New season dawns at Woodbine amid growing questions about horse racing’s future

Locally and around the horse racing world, a lot of uncertainty about the sport’s future is creeping in.

Published Apr 17, 2026  •  5 minute read

Jockey Rafael Hernandez rides a horse ahead of Woodbine Racetrack's season opener. Michael Burns Photo

You know spring has sprung when the starting gate opens at Woodbine to begin a new season.

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But locally and around the horse racing world, a lot of uncertainty about the sport’s future is creeping in.

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The 71st thoroughbred season at Woodbine kicks off on Saturday afternoon, the first of 128 days of scheduled racing. And while it always takes time for horses to return to Woodbine after wintering in the southern U.S., only 45 horses were entered over seven races on Saturday and just 40 were entered on Sunday, also a seven-race card.

These are lower numbers than would normally be expected when the first purses of the year are up for grabs.

Surely, the number of horses and races will pick up as the season wears on, especially in September when the renovated E.P. Taylor turf course is set to open. But the trend of fewer horses in North American racing is one of the results of economic realities and increased competition that is driving the sport further into irrelevance.

Local horsemen do have an advantage, both in Woodbine Entertainment’s long-term commitment to racing and the provincial government’s willingness to continue funding to the industry.

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The same can’t be said in other jurisdictions where other forms of gaming and using land for development purposes attracts most of the attention.

What has been happening across North America?

This winter was tough for Canadian racing. Horse racing ended at Hastings Park in January after the British Columbia government announced it would no longer be giving a $10-million share of slot revenues to the track.

With Fraser Downs ending its harness operation last summer, Vancouver horse racing is now officially done after 136 years.

On April 2, U.S.-based Hard Rock Hotel and Casino announced harness racing at Rideau Carleton Raceway would cease, ending a run in Ottawa that dates back to 1962.

These closures severely affect several people who earned a living from racing.

The future also doesn’t look bright for two major U.S. jurisdictions. Southern California horsemen don’t rely on other revenue sources to supplement their purses and, with a shortage of horses per race, places like Santa Anita may only have a few years left.

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South Florida horsemen did get a temporary win when the state legislature rejected a bill that would allow thoroughbred tracks to cease operations while maintaining casino licenses. But there will be other attempts to end racing at Gulfstream Park on the horizon.

Horseplayers also are becoming increasingly frustrated with the sport. Computer-assisted wagering syndicates, capable of altering betting pools in the final seconds before a race, continue to be an issue for casual bettors who want a decent price on their wagers. Other issues highlighted by social media as to the quality of racing on a day-to-day basis are also turning off several long-time players.

What is changing at Woodbine?

The show will still go on at Woodbine, but the roster of key players will look different this season.

Local trainer Martin Drexler, who has over 900 career wins and has cracked the 100-win mark three years in a row, announced in March that he would be stepping away, citing increasing operating costs that could no longer be offset by the day rates charged to his clients.

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Two retirements also alter the training ranks. Roger Attfield ended a 69-year career which saw him win 2,000 races, including eight Queen’s/King’s Plates, multiple Sovereign Awards and entry into both the Canadian and U.S. racing Halls-of-fame.

Norm McKnight retired at the end of the 2025 season with over 1,000 wins to his name. Trainers Mark Casse and Kevin Attard, who already had separated themselves from the rest of the local trainers in starters and wins, likely will again have their own private battle for the trainer title.

Hall-of-fame jockey Patrick Husbands will be back to ride at Woodbine after retiring from racing in his native Barbados. Competition for the jockey’s title should be interesting with Pietro Moran looking to get the better of Rafael Hernandez at the top of the standings.

Ryan Munger, Fraser Aebly and Jose Campos will also factor along with both Ruben Silvera and Romero Maragh — who come from the New York circuit — and Prayven Badrie, the leading rider at Assiniboia Downs last year.

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First-race post time for the first two weekends is 1:20 p.m., which will move to 1 p.m. starting in May. Friday cards begin on May 8. Thursday racing begins June 11 with a post time of 3 p.m.

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Opening day promotions include free programs and a racing calendar. There is also a matter of a $61,000 carryover in the Power Pick 6, a result of a racing cancellation at the end of last year. There will be a mandatory payout of this pool on Saturday.

MAJOR RACE DAYS IN 2026

(At Woodbine and Woodbine Mohawk Park)

Saturday June 13 – The North America Cup brings the best three-year-old pacers to Mohawk as part of a six-stake showcase.

Saturday June 27 – The Selene and Marine Stakes for three-year-olds headline a five-stake Canada Day Festival.

Saturday July 19 – The Woodbine Oaks and Plate Trial Stakes are supported by two other features.

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Saturday Aug. 15 – The first leg of the Canadian triple crown, the 167th running of the King’s Plate, will headline a six-stake card and several off-track activities.

Saturday Sept. 5 – The Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot kick Mohawk’s Grand Circuit month into high gear.

Monday Sept. 7 (Fort Erie) – The Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the triple crown, will be run on Labour Day for the first time.

Saturday Sept. 12 – Breeders’ Cup ‘win-and-you’re-in’ spots are on the line in the Woodbine Mile, E.P. Taylor Stakes, Summer Stakes and Natalma Stakes.

Saturday Sept. 26 – The Mohawk Million and Metro Pace headline Canada’s richest day of horse racing.

Saturday Sept. 27 – The Breeders’ Stakes concludes the Canadia triple crown series.

Sunday Oct. 3 – The Canadian International headlines four turf stakes which may also yield late starters to the Breeders’ Cup.

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