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WOODBINE, MOHAWK PARK
Woodbine Entertainment is also the master developer of the Woodbine, Mohawk Park site. The company previously announced more than $10 million in upgrades, transforming the Woodbine, Mohawk Park into a year-round exclusive home dedicated to Standardbred horse racing. Construction began in the fall of 2017 and was completed in the spring of 2018.
Additionally, Woodbine Entertainment Group has engaged renowned urban designers and landscape architects, SWA Group, to develop a master plan for the 434-acre property. The broadened development will include facilities to support expanded entertainment, specialty interactive concepts, family-friendly recreation, unique-to-region destination uses including office, retail, integrated green space, hotel, hospitality, and diverse dining options.
Woodbine Mohawk Park (originally Mohawk Racetrack) is a harness racing track in Campbellville, Ontario.[1] It is owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group (formerly the Ontario Jockey Club) and is about 30 km west of the company’s other racetrack, Woodbine Racetrack, in Toronto, Ontario. Woodbine Mohawk Park also has a large slot machine parlour with over 1,000 slot machines operated by Great Canadian Gaming;[2] some of the revenue is used to increase the horseracing purses.
Contents
1 History
2 Track specifications
3 Races
4 References
History
The track was opened on April 26, 1963, by the Ontario Jockey Club as Mohawk Racetrack,[3] and 4,338 people attended. The 400-acre site was constructed at $3.5 million; it could house 828 horses in the barns and had enough parking for 3,000 cars. The very first Canadian Standardbred Horse Society Yearling Sale took place at the Woodbine Sales Arena, with 30 yearlings cataloged.[4]
On April 18, 1970, a record crowd of 11,470 in attendance for the International Drivers Competition featured eight different countries. In October 1999, Mohawk Raceway hosted eight Breeders Crown races for the first time and was considered the richest event in Canadian harness racing history.
Track specifications
The track is ⅞ mile (1.4 km) in circumference (originally ⅝ mile or 1 km) and is made of crushed limestone. It can accommodate ten starters behind the gate but began placing the tenth horse in the second tier in 2020.[5] The homestretch is 1,095 feet long (334 m), and the far turn has a larger radius than the clubhouse turn to encourage acceleration into the homestretch. There is no hub rail. Racing is usually on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Tuesday racing is held from June to early October. Post time is usually 7:10 PM. Some days have special post times.
Races
Most of the major harness racing stakes events were moved from Woodbine to Mohawk in 2007. These races include:
Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old pacers, which carries a purse of CA$1,000,000 and is Canada’s richest race for pacers. Mohawk hosted the event for the first time in 2007 when Tell All won it.[6]
Metro Pace is a one-mile race for 2-year-old pacers. It is the richest harness race for 2-year-olds with an estimated purse of $800,000. Known as a launching ground to greatness for horses such as Artsplace, Rocknroll Hanover, and Somebeachsomewhere. There is currently a tied race record of 1:49.2 for Captaintreacherous (2012) and Sportswriter (2009).[7]
Canadian Trotting Classic is a one-mile race for 3-year-old trotters and is Canada’s richest race for trotters with a purse of $605,000. It has been won by many of the sport’s greatest trotters, such as Father Patrick, Muscle Hill, Deweycheatumnhowe, and Kadabra. The race record is currently held by What The Hill at 1:51.4[8]
She’s A Great Lady Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies
Maple Leaf Trot is a one-mile trotting event for horses of all ages launched in 1950[9]
Canadian Pacing Derby for Free For All pacers with an estimated purse of $600,000 and was first held in 1936.[10]
Fan Hanover Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers
Elegant image Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters
Oakville Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters
William Wellwood Memorial Trot for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters
Mohawk has hosted the Breeders Crown several times, with the most recent edition being the 2008 older division events. The Breeders Crown will return in 2019 on October 25 & 26.
The long-time announcer is Ken Middleton.
