Campbellville, ON — On Thursday afternoon (April 1), Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, issued an update to Standardbred industry participants regarding the province-wide shutdown imposed in Ontario.

The update appears in its entirety below.

Woodbine Mohawk Park Horsepeople,

The Government of Ontario announced today that it is activating a Province-wide ‘emergency brake’ shutdown as a result of an alarming surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province. Currently, the measures included in the shutdown allow for training, but not live racing without spectators.

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. Please prepare accordingly but also rest assured that 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.

While you are at Woodbine Mohawk Park this weekend for live racing, please continue to be safe and follow all COVID-19 Prevention Protocols as you have done so well over the past year.

Thanks,

Jim Lawson