Woodbine, Georgian Cancel Saturday Cards

It's understandable to not race in unsafe conditions. But if all the other tracks such as Flamboro, Woodbine, Western Fair, Windsor, and Rideau Carelton can race in the winter so can Georgian Downs. Do the same process that RC did. Give the drivers, trainers and owners a vote and if they go for it do it. I think they would.

Once again I will reiterate that my comments about the drivers being wimps was a little tongue in cheeck. Cmon guys get a sense of humour.I would never wish any harm to any driver, trainer, groom, horse, or anyone else either on the track on the way from or to the track or anywhere else period.Despite the many times they piss me off when they actually do race:)
I do think that WEG can and should put more money into having the track ready for racing.
Having said that, if it's not safe it's not safe. I who have never sat on a horse or in a sulky would never question a drivers or jockeys decision to race. They after all are the ones at risk and I respect their decisions.
Besides, a night of not racing means I saved a few gambling bucks lol.

Horse people take note the real reason for cancellations is the "unwritten rule" racing is an "operating cost" while the slots are an "income generator" for the Tracks. The less racing the better!!

Track conditions is just one factor in this.
I drove home in this weather tonight and it wasn't fun.. You can say the horsepeople lose again, but in hindsight they are safe and their horses are safe. Sure I've seen races in worse weather, but I'm sure it was a nail biting ride home afterwards.
Track officals can't win either way... they race and a horse(s) gets injured, who's to blame, the officals that let them run on a dangerous track. Not to mention the drive with the horses back to the barn after the races if they ran. Again.. if a driver gets into a pile up or accident and the horse and people are injured, who's to blame??? There would be just as many negative comments, on whom was to blame.
Kudos to Georgian and Woodbine for their decisions, you folks can't predict the weather, but you have some common sense to cancel and although the horsemen lose a little bit, their workers and horses are safe. Safety should be the number one worry rather then money.

I am all for the safety of the horses and drivers of our industry but there was a fine issued to Rideau not to long ago for not having their racing surface up to par. Why is there no fine for these tracks? Yes back in the day we raced in some horrific conditions but the surface was in better shape than what we have now with less technology??? I remember scratching once in ten years back in the eighties early ninties. It is the horsepeople that lose here and I know some of the judges raced back in these times SO WHY KNOW FINE FOR NOT HAVING THE RACING SURFACE READY FOR RACING.
Slots gain, horseperson loss, how long until tumbleweeds blow across the track, or are they already. Is COSA and the OHHA and breeders association on top of the racetrack owners to have the surfaces ready or is complacency really the order of the day.

Greg Parke

A rainy night at Georgian (almost a song cue)

I had two horses in to go tonight and as I arrived at the track I heard the announcement that the race card was cancelled. I was disappointed but if the track officials decided it was unsafe then that's good enough for me. We may have raced in these conditions or worse 20 years ago but it may not have been a good decision. Certainly anyone who races for a living is not a wimp in my books. Just driving to the track was bad enough today.

I know the qualifiers were cancelled this morning in the hopes that they could keep the track open for the races. We contacted the track several times during the day and they tried their best to save the day. In the end it came down to safety. I am sure it was a tough decision.

Of course there is a downfall to waiting until the last minute. Just about everyone who was racing was already their or en route. If the races were cancelled this afternoon it would have saved a lot of money and time for the trainers, drivers and dedicated grooms people. I applaud how everyone went about their business tonight with little to no complaining.

March and December are terrible weather months in Innisfil. I for one would not be put off if Georgian stayed dark from Novemeber 30 through to April 1. Possibly they could run 3 nights per week the entire time to make up the dates. It would be very close to the same number of dates.

It may not work exactly with the classes etc but scheduled properly with the other tracks there may be a solution here.

Anyway I hope everyone drove safe tonight. Let's hope for better weather and good racing. As I read this post over before uploading I realize I may be a bit wimpy. I can live with that.

My my my did I hit a nerve. That's great because that's exactly what I wanted which was to initiate a response. My point about the drivers being wimps was a little tongue in cheek. Of course I care about the well being of horses and drivers. I have stated many times on other posts that I have been involved in racing both as a bettor and an owner so I do care. Matter of fact you don't have to be involved in the industry to care for peoples well being. I don't care much for car racing but I care about the participants well being and hope that no-one is hurt everytime I see a crash. You just have to be a human being to care.
Having said that, my point about Woodbine stands. I don't recall in past years or decades where so many cards were cancelled. How can you conssider yourself a world class track if you can't even find ways to keep it safe and ready for racing after a rainfall or snowfall. If they raced in worse conditions 20 or 30 years ago would it not stand to reason that with all the so called advanced technology and better materails available and with all the money they rake in WEG cannot maintain tracks in condition for racing?

I don't think we should race on tracks that could cause injury to horse or driver...but the date and purses need to be added as an additional night...

GEORGIAN DOWNS management sure is smart shuting down for JANUARY AND FEBRUARY then being able to cancel when the rains come.Just lets them save more money.The horseman loose again. WELCOME TO GREED STANDARDBRED RACE TRACK STYLE

My gosh what a bunch of wimps. I have a picture taken with Schipps Snoops in the winners circle when he won at Greenwood over 20 years in a snow blizzard for crying out loud . Back then they used to race in much worse conditions. These days they cancel cards over a rainfall. That is unbelievable brutal and WEG wants to consider itself a worldclas track? It is a world class joke.