Woodbine Mohawk Park: Track to adopt enhanced enforcement of urging rule
Woodbine Entertainment and the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) have announced their support for the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO) revision and enhanced enforcement of the urging rule for Standardbred Racing. The revised urging rules will take effect beginning Monday, June 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and will be gradually phased in to all Standardbred tracks across the province.
The revisions to the urging rule align with the commitment of Woodbine Entertainment and COSA to protect the health and safety of the equine athletes and integrity of racing.
[Editor's Note: The revised rules remove the terminology allowing a driver to move the whip up to a 90-degree angle relative to the track and replace it with language allowing only the use of acceptable wrist action only.]
“Woodbine Entertainment fully supports the AGCO’s revisions to the urging rule after requests were made to review in the best interests of our horses and sport,” said Jessica Buckley, President of Woodbine Mohawk Park. “We are committed to upholding the highest standards and practices for the integrity of racing to best position our industry for a stable future.”
“We recognize the need for our industry to evolve and are pleased by the efficient progress made by the AGCO to revise the urging rule,” said Bill O’Donnell, President of COSA. “Placing the welfare of our animals first will always be the top priority and our drivers understand that moving to wrist action only urging is best for the integrity of our sport.”
Woodbine Mohawk Park offers a world class Standardbred racing product with the best horses and drivers competing regularly.
The enforcement of the revised rules at Woodbine Mohawk Park and during the upcoming $1 million Pepsi North America Cup will provide an example to racetracks and jurisdictions across the continent for the need to be proactive and progress with best practices for the safety of equine athletes.
-edited release (Woodbine)