Last week brought intriguing developments in Canadian racing. Fort Erie kicked off its season on May 28 with a strong opening day, while Century Mile in Nisku, Alberta, continued to impress with remarkably fast race times. Despite facing serious horse population issues, Hastings Racecourse persisted with its racing schedule.
Assiniboia Downs maintained its popularity with its Monday through Wednesday night races, consistently surpassing $1 million in wagering each night.
Meanwhile, Woodbine saw a resurgence in excitement with a robust weekend of racing, including the highly anticipated Super Stakes Saturday. This revitalised interest translated into a much-needed $13 million increase in wagering, following a slower start to the season. Fans were treated to glimpses of numerous Thoroughbred stars, both equine and human, with many more anticipated appearances to come. Notably, the 2022 Horse of the Year, Moira, has been making waves in her training sessions under the guidance of trainer Kevin Attard and is nearing her return to the track.
This week at Woodbine marks the commencement of the first two major stepping-stone races leading up to the Woodbine Oaks and King's Plate. Both races, the Fury and Queenston for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, are 7-furlong sprints and will take place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Meanwhile, the spotlight in North American racing shines on the four-day Belmont Festival, set to take place at Saratoga while Belmont Park undergoes construction. The festival promises an array of stakes races, with the highlight being the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, now shortened to 1 1/4 miles. A competitive field of 10 is anticipated for the Belmont, with notable contenders including MYSTIK DAN, winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), and SEIZE THE GREY, victor of the Preakness Stakes (G1). The final field is expected to be drawn later on Monday, adding to the excitement surrounding this prestigious event.