Understanding the Issues to Get Racing Back To Be Addressed

Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, will take part in a Stronger Together interactive, live, online, today, Wednesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. (ET) and is available to be viewed at Woodbine.com/events/Stronger-Together.

The Q and A, part of an invaluable series of town hall-type meetings that Lawson and others have hosted in the last year, updates horsepeople and those who work within in the racing industry on current issues. Of course the current shutdown or postponement of racing at Woodbine and Woodbine Mohawk due to the COVID-19 virus has left thousands of people in Thoroughbred, Standardbred and Quarter Horse Racing in limbo (and most racetrack meetings in North American are on hold) and that will be the topic of today’s event.

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Lawson and a few Woodbine backstretch staff (most Woodbine employees are currently laid off), the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario and its members, trainers and horsepeople on the Woodbine backstretch have done a remarkable job in keeping people safe, following strict protocols and horses in light training on the Woodbine backstretch. This week, the HBPA will distribute face masks it has obtained for its members.

And between Woodbine staff and the HBPA, hundreds of emails are coming in a week from horsepeople with questions and concerns.

Horses arrived on the first weekend of March before the Provincial Emergency shutdown of non-essential businesses. Since then the number of people per stable has been restricted and there are no workouts or gate training sessions allowed.

Entries for the opening day of the 2020 Woodbine season were supposed to be taken today for Saturday April 18 but that is on hold and the Queen’s Plate, scheduled for June 27, has been postponed.

Lawson emphasized that racing will be able to return as long everyone in the industry abides by rules under the province of Ontario’s current state of emergency, now extended to May 12.

“Ontario has done a good job trying to contain [the virus]. We can’t have racing right now because of the province’s declaration of emergency. If we do the right thing, do our part, we have a chance of coming back. Right now, the province requires that people stay home.”

Lawson, who has his own small stable of horses awaiting to get back to the track, also responded to CT when asked about allowing horses to have timed workouts again. In addition to having to bring in staff and putting them at risk, Lawson said owners and trainers from many other tracks are seeking to ship into Woodbine should timed workouts return and that would cause certain crowding as only the main track (and sand ring) is open for training.

“Right now I know of at least five owners from other places, some 100 horses, up to 300 horses, that will want to ship into here, looking for somewhere to go if we open to workouts. Then what do we do with security and an overcrowded track?” said Lawson.

Certainly the very popular Woodbine racing program, racing surfaces including two turf tracks is a huge draw for out of town horsepeople. And it likely would not behoove Woodbine to turn people and horse away.

“I would ask everyone to please be patient and understanding. I want racing to return as quickly as possible, anyone who knows me knows I want racing to return more than anyone. Every day I am talking with the government to ensure it understands that we can race and will race when the health authorities allow us.”

Canadian Thoroughbred will have a follow-up story following the Stronger Together session today.