Woodbine to open week later in 2018

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – With Sunday as the meet’s closing day, Jonathan Zammit, Woodbine’s vice president of Thoroughbred racing, revealed some details for the 2018 season in a memo to horsemen.

Woodbine’s 2018 season will start a week later next year, the Dec. 2 memo said, with opening day scheduled for April 21 and closing day set for Dec. 16. The backstretch will open Feb. 26, with ship-in day scheduled for Feb. 27. The first day of training will be Feb. 28.

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Woodbine’s training hours will be altered to accommodate the construction of the new inner turf course, which will take place Mondays through Thursdays. The main track will be open for training between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on those days, while on Fridays and weekends, the main track will be open between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Zammit’s memo also announced that the controversial ship-out policy, which put restrictions on horses leaving to race at other tracks, will not be enforced in 2018.

Woodbine also will run races in several unique categories next season, including the Turf Endurance Series and the Grey Handicap Race that were introduced this year. Other racing initiatives that will begin next season include a turf sprint series, a Lady in Red Handicap for chestnuts, and Filly and Mare nights.