As a result of the Provincial State of Emergency declared today by the Government of Ontario, which includes a province-wide 28-day stay-at-home order effective Thursday, April 8 at 12:01 a.m., Woodbine Entertainment announced that training at Woodbine Mohawk Park will be suspended immediately. Training will be offered again after the stay-at-home order is lifted or when there is clarity on when live racing will be permitted to resume.
Woodbine Entertainment also confirmed that it is continuing its efforts with government officials and local health authorities to be permitted to safely operate live harness racing during a lockdown situation which would allow the Standardbred Racing season at Woodbine Mohawk Park to resume after the stay-at-home order is lifted on May 6.
“This is very difficult news to share with our Woodbine Mohawk Park community,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “Since the beginning of the pandemic in Ontario more than a year ago, we have supported the Government of Ontario every step of the way and will continue to do so.
“However, if we do not receive permission to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation after the stay-at-home is lifted, our industry and business could be greatly impacted as more and more trainers will be sending their horses to the United States where there are plenty of racing opportunities. This situation has the potential to have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the Standardbred industry in Ontario.”
Woodbine Entertainment will continue to provide regular updates to keep horse people informed of the latest developments regarding training and live racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Woodbine)
To satisfy my curiosity,
To satisfy my curiosity, today I wrote an e-mail to the Premier's office as to why Golf courses are still open, with about 1000 players / staff daily, but no racing, with far less humans.
I got an auto response, saying message was received. If / when I get an official answer
I will share it here!!