Woodbine Links From A to Z as Opening Day Approaches

The Woodbine thoroughbred campaign kicks off Saturday April 4th. For now, there will be racing three days a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday - post time 1:00 p.m.). On April 29, my favourite card, the Wednesday night racing (post time 6:45 p.m.) series is added. The Thursday afternoon racing card will be added (post time 1:00 p.m.) on June 4.

Saturday's opening day is spearheaded by the Community Day event and a food drive for Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter.

Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter, provides shelter and support to women and children escaping domestic violence. Ernestine’s is located in Etobicoke, and provides services to women from all over the Greater Toronto Area. Its core services include 32 beds in 14 rooms for single women and families, a 24-hour emergency telephone crisis line, and trained staff available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It also offers services to women and children who have moved out of the shelter and now live on their own. This includes counseling services, clothing support, and on-site food bank. Over the past 26 years Ernestine’s has helped over 3,000 women and children.

Food Bank Items Needed

• Baby food & formula
• Rice – long grain, basmati, brown
• Pasta & Noodles
• Flour – many varieties
• Oil – vegetable, olive, sunflower
• Spices – herbs, Indian spices
• Condiments – salt, sugar, pepper, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce
• Cereal & Oatmeal
• Packaged pasta – Macaroni & Cheese (KD), pasta mixes
• Peanut butter
• Canned & dry soups
• Canned vegetables and fruit – chick peas, beans, peaches, pineapple
• Canned fish & meat – tuna, salmon, chicken
• Milk – coconut milk, soy milk, canned & powdered
• Drinks – juice boxes, canned/bottled pop, bottled water, coffee, tea bags
• Snacks – cookies, crackers, granola bars, fruit cups, pudding cups
• Non-perishable Ethnic foods – African (Fufu, couscous), Indian, Asian, European, etc.

As you come out to enjoy the races on Saturday, please take a moment to empty your kitchen cupboard and support the local community!

And now, your Woodbine based A to Z links!

A - Alex Brown Racing
B - Brisnet
C - Catherine Day-Phillips
D - Down The Stretch Newspaper
E - Emma-Jayne Wilson
F - Facebook Group - Down The Stretch
G - Giliforte Startin' Small Racing Stables
H - HorsePlayer Interactive
I - Ian Black Interviewed by Triple Dead Heat
J - Jody Hammett
K - Kinghaven Farms
L - Laffit Pincay at Woodbine
M - McAleney, Jim
N - Not Bourbon
O - Ontario Farriers Association
P - Peter Gross' Down The Stretch Blog
Q - Queen's Plate
R - Reade Baker
S - Standardbreds are still running too!
T - Thoroughbred Rescue by Ellie Ross
U - United Thoroughbreds
V - Vice Regent
W - Woodbine Entertainment Group
X, Y and Z - Too hard! How about some horse racing jokes instead?

Let the countdown to opening day begin!