Woodbine Responds To Short Cards, Small Field Sizes

Photo: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Woodbine Racing fans may have noticed that over the past week or so, the depth of the thoroughbred racing cards has not be up to its usual standard.

This week, Wednesday's program featured only seven races instead of the usual eight, and field sizes were for the most part small, as three of the seven scheduled races attracted just six entrants. The largest race on Wednesday's card, a six and half furlong sprint for fillies and mares three-years-old and up on turf, attracted eight runners but one was entered for main track racing only.

Wednesday's program was also affected by wicked weather that passed through the Toronto area, forcing Woodbine to cancel the final three races of the card.

Even last week Woodbine had trouble filling races, as Sunday's program featured nine races instead of the usual 10, and five of nine races were run with six horses or less after scratches.

Thursday's card featured a full eight race program, but again short fields were common with four of the eight races attracting seven horses or less.

Woodbine's track management say this is nothing out of the ordinary.

"We annually experience weakened field size in August and early September at Woodbine," said Steve Koch, Woodbine's Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing. "Our very long racing calendar means that older campaigners by August are taking a vacation and the young two-year-olds aren't quite ready to step up yet. Based on previous years experiences, we can expect field size to pick back up in mid to late September when the Woodbine product will be at its best."

To go along with the long season, a number of horses are apparently coping with a virus making its way around the Woodbine backstretch. As a result, many trainers appear to be exercising extreme caution with their runners.

"A further limit on our horse supply this August is a minor virus that has temporarily sidelined an additional contingent of horses," said Koch. "Hopefully the population will have worked through this virus shortly and we will be at full strength very soon."

It appears fans of Woodbine's thoroughbred racing product will not have to wait long to enjoy the large fields Woodbine usually attracts. The weekend program, especially Sunday's card, features full 10-races programs, with a total of 189 entries.

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