Following Monday's (Feb. 8) update from the Government of Ontario, The Raceway at the Western Fair District has announced that it will reopen for training starting this Thursday and Friday (Feb. 11 and 12), with the anticipation of resuming live racing beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
The Raceway will be open to horsepeople for training from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The paddock will be open at 8:30 a.m. COVID-19 screening protocols will be in effect at the paddock entry gate.
Condition sheets will be made available Wednesday morning (Feb. 10), and the draw will take place Thursday (Feb. 11) at 10 a.m. This Friday (Feb. 12) will also be the draw date for the Wednesday, Feb. 17, card.
Training will then be offered every Thursday from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. followed by qualifiers, beginning on Feb. 18.
The Raceway’s racing schedule will consist of live cards every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:15 p.m., and Friday at 4:50 p.m.
The Government of Ontario yesterday announced its plans for reopening the economy. The current “stay at home” order will be lifted for three Eastern Ontario regions this Thursday and for the remaining regions (excluding Toronto, Peel and York) next Tuesday (Feb. 16).
Once the “stay at home” order is lifted, each region will be placed into the Government’s five-tiered, colour-coded framework (Grey, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green). Each colour represents specific restrictions with Grey representing 'Lockdown.'
The Raceway at Western Fair is in the London-Middlesex region. It is anticipated that the region will be placed into a restriction level that will allow for horse racing to resume operation. Further information will be released upon confirmation from the Province.
(The Raceway at the Western Fair District)