With refurbishing set to begin on the famed E.P. Taylor turf course later this summer, the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, a Win and You’re in race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) could be held on the seven-furlong inner turf course this year. According to a report in Daily Racing Form, the Taylor turf will be shut down following King’s Plate weekend in August. The proposed date for the Plate is Saturday August 16.
The DRF reports that turf racing will begin in the spring but the Taylor turf races will be restricted to six and 6 1/2 furlong sprints until June. The course, which had a small section on the backstretch refurbished last fall and will be re-sodded in the spring, will be shut down to replace the backstretch, which is part of the old Marshall turf course.
Since the Woodbine Mile is usually held in September, the $1 million race could be held on the inner course, which can have up to 12 entrants (lane 1). The race could also be held earlier – before the King’s Plate card, perhaps in July or August – according to the DRF report.
Woodbine has noted a proposed opening day date of April 26, although the contract with the horsepeople, the HBPA Ontario, expires in March and there currently is no update.