The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has announced that the Woodbine Entertainment Group has requesting approval for a substantial amendment to the race-date schedule for Mohawk Racetrack and Woodbine Racetrack.
The Woodbine Entertainment Group has applied to move 25 Woodbine Racetrack race dates to Mohawk Racetrack. The Central Ontario Standardbred Association supports WEG’s application.
The details of WEG’s requested amendment to the race-date schedule appear below.
MOHAWK
Add (first-race post time 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 1
Monday, October 3
Tuesday, October 4
Thursday, October 6
Friday, October 7
Saturday, October 8
Monday, October 10
Tuesday, October 11
Thursday, October 13
Friday, October 14
Saturday, October 15
Monday, October 17
Tuesday, October 18
Thursday, October 20
Friday, October 21
Saturday, October 22
Monday, October 24
Thursday, October 27
Friday, October 28
Saturday, October 29
Monday, October 31
Thursday, November 3
Friday, November 4
Saturday, November 5
Monday, November 7
(total race dates - 25)
WOODBINE
Delete (first-race post time 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 1
Monday, October 3
Thursday, October 6
Friday, October 7
Saturday, October 8
Monday, October 10
Thursday, October 13
Friday, October 14
Saturday, October 15
Monday, October 17
Thursday, October 20
Friday, October 21
Saturday, October 22
Monday, October 24
Thursday, October 27
Friday, October 28
Saturday, October 29
Monday, October 31
Thursday, November 3
Friday, November 4
Saturday, November 5
Monday, November 7
Monday, January 2, 2017
Friday, January 6, 2017
Saturday, January 7, 2017
(total race dates - 25)
The AGCO has announced WEG’s application for amendments to the approved race date schedules and will receive comments on the application from interested industry participants before making its decision on the application. To view a copy of the AGCO announcement on the situation, which contains WEG’s application, click here.
(With files from the AGCO)
I rarely agree with much of
I rarely agree with much of anything that Mr.Yamakva has to say but on this occasion his views are spot on. Moving the races out of the greater toronto area is a bad move for the sport and time will bear that out.
Woodbine patrons will
Woodbine patrons will continue to bet even if there aren't horses a half a mile away. Meadowlands gets bet here even though the horses aren't on the grounds same as all other simulcast races. Mohawk is much more family friendly to entice new fans. Mohawk will soon be in the suburbs of Toronto same as Woodbine used to be, just get a Go station.
In reply to Woodbine patrons will by jkchill
Mr Hill, your comment shows
Mr Hill, your comment shows me why the industry may not survive.
1) You state "Woodbine Patrons will continue to bet", and this is something that you just do not seem to get, it is not about the current lot that is here, its about getting new fans. You are not going to see many young people make that trip to Mohawk from Toronto should a good marketing campaign come along someday. There is just too many things that are between Toronto and Mohawk to make it a relevant player. They do not make that trip now.
2) You keep bringing up "family friendly", times have changed, and going after family money is not the way to go as the 20 somethings are currently taking all that gambling money to sports betting a much better facilities that are closer within the actual GTA itself.
3) Mohawk will not be in the suburbs for at least another 10 years, and the sport is on its last legs now, do you really think you can wait 10 years? Not a chance. If you are waiting for the GTA to reach Mohawk, you will have already seen your sport virtually gone.
4) Just get a Go station? Ummmmm, and why on earth would they build a go station just to accomodate Mohawk? Its not like they make that long trip now to Woodbine, why would they then take an additional 30 minute train ride? And worse, when they get done at 11 pm or so, then take another 30 minute train ride back to Toronto, and then whatever time it takes to TTC it home.
It is clear you do not see the marketing and the struggles of the game. Clearly you do not want to think outside the box and think the game is enough to lure bettors, and as you can see by the empty grandstands, and the plummeting betting at most of the tracks in Ontario, off-track and online does not lure new patrons. Meadowlands at least has a clue, it has something for the 20 somethings to do, it is marketed at them in large amounts. It is not about the families anymore as the "family entertainment" dollar goes a lot further elsewhere. For the same money spent at the races, kids can do many more things that are 10 times more for them. You say "for families"..... the races start after 7pm, that is not really that family friendly considering they end after 11 each night. And you want a family to then hop on a GO Train? Families will not be out on weeknights, ever, especially from Toronto.
Simply saying "the bettors will continue to bet if the horses move", is ridiculous. There is no way that the numbers out of Toronto will be the same or even improve with the product moving. You will suffer much more losses. The online thing might improve, a little, but then with the online thing, you have far more competition than you do at the track.
Leaving the Toronto market is a silly idea for the future of the sport.
The Jays were smart enough to not leave the downtown area, because you want to be near the majority of people. Moving away from them is surely the kiss of death
If Mohawk ends up going year
If Mohawk ends up going year round, this is the end of the possibility of harness in Ontario ever being self-sustainable. If your sport's biggest events are not reachable by public transit, you can forget this game ever rebounding.
The biggest problem harness has in general, is the total lack of TV exposure. If for some reason the sport clues in and gets on TV on a regular basis, you are not going to see the biggest city in the country care, because there isnt a large track within reach for a vast majority of the citizens.
If you think this sport can survive without Toronto playing a major role in the rebuilding of things, you just dont get it. There is more gambling dollars in Toronto than the entire rest of the province combined. If none of that is going towards harness, or less than a few percent, this game is over for harness.
Western Fair, is doing great, but is 10 years away from being a big deal in London. They are on the right track, but the ceiling there could be soon, but good for them in that the product they have generates enough in betting revenue to warrant staying open.
Flamboro, and Rideau and Georgian and Grand River will also survive, but this is it....... losing Toronto, means this is the best the sport will get. I do not think this is too well thought out.
Just curious, and more
Just curious, and more importantly....WHY????
In reply to Just curious, and more by Marty Adler
Just another nail in the
Just another nail in the Standardbred coffin my question WHY also . Sonny
I wonder if this is the
I wonder if this is the precursor to 12 month racing at Mohawk?