Woodbine Entertainment shed more light on the upcoming months of live horse racing and any changes that might be needed as a result of the current suspension of live races in Ontario. The horse racing leader confirmed that this year’s Queen’s Plate will have to be postponed until the last days of August 2021. The CA$1-million horse race is a long-standing tradition.
Horse people across Ontario stay flexible in the face of constant changes and health recommendations aiming to improve people’s lives. The horse racing leader of Ontario issued its position on previously circulating rumors regarding the OLG Canadian Triple Crown and its three premium races. It was confirmed that August 22 will see the official start of this long-anticipated horse race at Woodbine Racetrack.
Woodbine Entertainment
For a couple of days now, the local horse gaming field buzzed with the speculation that the CA$1,000,000 Queen’s Plate race could be postponed for the last summer month, instead of transforming the month of June 2021. In a recent statement, an anonymous source revealed that one of the premium events part of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown could be postponed to late August.
This move was apparently considered, in order to protect the horse people of Ontario, along with horse racing fans. At the time, the source had information that Woodbine Entertainment had not officially issued, so they revealed it on the condition that they remain anonymous. However, they pointed out that the postponement was certainly going to happen. Soon after that, Woodbine Entertainment decided to shed more light on its horse racing schedule for 2021.
Jim Lawson, Chief Executive Officer of Woodbine Entertainment, pointed out that the first live horse race part of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown will not take place in June. Instead, it will have to be scheduled for August 22 and the reason for that is the unprecedented situation that has taken its toll on the local horse racing field and people.
Rumors Confirmed
It could be recalled that the 2020 OLG Canadian Triple Crown also witnessed many changes due to the constantly changing situation over the summer months. It was supposed to commence on June 27, 2020, but it was rescheduled to September 12, 2020. Moreover, live spectators were not allowed to watch everything happening at Woodbine Racetrack.
Instead, they had the chance to watch it all live on TSN, as it was broadcasted. Mr. Lawson wants to see spectators making it to this year’s Queen’s Plate, now that the vaccination rollout has commenced. Providing the safest environment for live spectators is of utmost importance for all horse people and Woodbine Entertainment, but a later date for the start of OLG Canadian Triple Crown seems like a safe bet.
Another reason for this delay was that Woodbine Entertainment wanted to allow the racehorses participating more time to train for the 1 1/4-mile race distance kicking things off at the popular three-legged horse racing event. More information is set to be unveiled in the months leading to the official start of live racing at Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park, both currently closed.
