Waiting Game: Horsepeople To Find Out Thursday If Woodbine Continues

Ontario horse owners, trainers, grooms, exercise riders and thousands of others will find out Thursday Nov. 26 if the 2020 Woodbine Thoroughbred season will be able to complete its schedule.

Memos from the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Associations president Sue Leslie and Woodbine Entertainment, under CEO Jim Lawson, came late Wednesday night that while still optimistic the season can continue, there has been no final word from Ontario government officials.

The groups had hoped to have entries taken today for Saturday racing but Saturday has now been cancelled. Today’s card and tomorrow’s were also cancelled.

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Horse racing at Woodbine was on the list of locked down businesses issued Friday Nov. 20, restricted to “training only, no racing, no spectators:” according to the Ontario Government and Health Officials ‘Grey’ level lockdown measures that were put in place in Toronto and Peel Region beginning Monday Nov. 23 due to rising COVID-1o cases.

Of course, the people training the horses on the closed backstretch area are the ones racing the horses in the afternoon.

With 12 dates remaining in the already shortened 2020 season, that represents at least 120 opportunities for horsepeople, including the breeders, to race and earn money and continue to make a living. The 2021 racing season does not begin until the spring.

Woodbine issued a press release on Sunday during the racing card (which was cancelled after 6 races due to snow) stating that the final 12 cards of the season were cancelled due to the issued lockdown.

But the track (Woodbine Entertainment)and HBPA led a charge to contact government and health officials beginning Monday and three days of discussion have given those horsepeople still remaining at Woodbine (many have shipped out) a glimmer of hope.

It appears that while the discussions have been encouraging, the current rising conflict with restaurant and business owners in the Etobicoke region, where Woodbine is located, has been a serious issue for Premier Doug Ford. One restaurant defied lockdown measures and opened for indoor dining on Tuesday and Wednesday which brought out dozens of protestors. The owner of the restaurant has been charged but it could lead to other businesses following suit.

The HBPA issued the following late Wednesday:

“We are still awaiting an answer from the Province regarding the continuation of racing. After discussion with Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) this evening, a decision was made to cancel Saturday’s card as we wait for further direction.

Entries for Sunday’s racing will be scheduled for early Friday morning, if we get the green light.

The HBPA and WEG remain committed to continue dialogue and to make application to the AGCO to make up any lost races and/or days.

We understand that this delay creates considerable hardship for our Owners, Trainers, and backstretch workers; however, it is important that we make every effort to try to run the remaining races.”

Woodbine Entertainment said it “has committed to make a final decision on the status of the season by 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 26. We sincerely appreciate the patience from our community.

Since being permitted to race without spectators in early June, Woodbine Entertainment has demonstrated that live racing poses no greater health risk to participants than training. Furthermore, it believes it has clearly demonstrated an ability to safely operate live racing without spectators during that time.”