Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Enjoyment, and Ontario horse racing enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate Canada Day.
The Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto and the Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ontario., will allow viewers to have a capacity of 25% from the Day of Canada (July 1). This decision comes after the Ontario government announced on Thursday that it will move to the second stage of its reopening plan next Wednesday.
“It’s obviously exciting for all of our fans, owners and betting customers to be returning to the racetrack,” Lawson said in a telephone interview. “A big part of horse racing is the live experience of being around the horses and watching the races.
“As great as Woodbine is doing in terms of simulcast and streaming of our product, what people really love and love is to be there in person and see the excitement around jockeys, riders and racing. It’s a great experience.”
The transition to the second stage was originally supposed to come into force on July 2, but the vaccination goals against recent times have already been achieved and other health indicators have improved since strict measures to action the third wave of the global recent times came into force in April. As part of the second stage, outdoor horse racing can have a capacity of 25%.
Lawson said meals on the patio will also be offered at Woodbine or Mohawk Park on Thursday, but those who want to participate must book first. And guests must also comply with state requirements regarding the wearing of masks before entering the institution or leaving a table to use the toilet.
The Canada Day card at Woodbine Racecourse starts this afternoon, while the races at Mohawk Park start after in the evening.
“We are training… Logistics now and will aim to communicate them in the coming days,” Lawson said.
Lawson said it was difficult to determine exactly how many people would be allowed to enter the two facilities.
“I think they number in the thousands in both places,” he said. “We accurately assess the duration of 25% of the seating capacity. . . given our planned crowds, we believe that we will be able to welcome our full crowd.”
The move to the second tier is also a very good sign for the three franchises of the Ontario LCF, as the schedule is scheduled to start with 14 games in August. 5. The league did not play in because of the recent times.
The three ontarian teams will open season 21 on the road. The Toronto Argonauts will be the first to play a home game — Aug. 21 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Ottawa Redblacks will host the British Columbia Lions in August. 28. Hamilton’s Tiger-Cats will face archrival Argos at Tim Hortons Field in September. 6 in the Classic annual Labor Day.
“A compliment to the people of Ontario for doing their share of vaccinations to reach the percentage that made this possible,” said Matt Afinec, president and chief operating officer of Hamilton Business Operations. “It is well documented the importance of the fans in terms of our business model.
“We are a goal-oriented league (and) it is an important part of our company. But the fans have a goal that goes far beyond the business model of our teams, they help boost the environment, they help support our players.”
Mark Goudie, president and CEO of Ottawa Sports and Enjoyment Group (OSEG), owner of the Redblacks, said that the announcement on Thursday will be a huge boost for employees of the franchise.
“It’s important to at least have the notion that the fans will be part of it, as something we can work on,” Goudie said. “Things are getting real now, when we know that we will welcome people instead of td at the end of August.
“But I think this is just the beginning. I think we are probably two more steps in the government process up to our first game. I know there is no step 4 in this process, but at some point we have to add one, and I think that’s the step we probably have on the next opening night.”
Goudie added that Thursday’s announcement showed that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
“A lot of time and we can feel it in our employees,” he said. “The schedule meant that we would have football, but football without fans. . . .it’s not something we are used to, so it makes all this real again.
“When we talk about returning to a kind of normality, from the social animals that we are, it’s more normal to celebrate a football match with people.”
The Blue Jays in Toronto in major League baseball and the Toronto FC in Major League Soccer play in temporary homes in Buffalo, in New York State and Orlando, respectively. Due to the border restrictions and the large number of US teams in these two leagues, it is much more difficult for the Blue Jays and TFC to play in Toronto.
Initially, the province expected that it would stay at least 21 days at each step to assess all the impact on the key public health indicators and the health system. If he sticks to that mandate, a transition to stage 3 — and further easing of restrictions — would take place around July 22.
The million Queen’s Plate – the opening jewel of OLG’s Canadian triple crown and the oldest Continuous Stakes event in North America—is scheduled for August. 22 at Woodbine Racecourse. Last year’s race took place without fans in the stands, but Lawson is convinced that at least some will be allowed to return this time.
“The good news is that the 25% capacity should be the minimum,” Lawson said. “But I think that if vaccination rates go up and matters continue to fall, the trend seems to be that these two things are happening, you can expect that 25% is the minimum.”