Woodbine reaffirms stabling commitment

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – With the Ontario government extending the Declaration of Provincial Emergency and associated emergency measures due to the coronavirus global pandemic, Woodbine Entertainment announced Tuesday that it remains committed to stabling horses on its backstretch.

The Woodbine meet, which was scheduled to begin April 18, has been postponed with a start date yet to be determined.

“These horses need a home, and our land and facilities were created exactly for the purpose of caring for these animals,” Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson said. “Furthermore, horsepeople have requested that we keep our backstretch open, and we have only done so in accordance with the government deeming stabling an essential business. We have also followed strict government direction to minimize the risk in the spread of COVID-19.”

To date, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 on the Woodbine backstretch.

As it has since the beginning of the pandemic, Woodbine Entertainment said it will continue to operate its backstretch under very strict adherence to government and official health agency guidelines. Woodbine Entertainment has implemented many health and safety protocols to limit the spread of the virus.