2020 between both Woodbine and Mohawk and none on the backstretch of either track.

“There wasn't enough thought and consideration given to a very large industry with a very large economic impact and a very stellar safety record,” Lawson said. “No one has really given any thought to racing because if they had, they never would have included racing in this lockdown. It's an outdoor activity with as near perfect safety record. No one is giving the industry its due.”

To back his point, Lawson questions why, during the four-week lockdown, NHL games will be allowed to continue and that golf will also be permitted.

“I am a golfer and am happy to go golfing,” Lawson said. “But I know that when I go out to the golf course, no one will stop me, no one will require me to wear a mask and no one will take my temperature. There will be no safety measures and protocols to speak of. If the government would come here and see what we are doing they'd have a completely different view.

“Here we are in our own little bubble with a perfect safety record and it is an outdoor activity. They say hockey, an indoor activity, has great safety measures in place. I don't say this wishing anyone any ill will, but there are NHL games being postponed and now the Vancouver Canucks have eight players with COVID. They've had more COVID in three days than we had in a year.”

Lawson said he has heard from several trainers who, because of the uncertainty, are delaying shipping into Woodbine. If the lockdown goes on too long, Lawson fears some of the stables may remain in the U.S. throughout the year.

“We've got trainers in Florida and Louisiana who are calling me, asking what do I think?” Lawson said. “My honest answer is I can tell you that we are having discussions but can't guarantee you we will open Apr. 17. I'm not going to tell them to come or to stay away. I just tell them the facts.”

Lawson said he has been working to convince public officials that racing should not have been included among the list of businesses that will not be allowed to operate during the emergency brake period. He said he has had productive discussions with health officials representing Ontario. He added that what is needed at this point is for the Toronto Health Department to consider the facts and allow racing to resume.

“I have spoken to [the Ontario Health Department] directly three or four times,” he said. “The province is telling me if you can get the local health authority on your side they will support live racing opening up. Will that happen in the next week or two weeks? With Toronto public health, we don't know for sure. I can tell you that we have delivered a huge package of documents that make our case.”

Lawson said he remains hopeful that the Woodbine season will start on time.

“I am still optimistic and that is based on my discussions with Toronto Health,” he said. “We need things to stabilize over the next week or two and we must continue to to have a good safety record on our backstretch.”

Lawson said that there are already 1,300 horses on the Woodbine backstretch, their trainers waiting for racing to resume.

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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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‘It’s Okay To Dream Big’: Trainer Breeda Hayes Waiting For That Day

Breeda Hayes hopes the time will come, the moment when she allows herself to dream big.

These days, the longtime Woodbine-based trainer is walking the line between optimism and pragmatism, hopeful of what could be in her future, but mindful of the journey that's needed to take her there.

“It's okay to allow yourself to dream,” said the Irish-born Hayes. “But I don't think I'll do that quite yet. There is still a lot of time between now and then.”

“Then,” in this instance, is Aug. 22, the date of this year's $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine Racecourse.

Hayes has a pair of promising hopefuls in the form of Credit River and Go Take Charge, both bred and owned by Garland Williamson (Hillsbrook Farms), each listed at 25-1 in the Queen's Plate Winterbook.

But that's where the similarities between the 3-year-olds end.

Credit River is by More Than Ready and out of Wonder Where Stakes winner Like a Gem, the dam of the Grade 1 winning millionaire turfer Hard Not to Like.

The initial plan was for Credit River to run in a maiden race last year at Woodbine. When the race didn't fill, the connections decided to roll the dice and enter the rookie in the Ontario Racing Stakes.

Stepping into the starting gate at odds of 41-1, Credit River and jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson got away last in the 5-furlong Inner Turf Course race.

For a time, it looked as though that's where they'd stay.

As the field turned for home, Wilson swung Credit River to the outside in an attempt to rouse the first-time starter into action.

The move quickly paid off.

Credit River and Wilson methodically picked off their rivals one by one down the lane, culminating in a three-quarters of a length score in a final time of :57.06 over firm turf.

Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson guides Hillsbrook Farms Credit River to victory in the $135,000 Ontario Racing Stakes for trainer Breeda Hayes.

“This horse comes by his talent honestly,” said Wilson. “You can see it in the form; his mom [Like a Gem] was a multiple stakes winner that I used to ride here, and one of his siblings [half sister Hard Not to Like] was a grade 1 winner. So to see him flourish on the turf is no surprise.”

Credit River's milestone moment was also one for a surprised Hayes, who celebrated her first career stakes win.

“The maiden race didn't go, but he went and ran his eyeballs out. He showed up, or I should say, unexpectedly showed up. It was a fantastic run. Emma gave him what he wanted. Once he switched leads at the top of the lane, and Emma roused him, it was as though he said, 'Okay, my dear, let's go.' She was so happy with him. She rode his mother and she was the same kind of horse. Once she switched her to the outside, it was a different horse. It seems both of them love to run on the outside.”

Credit River closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Cup & Saucer Stakes on October 10.

His stablemate Go Take Charge is by Will Take Charge out of Go Go Neigh.

The colt was seventh in his career bow on November 1, an eventful debut that saw him break inward at the start before hanging late in the 1 mile and 70-yard main track race.

There was less drama and more encouraging signs in Go Take Charge's second start on November 20.

Under Sahin Civaci, he was fifth, rolling late in the 1 1/16-mile main track race, the final race of his 2-year-old campaign.

Go Take Charge and Credit River are back in Hayes' Barn No. ?? on the Woodbine backstretch, training towards their respective 3-year-old debuts.

Hayes' focus will be on the short term for both.

“We have take things day-by-day. We're progressing with them. Credit River went away to [fellow trainer] Graham Motion for the winter, at Palm Meadows, and came back to me about two weeks ago. He had worked a handful or so of times. He's back to me and we're going forward with him. It was great to see him again.

“Go Take Charge is a maiden, but two turns is stamped all over him, being a half brother to Camp Creek [a stakes-winning son of Dunkirk, bred and owned by Williamson]. He's a lovely individual. He was gelded over the winter, which he needed to get his mind on the job. I thought he ran a credible race in his last race of the 2020. I'm looking forward to seeing him run, hopefully, we can get a maiden allowance at 7/8ths for him, and we can go from there. Really, it's great to have two very nice horses in my barn. Hopefully, it's a big year for both of them.”

Two horses with two very different personalities, noted Hayes.

“They're definitely opposites. They have different characters, for sure. Credit River is the more aggressive one. He'd be the underdog, the little man coming into the ring with big ideas, whereas the other lad is a big fella coming in with big ideas.”

As for Hayes, she's a trainer with big hopes and a detailed Queen's Plate plan.

She's looking forward to the challenge of seeing Hillsbrook silks, times two, represented in Canada's most historic horse race.

“I'm very grateful to Mr. Williamson for entrusting me with his horses. He breeds good horses. He invests a lot of money into the game and I say kudos to him for doing that. It would be wonderful to see his contributions to our sport showcased on Queen's Plate Day.”

Until that Sunday in August comes, Hayes will have plenty on her plate, inside and outside of the racetrack.

Every day, along with her husband, John Hayes, she works until the cows come home.

Quite literally.

The couple's “paradise” is the last farm north of Highway 7 on Major Mackenzie Drive, about a 25-minute drive from Woodbine.

“Johnny, I couldn't do any of what I do without him. He's at the racetrack early every morning, helping me. What he does is invaluable. We run a cattle farm – there are about 60 beef cattle – where we live, so we're busy. We also have a few broodmares with us here. There are plenty of farm animals around and it gives you a different perspective on the racing game. There's a lot to be said for the farm life. Both of us are busy people, and that's the way we like it. There's always something going on and you just roll with it.”

It also happens to be the blueprint Hayes employs with her up-and-coming pair of Queen's Plate hopefuls.

“Fingers crossed we can get there. Of course you dream about it becoming a reality. For now, there's work to be done and that's what I'll focus on.”

And at some point, she hopes to let her thoughts go elsewhere.

“It's okay to dream big. The great thing about this game is that's what it allows you to do.”

This story was originally published at ontarioracing.com, and is reposted here with permission.

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A 17-Year-Old Owner, A 3-Year-Old Colt, And One Queen’s Plate Dream

Joshua Attard knew the dark bay colt would be on the list, but he wanted to see it for himself.

In between his virtual online classes, the 17-year-old high school student from Brampton, Ontario, took a few seconds out of a full day to click on the Woodbine Racetrack website.

After another click, he landed on the page he was looking for, the one that heralded the arrival of the Queen's Plate Winterbook, the annual list of predictive rankings for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds nominated to the Canadian Triple Crown.

Attard scanned the page to find his horse.

That's right… his horse.

“It feels great, to be honest with you,” said the son of high-profile Woodbine trainer Kevin Attard. “I never expected at my age that I could own a horse that could be in the Queen's Plate.”

His hopes of being represented in Canada's iconic horse race (August 22 at Woodbine) lies on the hooves of Keep Grinding, listed at 25-1 in the Winterbook.

The Ontario-bred son of Tizway broke his maiden in impressive fashion last November to close out his 2020 campaign. Under jockey Justin Stein, Keep Grinding prevailed by a neck in the 1 1/16 mile main track maiden special weight race at Woodbine.

Bred by Huntington Stud Farm Corp, the 3-year-old is trained by Attard's grandfather, longtime horseman Tino Attard.

“I'm proud of my horse and I'm proud to share this journey with my father and his father, my grandfather. I couldn't ask for anything better. It feels really great. I knew he might be a Plate-caliber horse when he started to work as a 2-year-old last year. I worked on the backstretch at Woodbine last summer, so I had the chance to watch him work and he would put on a show. His first race on the grass, I knew he had some talent because he came from far out of it and the race was a little short for him. He's a two-turn horse. When he broke his maiden, that's when I said I had a Queen's Plate prospect.”

The name of the horse, who has one win from three career starts, is a nod to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner.

Attard came up with the idea after watching the young NHL star over the past few NHL seasons.

“I wanted to name my horse something that motivated me. I play hockey. When I go into the corners, I always tell myself to keep grinding for the puck. So, if I ever had the chance to own a horse I would name it Keep Grinding. It's something that motivates me and I hope it motivates other people.”

The thought of having a horse load into the starting gate for the $1 million classic is anything but a recent goal for Attard.

That dream came to light well before his first year of high school.

“I started going to the racetrack when I was around 10. I remember wanting to go because I was a little bored and I wanted to get out of the house. And the first time I went, it was the greatest feeling. I went to the backstretch to see the horses. I loved them. I would pet them and just enjoy spending time with them. I had a strong connection with them from the start and every year, my love of the horses and horse racing has grown.”

Attard, who was three when his father finished second with Alezzandro in the 2007 Queen's Plate, is hoping that this year's edition of the “Gallop for the Guineas” will see his family name written in the history books.

If Keep Grinding isn't the one crowned Plate champion, the younger Attard would be equally ecstatic to see his father lead a horse into the Woodbine winner's circle.

That would hardly be a longshot.

Kevin Attard has a pair of horses, namely, Stephen, and Haddassah, in the top five of the Queen's Plate Winterbook. He also has Truffle King (25-1), a dark bay son of Giant Gizmo, being pointed towards the Plate as well.

A bay son of Constitution-Naughty Holiday, Stephen is the second choice in the Winterbook at 4-1. He ended his 2-year-old campaign in style, taking all the spoils in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity Stakes.

Haddassah, a gelded son of Air Force Blue-Lady Haddassah, is listed as the 8-1 fourth choice in the Winterbook.

Stephen and Haddassah are both owned by the father-son team of Al and Bill Ulwelling.

“I'd still be cheering for whatever horse or horses my dad has in the Plate. If my dad has those three in the race and I have mine, I'll find a way to cheer for all four of them. Just because I own Keep Grinding doesn't mean I won't be rooting for my dad. But I know there's a long way to go before the big day.”

Until then, Attard will endeavor to keep the date of August 22nd in the back of his mind. Admittedly, it hasn't been an easy task and he knows it will only get tougher in the days and weeks ahead.

“I never would have expected, to be honest, to have a horse like this at my age. I'm really excited to have a horse that is eligible for the Queen's Plate, and that has a chance to be in the race. I know it's a hard road to get to the Queen's Plate, so we'll just hope the horse keeps developing and getting better each week.”

He likes what he's seeing in Keep Grinding.

“He's getting better each day, I think. He's bigger and stronger now and looks like he can handle the mile-and-a-quarter Plate distance. Hopefully, he keeps training well and he can be in the Queen's Plate. If I could win it, that would be even better. I'd probably start crying if we won.”

Attard is certain of one thing.

“If he does run in the Plate, I know he'll try his best and I'll be proud of him wherever he finishes. I know he'll live up to his name.”

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