Just recently, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario approved a request to change post times made by Woodbine Entertainment Group. Now, the Registrar of the AGCO will allow the horse racing operator to change post times for several races at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The races are part of the September 19, 2023, and September 21, 2023 cards.
As the leading operator for world-class horse racing in Ontario, Woodbine Entertainment owns and operates the Thoroughbred, Woodbine Racetrack, and the Standardbred, Woodbine Mohawk Park. The latter is a harness racing track located in Campbellville, which also touts a slot machine parlour with over 1,000 machines, operated by Great Canadian Entertainment.
Request Accepted
On the last day of July 2023, the Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has given its green light to change the post times for two September 2023 race dates at the track. The post times for the 2023 race dates on Tuesday, September 19 and Thursday, September 21 have been changed from 7 p.m. to 5:35 p.m.
Woodbine Entertainment’s application for the changes of the post times of the 2023 race date calendar was reviewed by Ontario Racing and Ontario Lotter and Gaming Corporation. Then, both entities made recommendations for the approval of the request. The permitted changes to the 2023 schedule are also conditional upon approval by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency.
Celebrating 60th Anniversary
Woodbine Mohawk Park is one of the leading tracks when it comes to live horse racing in Ontario and North America. Earlier this year, the establishment celebrated 60 years of world-class racing, which has brought some incredible memories to spectators, while also being quite beneficial for the sport of horse racing and the province.
For its celebrations, the track provided treats to fans, as the first 300 fans through the doors during the celebratory weekend received cupcakes. There was also strolling entertainment and a specialty drink. One of the cards featured a celebratory program, and for the occasion, its seventh race was titled the “Mohawk 60th Anniversary Pace”.
Studying the Effect of Horse Races
In the meantime, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is looking into the impact of horse racing. The Crown will be compiling a study on the post-unprecedented situation in the Ontario sector. Its purpose is to quantify the current economic impact of the provincial horse racing industry and will be done with help from provincial horse racing groups and associations.
OLG is looking to better understand how the horse racing sector has changed since the Crown agency’s first comprehensive economic impact study. It was done back in 2019. The new one started in late June 2023, while the corporation will also provide a survey questionnaire that will be made available through industry associations.
Source: “AGCO Approves Mohawk Post Time Change” Standardbred Canada, July 31, 2023
