According to reports, there are only two weeks left in the 2024 Woodbine season, and last week proved beneficial for Rafael Hernandez, Fraser Aebly, and Martin Drexler. With just eight days remaining in the Thoroughbred season, many associated with the track are eager for the end, especially after the harsh winter weather forced challenging conditions for both horses and humans.
The week at Woodbine was particularly noteworthy due to a directive from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which mandated that entries for horses that raced within the previous 14 days were not accepted. This led to numerous race cancellations and necessitated a re-draw for the Thursday card due to a high number of scratches. Despite the challenges, the weekend races, including significant stakes races for two-year-olds, experienced exciting finishes, although some members of the racing community expressed concerns about scheduling such high-stakes events in late November.
Michael Copeland, the President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, addressed recent safety incidents, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to maintaining track safety. He noted that some recent problems were not related to the track surface, which was regularly monitored and maintained.
In terms of rider performance, Hernandez had an impressive five-win day on Sunday and amassed eight wins over the last four days, while Drexler trained five winners, bringing his total for the meet to 100.