Clocks Change as Training Gathers Pace
An hour less in bed will not be welcomed by a backstretch community that is already up before dawn, but the clocks advancing an hour means spring is just around the corner!
Canda’s Largest Casino Resort on Schedule for Summer Opening
Brand New $1 Billion Dollar Destination to Open This Summer, Featuring Casino, Hotel, Entertainment Venue and Multiple Dining Outlets
March 8, 2023 (Toronto, ON) – Great Canadian Entertainment, Canada’s leader in gaming and hospitality, announced this week that its $1 billion, brand-new entertainment resort will be known as Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto when it opens its doors at the intersection of Highways 401 and 427 this summer.
With its transformative architecture and impressive 33-acre footprint, the destination adjacent to Woodbine Racetrack will feature a modern Vegas-style casino, integrated 400-room hotel, 5,000-seat live entertainment venue, and multiple on-site dining options, bringing to life a new, one-of-a-kind entertainment district in Toronto with best-in-class gaming, entertainment and hospitality experiences.
The existing Casino Woodbine will continue to operate with no interruption until Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto debuts its new, re-imagined destination.
“We see this as an unprecedented opportunity to introduce an entirely new, world-class experience in Canada that will bring together the best in casino gaming, exceptional live entertainment, dining, and accommodation in one very special place,” said Matthew Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer, Great Canadian Entertainment. “We are very excited to reveal more about what this landmark destination will feature and what our guests can expect in the coming weeks, including the announcement of an opening date. This project has been several years in the making, and we are thrilled that we are close to bringing it to life,” concluded Anfinson.
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is scheduled to open later this year, and an opening date will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, please visit greatcanadiantoronto.com or follow us on social media.
New Foals
Few things signal spring is just around the corner more than newly arrrived foals. Here are a few with local connections that caught our eye this week. If you have any of your own you’d like us to post, please do send them in with a brief description of sire and dam etc.
“Racey” gets ready for her close-up
Picture Correction
Gremlins were at work last week and resulted in the wrong version of Allan De Le Plante’s Sovereign Award-nominated photo being carried. We’re happy to correct the error and hope you enjoy this one just as much!
And Tell Me Nolies Makes Encouraging Return
Peter Redekop’s Del Mar Futurity (G1) heroine, AND TELL ME NOLIES, made a highly-promising return to action at Santa Anita after a four-month lay-off. The brilliant daughter of Arrogate, who was given plenty of time to recuperate from her exploits in last November’s Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, chased home the unbeaten FAIZA in Sunday’s Santa Ysabel Stakes (G2), keeping on gamely to the wire and proving clearly best of the rest.
Family Connections
The owners of FLORIDA GATOR (Lea), a four-time winner for trainer Barbara Heads last season, will have added excitemet this year following the exploits of half-sister DORTH VADER. The three-year-old daughter of Girvin made short work of the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park last weekend and is now among the favourirtes for the Kentucky Oaks. Many thanks to Peter Langelaan for letting us know and the very best of luck to him and “Gator’s” fellow owners, Larry Potozny and Wil-A-Way Farm for the coming season.
Bloodhorse Daily - Saturday Headlines
Graded Stakes in Canada increase to 42
The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes races in Canada. The number of Graded Stakes in Canada will increase to 42. The increase is due to the return of the Canadian International (Grade 1) and the upgrade of one Listed race to Grade 3 status. No Graded Stakes races were downgraded.
The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by Committee Chair, Ross McKague who was accompanied by the appointed Committee Members David Anderson, Doug Anderson, Jeffrey Begg, Catherine Day Phillips, Bernard McCormack and Jockey Club of Canada’s Chief Steward R. Glenn Sikura. James Bannon was unable to attend, but provided commentary in advance of the meeting. As well, the attending racetrack representatives included Allen Goodsell and Josh Murphy from Alberta, Nichelle Milner and Scott Henson from British Columbia, Ross McKague representing Manitoba, and Julia Bell and Scott Lane from Ontario.
The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all Graded, Listed, and potentially Listed races in Canada. 2022 was the first year since 2019 that restricted movement of horses and humans did not hamper field size and, ultimately, race quality. Most races achieved as good or better scores in 2022 and their status was secure. A few races were granted concessions for their slow recovery based on their superior historical references and acceptable current numerical evaluations.
After reviewing the NARC figures and the RQS numbers for all Listed and Blacktype races in Canada, the Committee determined that the Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes will be upgraded to Grade 2 status and the Listed Belle Mahone Stakes will be upgraded to Grade 3 status. Additionally, the Ontario Damsel Stakes and the Algonquin Stakes (previously run as the Ontario Racing Stakes) will be upgraded to Listed status.
For a complete list of graded stakes for 2023 in Canada, please visit our Graded Stakes page.