Horse Welfare at Woodbine Mohawk Park The safety and well-being of horses who race at Woodbine Mohawk Park is the top priority each and every day. Woodbine Mohawk Park abides by strict protocols and works with passionate industry experts to ensure the excellent care of our equine athletes. Race Day ProtocolsTrack SurfacesOur RegulatorsLife After RacingRace Day Protocols RACE DAY PROTOCOLS Horses are inspected by the commission veterinarian on the morning of a race day and continue to be monitored until they begin racing. Horses deemed not fit to race through veterinarian examination and trainer observation are scratched from the race. Woodbine takes extra measures on hot or cold race days for the horses’ comfort and safety. Trainers have the option to scratch their horse from a race without repercussions on extremely hot or cold days. Woodbine Mohawk Park also follows local public health recommendations associated with outdoor sports in the event of unsafe air quality. Heat Extra hosing stations or mobile cooling stations with a trained attendant. Access to water for horses at all times before and after their race. Racing Officials minimize the time horses are out on the track before the races (post parade). Cold Racing Officials minimize the time horses are out on the track before the races (post parade). The racing team frequently communicates with the representation of racing participants on cold days to ensure they remain comfortable participating in the weather conditions. A Standardbred’s Raceday Experience When a horse arrives at the track on race day, they are identified by microchip scan and their temperature is recorded. Horses enrolled in the EIPH Program will receive Lasix (furosemide, a diuretic medication) 4 hours before their race. The race program indicates which horses use Lasix. The administration of medications, drugs and substances (Lasix exempt) are prohibited 24 hours prior to first race post time to protect the welfare of the equine athlete and provide a level playing field for all competitors. All horses have the opportunity to warm-up prior to the race. Typically, a Standardbred will warm up one hour before their race. The warm-up is watched by the official veterinarian. If the vet is skeptical of a horse’s soundness during the warm-up, they will perform an examination. The vet will scratch any horses unfit to race. Before their race in the paddock horses are tacked up by their trainers and grooms, and their drivers get seated in the race bike. The trainers or grooms / caretakers will walk the horse out of the paddock, and the horses will briefly warm up again before lining up behind the gate. During each race, the starting gate crew, an ambulance with paramedics, a horse ambulance with vets, and the outrider are prepared to respond immediately in case an incident occurs. After the race, each horse is brought back into the paddock for a bath and drink of water in the care of their groom or trainer. Two horses, typically the winner and one other, will be drug tested immediately following each race. Track Surfaces TRACK SURFACES Woodbine Mohawk Park ensures the track surface remains safe by testing and reporting on the quality of the track before and during racing. Woodbine Mohawk Park’s racing surface is Quarter-Inch Trap Rock Screenings. This material is considered an all-weather surface, meaning it can withstand each of Ontario’s seasons with minimal change. The predictability of the footing makes it safer for horses to race on. The track is groomed daily, and other maintenance is performed regularly as needed depending on the weather. Our Regulators OUR REGULATORS Woodbine is compliant with The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO). The AGCO’s core regulatory functions related to horse racing in Ontario include licensing, officiating, investigations, and inspection activities. The agency establishes and enforces the Rules of Racing in our province, many of which act to protect horses from mistreatment or injury. The AGCO also appoints racetrack officials including Stewards, who act as the “judges”, reviewing races to ensure no rules have been broken. If a rule is broken, the situation is investigated, and the perpetrator can be faced with monetary fines, suspension, or expulsion. Woodbine is also regulated by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA). The CPMA is a special operating agency within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada that regulates and supervises pari-mutuel betting in Canada on horse races, to ensure that pari-mutuel betting is conducted in a way that is fair to the public. One of the key responsibilities of the CPMA is collecting and analyzing urine or blood samples from horses before and/or after a horse race for drug testing. The CPMA maintains the official list of approved medications for racehorses in Canada. Life After Racing LIFE AFTER RACING Woodbine Entertainment supports the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS). OSAS was founded in 1996 to assist in the adoption, relocation, and retaining of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses within Ontario. OSAS matches retired race horses with their ideal new loving home. STORIES OF NEW BEGINNINGS The Healing Power of SophieMILTON, February 7, 2023– Lynne St. Jacques was looking for a horse. Not just any horse, but one with the ability to… Read moreThe Cowgirl and BugsyMILTON, January 23, 2023– It is, among many things, a look of mutual reassurance whenever the young rider and the imposing former… Read moreFrom Trotter To Trailblazer: The Life of ‘Westie’It’s a thrill ride Sarah Cuthbertson never expected to have embarked on. The accomplished equestrian with over a decade of Endurance riding… Read more Show All
