The Woodbine Training Track opened for business on Wednesday morning, providing a clear signal that the start of the local 2011 Thoroughbred racing season is getting closer.
Trainer Sid Attard, who finished third in the standings last year with 46 wins, had a busy morning on the Woodbine backstretch.
The veteran was one of the first conditioners to test out the backstretch training track, which is a conventional dirt surface, as opposed to the Polytrack surface used for racing.
“We have 28 horses here and all 28 of them were sent out,” said Attard. “It was in very, very good shape this morning. They did a fantastic job getting it ready.”
Attard said he should have six more horses in by the end of the week.
“I can’t wait for the season to get underway,” said Attard, who recorded six stakes scores in 2010, along with $2,764,972 in purse earnings. “If this year can be like last year for us, we’ll all be happy. There is nothing to complain about.”
Twenty-one trainers shipped in a total of 218 horses through February 8.
The first day of the Woodbine Thoroughbred meet is scheduled for Saturday, April 2 and runs 167 dates to December 4.
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