On Thursday (June 17), Woodbine Entertainment issued a letter to harness racing participants at Woodbine Mohawk Park with respect to an enhanced screening program in place at the facility.

The letter, which outlines daily rapid testing protocols and a means for fully vaccinated individuals to be exempted from the program, appears in its entirety below.

Woodbine Mohawk Park Horse Racing Community,

Last weekend, we implemented an Enhanced Screening Program as an additional safety measure for live racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Individuals who were identified as critical to our live racing are required to participate.

To further protect our community and live racing program, we are also implementing the Enhanced Screening Program for entry to the Paddock and Stable Area (including all areas beyond the security checkpoint) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Enhanced Screening Program will include daily self-administered rapid testing for individuals who have not been vaccinated, in addition to the existing COVID-19 daily screening questionnaire and forehead temperature check.

All personnel accessing the Paddock and Stable Area (including all areas beyond the security check point) will be required to participate in the Enhanced Screening Program. These individuals will be offered the option of opting out of the Enhanced Screening Program at any time by confidentially providing Woodbine Entertainment Security with authentication of completing their first dose of the vaccination.

The individuals who were identified as critical to operating live racing, including drivers and specific Woodbine Entertainment Employees which includes starting car drivers, the parade marshal and on-air hosts, amongst others, are required to be fully vaccinated by completing their second dose to opt out of the Enhanced Screening Program.

Please note that in all instances, individuals will only be exempt 14 calendar days after the date of their vaccination dose requirement to opt out of the Enhanced Screening Program.

All personnel accessing the property are still required to follow all COVID-19 Prevention Protocols, including the use of face masks, practicing physical distancing at all times (when possible), and mandatory daily screening that consists of the screening questionnaire and forehead temperature check. We must continue to work together and to be as safe as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and avoidable future disruptions in racing.

The Enhanced Screening Process for Access to Paddock and Stable Area

• Starting Friday (June 18), Woodbine Mohawk Park Security will ask entrants to the Paddock and Stable Area (including all areas beyond the security check point) if they wish to provide proof of first vaccination (full vaccination for the list of individuals critical to live racing as mentioned earlier) to be exempt from the program.
• On Monday, June 21, the Enhanced Screening Program will be in effect.
• Upon arrival, individuals will be asked to complete their initial screening with Woodbine Mohawk Park Security, as per normal protocols.
• For individuals who are required to participate in the program, they will be given a scheduled time for their Enhanced Screening appointment.
• Enhanced Screening will take place in the Enhanced Screening Centre (outside of the Race Office at the West Entrance of the Woodbine Mohawk Park Grandstand).
• To receive the rapid test, individuals will be required to provide one-time consent to share their test result anonymously (without any personal information associated with it) with the rapid testing supplier. The anonymous test results collected by the testing supplier will be used as research in effort to further stop the spread of COVID-19 in Canada.
• Upon arrival to the Enhanced Screening Centre, the individual will complete their mandatory consent document and enhanced screening.
• If the results of the rapid test are positive, Woodbine Mohawk Park security will notify the individual within 30 minutes and at that time they will be required to leave the property.
• The Enhanced Screening Centre will be open as follows:
Qualifying Days: 8 a.m. to one hour after the last qualifying race.
Training Days: 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Live Race Days: 4 p.m. to the last post time.
• Dedicated and trained screening staff and Woodbine Mohawk Park security will be at the Enhanced Screening Centre to help individuals with the rapid testing.
• Individuals will perform the rapid testing themselves, which is straight-forward and less invasive than a test at a laboratory or pharmacy (PCR test).

Test Results

• The test results will be available within 30 minutes. If you do not hear from Woodbine Mohawk Park Security within 30 minutes, then you have tested negative.
• Individuals who test positive will be required to leave the property immediately and seek a laboratory PCR test within 24 hours to confirm the rapid test result. The individual will be required to self-isolate while waiting for the PCR test results.

Opting Out

Individuals may opt out of the Enhanced Screening Program at any time by providing proof of vaccination as per the below:

• Personnel accessing the Paddock and Stable Area (including all areas beyond the security check point) are to provide proof of (first dose or second dose) vaccination through a digital or physical receipt to the Mohawk Park Security office. Security will record the Individual’s vaccination status but will not retain a copy of the receipt.

• Individuals working in positions identified as critical to operating live racing (drivers, Woodbine Entertainment employees including starting car drivers, the parade marshal, On-Air Hosts) are to provide proof of (second dose; fully vaccinated) vaccination (a digital or physical receipt) to the East Stable Gate Security office. Security will record the individual’s vaccination status but will not retain a copy of the receipt.

Please note that in all instances, individuals will only be exempt 14 calendar days after the date of their vaccination dose requirement to opt out of the Enhanced Screening Program.

Non-Compliance

For the Enhanced Screening Program to be effective in further protecting our live racing program, mandatory participation is required, unless an individual has voluntarily opted out of the program by providing proof of first or second vaccination dose.

Individuals who choose not to participate in the Enhanced Screening Program and sign the necessary consent will not be granted access to the Woodbine Mohawk Park Paddock and Stable Area (including all areas beyond the security check point).

Thank you for your ongoing commitment in following the COVID-19 Prevention Protocols and making our community as safe as possible. We are continuing to monitor the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the status of the virus on our property and will modify the program as circumstances evolve.

(Woodbine)