by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — The Woodbine Standardbred Race Office would like to inform horsepeople of the upcoming holiday draw and racing schedule.

Live Standardbred racing at Woodbine will continue on its regular schedule through Saturday (Dec. 23). There will be no live racing on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Racing resumes on Boxing Day (Tuesday, Dec. 26) for the traditional matinee card. The Boxing Day program will be the final card of 2017, as the Standardbreds will then take a break until Saturday (Jan. 6).

There will be no qualifiers during the break at Woodbine. The first opportunity to qualify following the break will be Monday (Jan. 8).

The Woodbine track and paddock will not be available for training on Tuesday (Dec. 26), but will be open for training on Tuesday (Jan. 2) from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Below is the full holiday schedule (with draw dates) for Woodbine.

Live Racing: Tuesday, Dec. 26 (Post Time 1 p.m.)
Draw Date: Thursday, Dec. 21 (Box Closes 10:30 a.m.)
Scratch Time: Friday, Dec. 22 at 9 a.m.

Live Racing: Saturday, Jan. 6 (Post Time 7:30 p.m.)
Draw Date: Wednesday, Jan. 3 (Box Closes 10:30 a.m.)
Scratch Time: Thursday, Jan. 4 at 9 a.m.

Live Racing: Monday, Jan. 8 (Post Time 7:30 p.m.)
Draw Date: Thursday, Jan. 4 (Box Closes 10:30 a.m.)
Scratch Time: Friday, Jan. 5 at 9 a.m.

Qualifiers: Monday, Jan. 8 (Post Time 4 p.m.)
Draw Date: Friday, Jan. 5 (Box Closes at 10:30 a.m.)

The Woodbine Standardbred Race Office also conducts all draws for Rideau Carleton Raceway. Below is the holiday racing and draw schedule for Rideau.

Live Racing: Thursday, Dec. 28 (Post Time 6:30 p.m.)
Draw Date: Friday, Dec. 22 (Box Closes at 10 a.m.)
Scratch Time: Friday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m.

Live Racing: Sunday, Dec. 31 (Post Time 4 p.m.)
Draw Date: Wednesday, Dec. 27 (Box Closes at 10 a.m.)
Scratch Time: Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 3 p.m.

The Woodbine Standardbred Race Office would like to wish all horsepeople happy holidays and best of racing luck in 2018.