TORONTO, February 27, 2018 – With spring just around the corner and the 2018 Thoroughbred racing season quickly approaching, the first set of nearly 2,000 horses shipping into the Woodbine backstretch settled in on Tuesday morning and will begin preparations for Opening Day, April 21. Woodbine’s Keith McCalmont and John Siscos were joined by friends on the backstretch to welcome the shippers and shared some updates on the first arrivals this morning via Twitter. For a full story on the backstretch opening, click here. They’re baaa-ackk! Horses arriving from all directions at #BetWoodbine as the backstretch opens for another year of #HorseRacing pic.twitter.com/PqlbIj8iei — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 Easy peasy! Lots of equine friends arriving at the Robert Tiller bar this morning…#BetWoodbine pic.twitter.com/z5YZTvdPSQ — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 It’s 6 Celsius and by all accounts the nicest ship in day in three decades…so happy to have the Thoroughbreds back at #BetWoodbine pic.twitter.com/6iB3176Mrv — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 Blue skies and warm February weather as the horses return to #BetWoodbine ? ☀️ ?? pic.twitter.com/Ccn2IxdN6a — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 Cawaja Time arrives at the Scott Fairlie barn as the #BetWoodbine backstretch opens pic.twitter.com/6UpUhGJDvs — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 WELCOME BACK!!!!!!! #happyhappyhappy pic.twitter.com/2mPthZC82i — Sheri (@gofilly) February 27, 2018 Jades A Gem getting spoiled by @gofilly at the @josiedepaulo barn as the #BetWoodbine backstretch opens pic.twitter.com/m1e3FwsGB6 — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 Street Talkin Guy and top PR man @JSiscos_WOMoh planning some stories for 2018 at #BetWoodbine pic.twitter.com/ChVDfr4QGg — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 How To Make Friends & Influence Horses with @starting_gate as the #BetWoodbine backstretch opens ? ? ? ?? pic.twitter.com/VB2WHWhuGe — Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) February 27, 2018 #CuteNoseAlert Cindervella @josiedepaulo @WoodbineTB pic.twitter.com/N4f2As1cjz — Sheri (@gofilly) February 27, 2018 With @TripleDeadHeat @starting_gate @gofilly checking out the @josiedepaulo barn on its first day @WoodbineTB in 2018, isn’t it the best that the nearby training track will be in action starting tomorrow? #gettingcloser #April21opener pic.twitter.com/8BdEzlmiiv — John Siscos (@JSiscos_WOMoh) February 27, 2018 Happiness is……❤️❤️ thanks @melidar08 @josiedepaulo pic.twitter.com/Nt0BV7cwZR — Sheri (@gofilly) February 27, 2018 #CuteNoseAlert CAN you guess who? Hint: they're a front-runner for ?? HOTY ?? pic.twitter.com/SSOCmbEWXt — Bailey Gallison (@starting_gate) February 27, 2018 Morning chatter @WoodbineTB with good pals @starting_gate @TripleDeadHeat at the @TGattellaro barn with the arrival of feisty unique Liddy Up!! ?? pic.twitter.com/gqezW5QVXY — Sheri (@gofilly) February 27, 2018 Share This:Share