Protecting the wellbeing and safety of horses and all racing participants is paramount to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Since the tragic events at Woodbine Racetrack this past weekend, AGCO officials have been onsite engaging with track officials, external experts and horsepeople to assess the safety of racetrack conditions.
The AGCO advised Woodbine that multiple steps would be required to provide confidence that operations could resume safely. Those included measures to improve track conditions, as well as a detailed plan on how the racing surface would be maintained and kept safe for the duration of the racing season.
Based on ongoing assessments from AGCO personnel and external experts, AGCO permitted Woodbine to resume workouts on November 13 under close supervision.
The AGCO is satisfied with the steps that Woodbine has taken to date to ensure the safety of racehorses and racing participants, and has determined that live racing may resume today, November 14.
The AGCO will continue to closely monitor the situation going forward and will take all necessary steps to promote the safety and well-being of racehorses in Ontario.