Woodbine

William Thompson Jr.'s Gospel Way (Brody's Cause) came from off the pace to graduate in his career unveiling at Woodbine Sunday afternoon. Sent off at 24-1 in the five-furlong main track test, the homebred settled in the second flight third early as Dancing Dragon (Old Forestor) established early fractions. Improving his position while two paths wide turning for home, the gelding bore down on the frontrunner through the lane, took over with relative ease and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The victory represented the first winner for...

Woodbine Entertainment and premier Canadian sports broadcasting network TSN are expanding their broadcast partnership to bring Canadians live horse racing every Thursday night throughout the summer with Racing Night Live, the two companies announced jointly Wednesday. The action begins Thursday, June 11 at 6 p.m. ET on TSN and features a mix of live Thoroughbred races from Woodbine in Toronto and Standardbred races from Mohawk in Milton, Ont. "We're thrilled to partner with Woodbine Entertainment to bring Canadians exclusive access to live, weekly horse racing action," said Shawn Redmond, Vice...

Having already announced that the Queen's Plate would be held Sept. 12, Woodbine Entertainment released the remainder of the Woodbine Racetrack stakes schedule Wednesday. Featuring 75 stakes worth C$13.8 million, highlights include the C$1-million GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile, slated for Saturday, Sept. 19 and a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Due to complications with travel due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the GI Pattison Canadian International has been cancelled for 2020. The meet will open on Saturday, June 6 and end Sunday, Dec. 13....

Twenty horses on the Woodbine backstretch have now tested positive for the equine herpesvirus EHV-1 and one has died from the infectious disease, according to a release from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Sunday, it was reported that two horses residing in Barn 12 had tested positive for the neurotopic strain of EHV-1, and the AGCO reported that all 59 horses in that barn have now been tested. "The affected horses are in isolation or have been sent to the Ontario Veterinary College for treatment," the AGCO said....

The Queen's Plate, originally scheduled for June, has been rescheduled for Sept. 12, Woodbine Entertainment announced Monday. "The history of The Queen's Plate is so rich and the fact that it's been held every year since the inaugural race in 1860 is remarkable," said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "We are honored to be able to continue this rich history in face of adversity by hosting the race for the 161st consecutive year." The $1-million stakes race was postponed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally scheduled...

Canada's version of the Eclipse Awards, the Sovereign Awards is set to be held during a virtual ceremony Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The ceremony will be streamed live at www.woodbine.com and HPItv Canada. A digital program will be available for download at the Jockey Club of Canada website. The Sovereign Awards, which recognize the nation's best across 12 equine and five human categories, was originally slated for Apr. 16, but officials were forced to postpone the program due to the coronavirus pandemic. Media Sovereign Awards in the...

Two horses at Woodbine have tested positive for equine herpesvirus EHV-1, according to a report on CanadianThoroughbred.com. The two reportedly came from Barn 12 on the track's backstretch and are currently being cared for at the University of Guelph in Ontario. The news comes shortly after Woodbine was given the green light to reopen for racing June 6. "This will be an evolving situation, and we will keep [horsepeople] updated with information as it is known," Jessica Buckley, Woodbine Entertainment's senior vice president of racing, told CanadianThoroughbred.com's Jennifer Morrison. "This...

UNDERSTANDING TAKEOUT Ogden Mills Phipps, former chairman of both The Jockey Club and New York Racing Association and a legendary owner and breeder, heartily advocated for lower takeout nearly five decades ago. In December 1976, Blood-Horse outlined the Phipps plea, a source of great concern given the rising competition in the New York market. "With continuing declines in track attendance and mutuel handle, Thoroughbred racing is faced principally with twin threats, witnesses at an Aqueduct hearing stressed. There are the existing off-track betting structure, which has hurt track management and...

Woodbine has been given approval to race without spectators as part of Stage 1 of the Ontario government's framework to gradually reopen the Province. Stage 1 is scheduled to start May 19. "This is great news for the sport of horse racing and the tens of thousands of people it employs throughout the Province," said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "With this news, our plans to resume Standardbred racing at Mohawk Park on June 5 and Thoroughbred racing on June 6 at Woodbine remain on track. We appreciate the government's...

Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) is planning to seek approval for a June 6 or 13 start for its pandemic-delayed Thoroughbred race meet, and the firm's chief executive officer, Jim Lawson, said in a public video chat Tuesday that he does not expect overnight purses to be adversely affected this year despite mounting losses from the closure of WEG's gaming facilities. Woodbine will also seek to move its signature stakes race, the Queen's Plate, from June 27 to a September date that has yet to be determined. Lawson said one near-term...

Effective Wednesday, May 13, all restricted personnel accessing Woodbine's backstretch will be mandated to wear a mask or face covering as a further precautionary measure against COVID-19, Woodbine Entertainment announced Monday. The only exception to wearing a mask or face covering will be when a rider is actively breezing or actively galloping a horse, otherwise face masks must always be on and covering the nose and mouth. Jockeys will be permitted to access the Woodbine backstretch to breeze horses under strict physical distancing protocols beginning Wednesday as well.

The 45th Annual Sovereign Awards, honoring Canada's champions for the 2019 season, will be presented by The Jockey Club of Canada May 19. Winners of the 24 Sovereign Awards categories will be announced live during a virtual ceremony at 8 p.m. (EDT). To watch the ceremony streamed live at www.woodbine.com  and HPItv Canada. A digital program will be available for download at https://jockeyclubcanada.com prior to the event.