curious Posted November 10 Share Posted November 10 Woodbine Cancels Sunday Card As Precautionary Measure Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 11:50 am | Back to: Top News Woodbine all-weather surface | Michael Burns Woodbine Entertainment has cancelled the scheduled race card for Sunday, Nov. 10, as a precautionary measure to prioritize the safety and well-being of the horses and jockeys, the track said in a release early on Sunday morning. The decision was made after consulting with key industry partners, including the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), the Jockeys' Guild, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. This follows the cancellation of the final two races of Saturday's card due to safety concerns with the all-weather main track. Additionally, training on that surrface was suspended Sunday morning. Woodbine is currently performing track maintenance and closely reviewing conditions which includes meeting with its consultants. These efforts will continue throughout the day, with racing and training activities set to resume only when it is deemed safe to do so. “The safety of our horses and jockeys is always our highest priority,” said Bill Ford, executive vice president of racing at Woodbine.” In consultation with our industry partners, we have decided to take these precautionary steps to ensure that the track conditions meet the highest safety standards. Woodbine has long been recognized as one of the safest racetracks in North America, and we are committed to maintaining that reputation by thoroughly assessing and addressing any issues.” Woodbine will continue to provide updates as efforts progress and decisions regarding the resumption of training and racing are made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 10 Share Posted November 10 Woodbine cancels late races after 2 fatal breakdowns www.horseracingnation.com Woodbine racetrack canceled the final two races on its stakes-laden Saturday card following two fatal breakdowns on the artificial Tapeta track, including a runner in the Grade 3, US $110,000 Bessarabian Stakes. Woodbine Entertainment, the operator of the Canadian racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario, near Toronto, provided few details on the reason for the cancellation in a news release late Saturday afternoon. “Following consultation with the HBPA, Jockeys' Guild and (farm equipment manufacturer) AGCO, Woodbine Entertainment cancelled the remainder of Saturday's Thoroughbred race card (Races 9 & 10) in the best interest of equine safety,” it said. But Woodbine Entertainment said in separate posts on X.com that Social Dancer and Owen’s Tour Guide were injured during the second and eighth races, respectively, and were humanely euthanized as a result. It extended “sincere condolences” to the connections of both horses and noted that jockeys David Moran, the rider of Social Dancer, and Jose Campos aboard Owen’s Tour Guide were both OK after the incidents. It noted in the news release that the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes, one of the canceled races, would be rescheduled as drawn on Nov. 16. Owen’s Tour Guide, a 6-year-old graded-stakes-placed daughter of Tourist trained by W. V. Armata, had amassed a record of 38: 7-3-6 and earnings of nearly $275,000 US in her career for owner Tequesta Racing. The Equibase chart for the Bessarabian said she was racing four wide in the third flight of horses on the far turn when she “took a misstep at the quarter pole, fell, dislodging the rider, and left via equine ambulance.” Social Dancer, a 3-year-old filly trained by Michael Doyle for owner-breeder C. Scott Abbott Racing Stable, was making her third start in a maiden-optional claiming race earlier on the card, when she “took an awkward step nearing the half-mile pole, was eased, pulling up at the five-sixteenth maker and left via equine ambulance,” according to the Equibase chart. Tapeta, a Thoroughbred racing and training surface comprised of a carefully selected mixture of the finest silica sand, wax and fibers, is used at racetracks around the world and has long been considered safer than dirt of turf for racing, according to manufacturer Tapeta Footings Inc. One of its other big advantages is that it handles wet weather and heavy rainfall extremely well, according to the Tapeta Footings website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 10 Share Posted November 10 ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine canceled the remainder of Saturday's program after the eighth race over concerns regarding the safety of the synthetic Tapeta surface. There were three catastrophic breakdowns on Saturday, beginning with a worker shortly after the 8 a.m. renovation break. Social Dancer was injured on the backstretch in the second race. Owen’s Tour Guide broke down on the far turn in the eighth, the Grade 3 Bessarabian, after which the final two races were scrapped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted November 11 Author Share Posted November 11 It's interesting that they immediately shut the track down for both training and racing immediately pending resolution of the problem. Here, upon evidence of high injury rates, they carry on regardless. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 38 minutes ago, curious said: they immediately shut the track down for both training and racing immediately pending resolution of the problem. perhaps more concern with serious Legal issues if horse and or riders injured? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted November 11 Author Share Posted November 11 7 hours ago, Murray Fish said: perhaps more concern with serious Legal issues if horse and or riders injured? Yes. It's Canada on what the safety data suggests is possibly the safest racing surface in the world, but they don't play Russian roulette with human and equine lives there. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted November 13 Author Share Posted November 13 Training to Resume at Woodbine Racetrack on Wednesday November 12, 2024 Toronto, ON – November 12, 2024 – Woodbine Entertainment announced today that training on the All-Weather Main Track will resume tomorrow morning, following a thorough review and extensive maintenance conducted over the last couple of days. In collaboration with consultants and suppliers of the Tapeta surface, Woodbine performed a series of maintenance procedures to improve the track’s condition and address any safety concerns. This included rototilling the entire surface to a depth of five inches, followed by a deep power harrow treatment, and finishing with the use of a gallop master to ensure an even and consistent surface. On Monday and Tuesday morning, horses were allowed to gallop on the All-Weather Main Track with no incidents and trainers provided positive feedback. The track will undergo additional maintenance today following this morning’s light training, and it is now prepared for breezing and timed workouts starting tomorrow. To enhance safety, a harrow break has been added to morning training sessions as an extra precaution. Woodbine has been in close communication with the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) throughout the process to keep them informed of the steps taken to address the safety concerns and improve the track’s condition. “The safety of our horses and riders is our highest priority and we have been working diligently over the last couple of days to ensure the track is in optimal condition for safe training and racing,” said Bill Ford, Executive Vice President of Racing. “We look forward to reopening the track for training tomorrow and for live racing on Thursday, November 14. We appreciate the patience of our horse racing community and the support of our Tapeta consultants, the HBPA, and the AGCO. We remain committed to maintaining one of the safest racing surfaces in North America.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 13 Share Posted November 13 1 hour ago, curious said: This included rototilling the entire surface to a depth of five inches, followed by a deep power harrow treatment, and finishing with the use of a gallop master to ensure an even and consistent surface. 125mm depth. 1 hour ago, curious said: To enhance safety, a harrow break has been added to morning training sessions as an extra precaution. What's a "harrow break"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted November 13 Author Share Posted November 13 A break in training to allow the track surface to be re-worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 13 Share Posted November 13 5 minutes ago, curious said: A break in training to allow the track surface to be re-worked. Ok. I don't know why they don't do that between races on raceday. Addington yesterday had three large tractors levelling the track after each race as well as a water truck going around. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted November 13 Author Share Posted November 13 5 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Ok. I don't know why they don't do that between races on raceday. Pretty sure they do both there and in the UK on the synthetics. Certainly a full power-harrow etc. between meetings so every time 100 odd horses have been over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted November 14 Share Posted November 14 21 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Ok. I don't know why they don't do that between races on raceday. Addington yesterday had three large tractors levelling the track after each race as well as a water truck going around. I don't understand that either. Is it laziness? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 14 Share Posted November 14 19 minutes ago, Special Agent said: I don't understand that either. Is it laziness? Probably cost is a factor. Other constraints would be skill, not enough machinery, applying turf custom and practice to synthetic. I always thought that they would groom between races which seems the logical thing to do otherwise those who race early get the safest track. Then again I also assumed they would groom the track every day BEFORE track work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted November 14 Author Share Posted November 14 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Probably cost is a factor. Other constraints would be skill, not enough machinery, applying turf custom and practice to synthetic. I always thought that they would groom between races which seems the logical thing to do otherwise those who race early get the safest track. Then again I also assumed they would groom the track every day BEFORE track work. I think (hope) that they do the latter. What you say above is probably also true generally so far as the constraints go. To do it between races, as you noted at Addington, requires say 3 tractors with grooming equipment in order to get it done fast enough. Riccarton only has one tractor big enough to operate their one groundbreaker, as we saw when it broke down and they couldn't groom the track for training until the tractor part arrived. If they tried to it with that, everyone would have gone home before the next race. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 14 Share Posted November 14 32 minutes ago, curious said: I think (hope) that they do the latter. What you say above is probably also true generally so far as the constraints go. To do it between races, as you noted at Addington, requires say 3 tractors with grooming equipment in order to get it done fast enough. Riccarton only has one tractor big enough to operate their one groundbreaker, as we saw when it broke down and they couldn't groom the track for training until the tractor part arrived. If they tried to it with that, everyone would have gone home before the next race. Probably get away with two tractors as Addington is quite a bit wider than the AWT. I suspect there is some tractor company sponsor's involved at Addington as well. But then again, although it might be sacrilege why couldn't the Gallops talk to the Trots and share? Very rarely if ever do they race the same day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 30 Share Posted November 30 Geez these new rules would eliminate a few horses in NZ. The biggest change is that any horse that has raced within the previous 14 calendar days is ineligible to race and will be scratched if already entered. With the new rules having gone into effect after entries were drawn for Saturday's races, 12 horses that were entered to run back within 14 days were scratched from the card. Other steps that were taken include: (*) Any racehorses that have received an intra-articular fetlock injection–used to treat joint issues–within the previous 14 calendar days of race date will be restricted from entering to race. (*) The AGCO is requiring that an official veterinarian be present and observe horses during all morning training at Woodbine. Before a horse on the Veterinarian's List is permitted to return to work, its trainer and a private veterinarian must observe it jogging within 48 hours before the work and jointly certify that the horse is fit and sound before being examined by the official veterinarian and being permitted to work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted November 30 Share Posted November 30 (edited) Good process. The winter Riccarton poly meetings are programmed fortnightly for much of the winter. Didn't sit at all well with me although had to compromise to get the specific race required at times. Edited November 30 by Freda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 30 Share Posted November 30 5 minutes ago, Freda said: The winter Riccarton poly meetings are programmed fortnightly for much of the winter. If they applied the 14 day calendar rule here then you couldn't race until day 15 after the last race. Certainly you wouldn't be able to back up and run in both NZ Guineas races! Or is it only a rule for Synthetic tracks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted December 4 Author Share Posted December 4 On 1/12/2024 at 12:58 PM, Chief Stipe said: If they applied the 14 day calendar rule here then you couldn't race until day 15 after the last race. Certainly you wouldn't be able to back up and run in both NZ Guineas races! Or is it only a rule for Synthetic tracks? It applies to the turf at Woodbine too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted December 4 Share Posted December 4 Haha....just imagine the shambles here if that was implemented country wide! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted December 4 Author Share Posted December 4 Not so bad if you made it day 14 but the likes of the coast circuit and cup week would about disappear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted December 4 Author Share Posted December 4 It's important to note that the track had already been safety checked, sounds like by the same UK team that checked ours recently. "officials said had undergone evaluation for evenness, consistency, bounce, and cushion. Experts had rototilled the surface, harrowed it, and applied additional treatments to improve areas of concern. Also that a number of the injuries were not attributed to the track “We’re very happy with the progress we’ve made,” said Woodbine CEO Michael Copeland in an interview on the track feed Dec. 1. “We have a safe track. Some of the issues we’ve had over the past few weeks have not been related to the track but cause us to step back and say, 'What can we do about it?' We’ve worked with the AGCO, the HBPA, everybody in various capacities in the industry to make sure horses are not running when they’ve been under stress that could cause an increased chance of injury, but at the same time we want to make sure owners and trainers have a chance to get into races. We know that’s important.” A year earlier, the Woodbine Tapeta had the lowest injury rate of any track in the country, so to some extent, it may been the numbers catching up with themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted December 4 Share Posted December 4 3 hours ago, curious said: A year earlier, the Woodbine Tapeta had the lowest injury rate of any track in the country, so to some extent, it may been the numbers catching up with themselves. Statistical variation. The Lucy Letby Syndrome. I find the rules they have implemented a bit draconian and an over reaction. Also they seem to put the balance of any blame and management of the issues on the Trainer rather than the track and/or its maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted December 4 Author Share Posted December 4 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: I find the rules they have implemented a bit draconian and an over reaction. Maybe, but not far different from what we had for the Melbourne Cup this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted December 5 Share Posted December 5 3 hours ago, curious said: Maybe, but not far different from what we had for the Melbourne Cup this year. You can still back up within the week though. Woodbine are not requesting scans though are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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