Following announcement, Woodbine on track to reopen June 6.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Following Thursday’s announcement regarding horse racing without fans being part of the phase one reopening of Ontario’s economy, Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson confirmed an early June start for both Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine and Standardbred racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

“This is great news for the sport of horse racing and the tens of thousands of people it employs throughout the province,” Lawson said. “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 recognition that we can operate spectator-free horse racing safely by following strict physical distancing protocols.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racing at Mohawk Park was suspended on March 19, while the opening of Woodbine’s Thoroughbred season, originally scheduled for April 18, was postponed.

The first condition book and a revised stakes schedule should be out next week. The prestigious Queen’s Plate, originally scheduled for June 27, is expected to be contested Sept. 12.

The meet is scheduled to conclude Dec. 13, and there are no plans to extend it, according to Lawson.