Rolling with Sarah

Off to the races! I recently took a trip to Woodbine Raceway in Toronto. No, I didn’t strike it rich, but I sure did have a good time. I love picking the horses based on funny names and just generally having fun. I was majorly impressed by the accessibility. To start with, when we pulled in, there was almost an entire lot of accessible parking spots. I’m talking almost as far as the eye can see. Upon entering the building, we came across a guest services desk as soon as we rolled through the door. An attendant immediately welcomed us and gave us a rundown of the site’s accessibility. They then personally escorted us up the elevators to the main concourse. This was where the tellers and the betting machines were located, as well as a food court. The accessible seats were clearly marked. There were several sections of accessible seats, located throughout the length of the room so you could watch from wherever you please. Our seats were right at the finish line. We did not, but had we chosen to, the outdoor levels were also accessible. Also had I wanted to, I could have gone down to check out the horses! Unlike other racetracks I have been at, here I was able to make my own bet. They had a machine that was at a height that it could be operated by someone using a wheelchair without assistance. The only negative was that someone had unfortunately placed a garbage can in front of it, but that was easily remedied. When you went to trade in your winning tickets or make a bet in person, there was a teller’s station that was lowered. I felt like this was a very inclusive environment and the staff was eager to make sure I had a good experience. To sum things up, if you use a wheelchair and want to see the horses race, this is a good track to go to.