Fresh off a Raptors and Leafs playoff victory Friday night, the marathon 133-day Woodbine meet begins Saturday. A rainy day is forecasted for the 10-race card of Tapeta sprints, headed by the G3 Whimsical Stakes, which is the opening leg of Cross Country Pick 5.

The jockey colony is similar to last year. Justin Stein has unretired, but he doesn’t have a mount this weekend, while Chantal Sutherland is in Kentucky. There will be a meet-and-greet autograph signing session with jockeys from 12:15-12:45 p.m. on Saturday.

Several trainers are returning from suspension, most notably Marty Drexler and Ralph Biamonte. Kentucky-based Mike Maker won't have horses stabled at Woodbine this year, but should have some ship-ins.

The AGCO’s controversial new medication ban, except for Lasix, during the 24 hours leading up to the first race of a card on which a horse is entered, and a ban on private vets in the stall on race day, has been modified, at the request of horsemen. Vets will be permitted to enter the stall of a runner to examine the horse, and will be allowed to scope and draw blood. Vets cannot treat the horse or administer any medication, and any violation will result in a scratch. Protocols have yet to be established regarding shippers, which has been a hot topic among local horsemen.

With horses no longer being allowed to receive anything to help settle them down on race day, it will be interesting to see if there’s a rash of washed-out or nervous runners. Perusing the horses in the paddock and during the warmup might be wise before heading to the windows.  

The betting menu, which frankly, could use an overhaul, remains the same as in the past few years.