Ontario enters Provincewide lockdown

As a result of the province-wide lockdown announced on Thursday (April 1) by the Government of Ontario, harness racing will be suspended at Rideau Carleton Raceway, The Raceway at the Western Fair District and Woodbine Mohawk Park effective Saturday, April 3.

Live racing was previously suspended at Flamboro Downs when the City of Hamilton was placed in lockdown as of March 29.

Updated by Jim Lawson from Woodbine Entertainment

In advance of today’s news of a Province-wide ‘emergency brake’ shutdown, I had a conversation with the Province this morning regarding our request to be permitted to safely operate live racing during the shutdown. The Province indicated its support for this request so long as the local health authority also approves.

We are in contact with officials from the Halton Region where Woodbine Mohawk Park is situated. Over the coming days we will continue to make our case with the region’s health authorities by demonstrating our commitment to safety, sharing our industry-leading COVID-19 Prevention Protocols, and reminding them that we have not had a single case of on-site transmission of the virus at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

As of Saturday, April 3, we will be required to suspend racing until we receive the necessary permission from local health authorities to safely operate live racing during this shutdown. We are doing everything we can do be able to resume racing as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, and in accordance with the measures of the shutdown, we will continue to offer training at Woodbine Mohawk Park. More details regarding this will be shared by the Race Office shortly.