The 2012 Canadian live Thoroughbred racing season kicks off Good Friday afternoon at Woodbine.
The 10-race Opening Day programme, set for a post-time of 1 p.m., was assembled on Tuesday morning, drawing 101 horses, including seven for the afternoon’s feature race, the $100,000 Debut Stakes (race eight) for four-year-olds and up.
Fans in attendance will receive mystery cash cards worth anywhere from $2 to $1,000, as part of the ‘First Bet Is On Us’ promotion.
Several members of the Woodbine jockey colony will also greet fans at approximately 11:45 a.m., at both the north and west entrances.
Woodbine is offering 167 dates during the 2012 season, which concludes on December 16.
Steve Lym, Woodbine’s Director of Racing and Racing Secretary, anticipates another banner campaign, especially with the inclusion of prominent added-money events on some of the calendar’s most notable days.
On June 24, Queen’s Plate day, there will be five stakes in total, including three graded events, the Grade 2, $250,000 King Edward Stakes, presented by TVG, the Grade 2, $200,000 Highlander Stakes, the Grade 3, $150,000 Singspiel Stakes, as well as the $150,000 My Dear Stakes.
“Fans enjoy our big racing days, so adding a few key stakes races to each of those cards will enhance the race-going experience,” said Lym. “With the steady training and workout schedule we’ve seen this winter and spring, field size and quality of racing will be especially high early in the meet.”
Wesley Ward, a prominent U.S. trainer, has five entered for the Opening Day program. Last year, on Opening Day, he sent out five winners.
Over $83 million in purses, including stakes, will be offered this year.
Returning are high-profile jockeys Luis Contreras and Emma-Jayne Wilson, who finished first and third, respectively, in the 2011 standings. Both are finalists for the Outstanding Jockey Sovereign Award. The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 5.
Wilson enters the campaign just 73 wins shy of 1,000 for her career.
“You always look forward to the beginning of the year,” said Wilson. “You slot it into the calendar and get anxious and excited as it draws closer. We’re ready to get it going. Our mindset is, ‘Let’s get the horses going and do what we love to do.’ I can’t wait.”
Mark Casse will be going for his sixth straight Woodbine training title in 2012 after years with 85, 75, 71, 87 and 119 last year, a Woodbine meet record.
The 153rd Queen’s Plate will be aired on CBC, as will the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, and Plate Trial races, which are set for June 3.
Friday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit).
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