2011 Ontario Racing Dates

I don't believe there has been an official announcement on this yet, but I noticed on the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) website, that racing dates for Ontario Thoroughbred Racing appear to have been approved. Woodbine will begin its 2011 Thoroughbred meet on Saturday, April 2nd, while Fort Erie will begin its 2011 Thoroughbred meet on Saturday, May 7th. Click here to check out the calendar, which also includes Standardbred race dates.

Woodbine's meet will run for 167 days in 2011, just like in 2010, and will take its normal April to December schedule. Early on in the meet, Woodbine will only operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but will add Wednesday racing at the end of April and Thursday racing in June. The Queen's Plate is scheduled for Sunday, June 26th and another special 12:30 p.m. post time day will occur on Sunday, October 29th. I can't think of why there would be a special 12:30 p.m. post time the week before Breeders' Cup, but I guess we will find out soon enough. Normally the Pattison Canadian International takes place two weeks before the Breeders' Cup. The final day of the Woodbine meet will be Sunday, December 4th.

Fort Erie will run 78 live racing days in 2011, down from 81 live racing days in 2010. Racing will take place on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, with opening day occurring on a Saturday and another Saturday racing date scheduled in October. The Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel in Canada's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing, will most likely take place on either Sunday, July 10th, or Sunday, July 17th. The final date of the Fort Erie meet will be Tuesday, November 1st.

Posted in: Fort Erie,Woodbine