Report: Woodbine will limit turf races to sprints this spring

Woodbine’s turf races will be limited to sprints early this upcoming season while a new section of the track takes root during the spring, according to a report Saturday.

Resodding was needed because of a partial rebuilding of the tunnel that leads from the paddock, according to Daily Racing Form. That tunnel flooded on the day the King’s Plate was scheduled to be run last summer. The heavy rain and the puddling of water on the synthetic track forced the postponement of the track’s signature race from Aug. 17 to Aug. 23.

The 2025 meet is scheduled to start April 26, but turf races will be no longer than 6 1/2 furlongs until the rebuilt section of the course is ready, weather permitting. After the upcoming King’s Plate day Saturday, Aug. 16, racing on the outer turf will be limited again while its backstretch is resodded, DRF said. The inner turf course will be used instead for races like the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in September.

There was nothing reported yet about the state of the Tapeta synthetic surface, which was marred by six deaths in November. That led to the cancellation of part of one card, all of another and the addition of a new rule preventing horses who had joint injections from racing for two weeks. Woodbine management also called in experts to inspect the synthetic track so racing could continue through closing day Dec. 15.