1 April 2006

WOODBINE THOROUGHBED SEASON OPENS TODAY

Race horses have a universal birthdate of January 1st, for horseplayers it is April Ist.

Woodbine has introduced wireless betting:

'Originally scheduled to launch last summer but delayed while Woodbine fine-tuned its wireless network, the new technology was approved by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency late last year.

"We tested it with a group of customers for the past four months, wagering with real dollars," said Andrew Macdonald, who spent roughly two years on the wireless wagering project and recently was promoted to vice president, marketing and customer communications, for Woodbine.'

Two new officials appointed

The ORC has hired a new Thoroughbred steward in Fenton Platts, who was Woodbine's paddock judge last year. Platts, brother of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey Robin Platts, replaces Ivan McHutchion, who retired last fall.

Harold Fortune, the head valet in the jockeys' room and the backup paddock judge at Fort Erie, replaces Platts as paddock judge.

And now for a few picks for opening day:

I'm A Kipper might just upset in Race 1.

Easy exactor in the 9th: Judiths Wild Rush and Danieltown. It won't pay much though.

And Carabineer should win the finale.

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