Canada

The Save America's Forgotten Equines Act (SAFE Act) has a new lease on life after it was reintroduced in both houses on Feb. 27. The act would prohibit slaughtering horses for human consumption and would also make it against the law to ship horses out of the country for the purpose of having them slaughtered. No horses have been slaughtered in the U.S. since 2007. U.S. slaughterhouses were forced to close down because regulations prohibited shipping the meat overseas without the oversight of inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration....

1/ST CONTENT, a provider of content for North American horse racing, has broadened its international footprint by partnering with America Simulcast, a leading LATAM distributor, the company announced Tuesday. Sportbet, a major operator in the Ecuador space, is already under contract to integrate exclusive data and signals (broadcast and video streaming) from the partnership's content package. This deal has begun with commingling bets into the US pools via Sportbet's retail outlets, before adding fixed-odds betting and online channels in the coming weeks, scaling activity which provides an immediate validation of...

Amid the fluid nature of the threatened 25% tariff on Canadian goods (those subject to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) entering the U.S. set to be enacted on April 2, one confusing aspect has surrounded just how long a horse entering the U.S. from Canada can reside in the country before a tariff will be imposed. As per the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, "We believe that horses from Canada can enter the United States for extended periods without paying duties under certain conditions," said Tom Rooney, president and chief...

Though still weeks from being potentially enacted, the threatened 25% blanket tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. is causing some Canadian-based owner-breeders to sound the alarm about the possible impacts to their businesses and to the country's broader industry. "For us, it could be the end of the industry. Period," warned Yvonne Schwabe, the owner of Persley Den Farms in Acton, Ontario, and the breeder of 2013 Queen's Plate winner Midnight Aria. "That's the scary part." As currently outlined, the tariffs are scheduled to go into effect on...

In anticipation of the 25% blanket tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. expected to be enacted April 2, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) has issued an advisory to its members, aiming to provide some clarity to a fluctuating and often confusing situation. Already this week, the U.S. government enacted a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and metal imports. "This could very well change at any moment given whatever the will of the president is," warned Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Thoroughbred...

Woodbine, which cancelled both racing and training effective two races before the end of Saturday's card after three separate incidents on the Tapeta surface, will reopen to training Wednesday morning and is scheduled to resume live racing Thursday. The all-weather surface underwent "a thorough review and extensive maintenance conducted over the last couple of days," said officials from Woodbine Entertainment in a Wednesday afternoon release. "The safety of our horses and riders is our highest priority and we have been working diligently over the last couple of days to ensure...

Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, a perennial leading sire, will relocate to Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm in Aurora, Ontario Canada for what is most likely his final year at stud, Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa announced Monday. "I want to thank Frank Stronach for the privilege of standing Ghostzapper at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa," said John Sikura. "It has been our honor to stand this outstanding sire and exceptional breed-shaping stallion. His record at stud will influence the breed for generations. At this point in his career, Ghostzapper...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of former multiple graded stakes hero Public Sector in the Great White North.   Kingman's Public Sector Wins In Canada Michael and Jules Iavarone and co-owner Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s Public Sector (GB) (Kingman {GB}) visited the winner's circle for the first time since taking Belmont's GII Hill Prince Stakes in the autumn of 2021 when capturing a Woodbine contest in July (video). The 6-year-old...

Woodbine Entertainment and Helmets to Hardhats Canada (H2H), a group that supports Canadian veterans, reservists, senior cadets, military family members and Afghan interpreters in finding second careers through the construction industry, will partner for the 2024 running of the King's Plate held Aug. 17. The partnership will see H2H recognized as the Official Building Trades Unions Veteran's Liaison and a Canadian veteran will be included in the opening ceremony for the race. "Woodbine is proud to support Helmets to Hardhats and its valuable objectives," said Woodbine Entertainment CEO Michael Copeland....

Thursday's eight-race card at Woodbine Racetrack has been pushed back and will begin at 6:05 p.m., the track announced Monday. The move was made in the best interest of horse welfare as an extreme heat warning is in effect for the city of Toronto and the surrounding areas. Woodbine noted that the decision to push back the start time was made in consultation with the HBPA. Woodbine is the latest track to alter post times due to the heat joining Finger Lakes, who moved both Tuesday and Wednesday cards up...

Woodbine's 5th annual Derby Day Party will take place Saturday, May 4 and tickets are now on sale, the track announced via release Monday. The event will feature a livestream from Churchill Downs, food, fashion, and live racing on site highlighted by the GIII Whimsical S. Included with a ticket purchase are complimentary food and dessert stations as well as a mint julep in a solid copper cup. Derby-style attire is highly encouraged and there will be a "best dressed' contest, photo booth, and various other activities on the day....

Woodbine's GII Bessarabian S. and the GII Royal North S. will be downgraded to Grade III status, The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee said via a press release early Friday. After their annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes slate, the organization added that all three of the top levels will remain at 42 races. 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. Based on this data, they also...