The Woodbine racing community was abuzz Saturday morning with news that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, racing’s regulator, had a series of new rules for entering horses at Woodbine in the immediate future. These rules were issued due to the rash of fatal breakdowns that have come on Woodbine’s Tapeta track since early November.
The AGCO posted the rulings before racing on Saturday with the main rule being that a horse cannot race back in less than 14 calendar days. That lead to quite a few scratches on Saturday, some on Sunday and next Thursday’s December 5 card was opened for entries again on Sunday morning, as there were too many scratches to run the card.
The other rules (see below) stated that the race office does not accept an entry for a horse that has had an intra-articular fetlock injection with the previous 14 calendar days, a trainer and private vet must observe a horse that has been on the vet’s list jogging within 48 hours before a qualifying workout, and that an official vet must observe all morning training on both tracks.
Reaction to the rules from owners and trainers was mixed, with some taking issue with the 14-day rule.
One trainer noted on social media that seven horses that broke down during racing included six with more than 14 days between races.
Others stated that it was unfair the horsepeople were getting blamed for the breakdowns while some believed the rules were necessary, at least for this point in the season. With just two weeks left in the 2024 season there is a high percentage of horses returning on short rest in order to get another start in.
It is unclear if these rules will be in place next year.
IN THE MATTER OF THE HORSE RACING LICENCE ACT, 2015, 8.0. 2015, c.38, Sched.9;
AND IN THE MATTER OF WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
WHEREAS between October 28, 2024 and November 29, 2024, fifteen (15) musculoskeletal injuries have occurred at Woodbine Racetrack with nine (9) leading to euthanasia.
AND WHEREAS the increasing number of catastrophic breakdowns at Woodbine Racetrack is of serious concern for the AGCO and a threat to the long-term sustainability of the industry.
TAKE NOTICE, pursuant to Rule 24.03.01, to protect the welfare of all horses the AGCO seeks to limit the risk to horses during high-intensity exercise by directing Woodbine Racetrack to implement the following measures, effective immediately, until further notice:
1. The Race Office shall not accept entries for horses that have:
a) Raced within the previous 14 calendar days; or
b) Received an intra-articular fetlock injection within the previous 14 calendar
days.
2. Any horse that has been drawn in to race less than 14 calendar days from its last race shall be deemed ineligible and shall be scratched by the Stewards.
3. An Official Veterinarian must be present and observe horses during all morning
training.
4. A horse on the Veterinarian’s List cannot work until its Trainer and private Veterinarian observe it jogging within 48 hours before the work and submit a co- signed statement that the horse is fit and sound to the Official Veterinarian. The horse must then be examined by the Official Veterinarian before being permitted
to work.
TAKE NOTICE, failure to comply in whole or part with this Ruling shall be considered a violation of the Rules of Racing and may result in regulatory action.
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