AGCO reaches settlement with Woodbine after 10 racehorses euthanised in late 2024
The investigation uncovered several failings in track maintenance and personnel training.
Key points:
– AGCO has completed its investigation and finalised its settlement with Woodbine Entertainment
– This follows a period between October and December 2024 when 19 horses were injured while racing
– Woodbine will implement several policy changes to ensure track standards are maintained going forward
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has settled with Woodbine Entertainment following an investigation into horse welfare.
Between 28 October and 15 December 2024, out of the 19 horses that had sustained injuries while racing at Woodbine, 10 of these had been euthanised.
On 9 November alone, six horses fell during racing and training, which resulted in three of them requiring euthanasia.
For the purposes of the settlement, Woodbine will not contest the AGCO findings.
The investigation found that Woodbine was not maintaining its tracks in accordance with guidelines and was therefore inadequate.
This included substandard grooming practices, irregular track depth measurements, undertrained and inexperienced track personnel, a lack of standardised maintenance protocols and improperly maintained track equipment.
In response to the above findings and as part of the settlement, Woodbine Entertainment will hire two track safety experts to complete quarterly assessments of the tracks – these will be shared directly with both Woodbine and AGCO.
Good to know: The racetrack surfaces at Woodbine were coated in Tapeta surfacing, which is a mixture of sand, rubber, and fibres coated with wax
A new Track Surfaces Committee will also be formed, which will include representatives from Woodbine, the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), and the Jockey’s Benefit Association of Canada (JBAC).
Finally, Woodbine Entertainment’s Board of Directors will also be responsible for overseeing changes and track safety protocols.
If Woodbine fails to comply with any of the measures laid out in the settlement, it will face regulatory measures alongside a CA$200,000 (US$144,180) fine.
On the topic of training track personnel, the Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) has just received £759,000 ($1m) in funding to support several initiatives..
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