Woodbine Entertainment Group

Responding to a rash of recent breakdowns at Woodbine, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which regulates racing in the province, has taken steps it hopes will lead to fewer injuries. Woodbine has now had six fatalities since the Nov. 9 card in which two horses died and the remainder of the day's program was cancelled, as was the next scheduled day of racing. The biggest change is that any horse that has raced within the previous 14 calendar days is ineligible to race and will be scratched...

With a horse having to be euthanized Thursday at Woodbine and another one on Friday, the Toronto-area track has now had six fatalities since the Nov. 9 card in which two horses died and the remainder of the day's program was cancelled, as was the next scheduled day of racing. Woodbine's Tapeta surface has long been considered to be one of the safest tracks in North America, which makes the rash of breakdowns particularly unusual. "We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in continuous communication with our regulator, veterinarians,...

Roscar, under a perfectly timed ride from Justin Stein, led home a one-two-three finish for Chiefswood Stables in the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine Sunday. Roscar was vying for the lead with favored Hurricane Clair (Silent Name {Jpn}) into the first turn, but settled just off the pace as the Chiefswood trio lined up in behind the leaders as Thor's Cause (Brody's Cause) took the lead up the hill. Thor's Cause slowed the pace down up front, with Hurricane Clair tugging just to his outside and Roscar raced along the rail...

Woodbine Entertainment has named Mark Krembil and Tom Mungham to its Board of Directors, the track said in a press release on Friday. The appointments of Krembil, a principal of Chiefswood Stables, and Mungham, a former CEO and Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), are subject to AGCO approval. "We are excited to welcome Mark [Krembil] and Tom [Mungham] to our Board of Directors," said Jim Lawson, executive chair of Woodbine Entertainment. "Their extensive leadership, knowledge, and industry experience will be invaluable as we work to...

On Tuesday, the consortium that operates Fort Erie racetrack filed a grievance with the Canadian Trade Commission over alleged strongarm business tactics by Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) that Fort Erie contends are designed to "starve Fort Erie of its necessary horse supply." Two days later, David Anderson, a prominent Ontario-based breeder who owns Anderson Farms and serves on the boards of three key Thoroughbred organizations in Canada, told TDN that Woodbine's tactics are, in his opinion, a coordinated effort to hamper Fort Erie's operations, and that some of those detrimental...

Woodbine Racetrack will allow spectators--at 25% capacity in the grandstand and on the track apron--beginning on Canada Day, July 1. "We are thrilled to be able to open our doors on Canada Day and welcome back our owners and some spectators to the track who have been dearly missed," said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "We have been operating live racing for a couple of weeks now, but it's just not the same with empty stands. We are thankful to the government for entrusting us to safely welcome back a...