Jockey protest leads to cancellation of race at Woodbine

A protest over the condition of the Woodbine turf course by the track's jockeys forced the cancellation of the first race on the Toronto track's card on Wednesday.

A statement from Woodbine said the jockeys protested "continued turf racing for the rest of the year." Although no turf races were carded for Wednesday, Woodbine, according to the statement, has moved all turf racing for November 16-18 to the Tapeta main track.

"We addressed the jockeys' concerns about turf racing at Woodbine," Jonathan Zammit, Woodbine's vice president of Thoroughbred racing operations, said in the track's statement. "They then made the decision to ride the rest of Wednesday night's card."

Robert King Jr, executive director of the Jockeys' Benefit Association of Canada, called the turf course "frozen".

"It's 26 degrees Fahrenheit here and our turf is frozen," King said. "Last Saturday the jockeys said it was dangerous and didn't want to ride, so they took it off the turf. Then they coerced the jockeys to ride on Sunday, and after one race sure enough the riders had to cancel again. Nothing has changed.

"There's frozen spots and soft spots. Horses are stumbling and having a difficult time getting over the course."

'We're trying to be proactive'

The first race on Wednesday was cancelled after a significant delay, when horses were walked in the saddling area for an extended period of time as the jockeys met with track management. The second race, scheduled to have a post time of 7.16, went off at 7.57.

"My apologies to those people, first and foremost – owners, horsemen, grooms, and anyone involved," King said. "We're trying to be proactive. It's no way to run a business, like this. Why are we doing this when we know they're coming off the turf? Our thought was, we have to deal with this now, because we keep telling them."

Atzeni rides Grade 1 double at Woodbine

What specifically was at issue regarding the turf course was not included in the track's statement, but it said: "The Woodbine management team will deliberate on the continued turf racing for the remainder of the season."

Turf racing at Woodbine, at least after this weekend, is scheduled to continue into December.

"We're hopeful that they come to their senses," King said. "It's a dangerous game and these guys and girls risk their lives. If they say it's unsafe, that's all I need to hear.

"We're in Canada for Christ sake. There's snow on the ground. I need to go home and shovel."

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