The Woodbine Entertainment Group today will unveil its $350 million grand plan for turning the now 50-year-old racetrack into one of those ultimate-destination things, with a hotel/concert hall/mini arena/retail mall containing House of Blues-kind of clubs and restaurants. It's a big deal, but the Leafs, after examining the project, decided to hold out their other hand elsewhere.

Richard Peddie, gatekeeper for the Teachers' Pension Plan money, said Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, while in discussion and fully up to speed on the plan, ultimately "is not involved'' at Woodbine. Peddie said the Leafs still prefer to erect their own practice arena elsewhere by 2008-2009. Details, such as location and who will be allowed to pay, have yet to be sorted out, although they are said to be plumb-bobbing a piece of downtown land currently owned by a charity.

The plans for Woodbine, to be built in partnership with the Cordish Company, a Baltimore-based developer of sports-themed properties, further transforms the racetrack from what the late E.P. Taylor envisioned — and built — in the farmlands of Rexdale five decades ago. Several years ago slots machines replaced racing as the financial heartbeat and today's plan, Phase One in making it a full-bodied "entertainment destination,'' further shrinks racing's importance at Woodbine.

They'll never completely kill horse racing, though, and that's because of the great traditional races. And there's none more important, at least on the trotting calendar, than the $1.5 million (U.S.) Hambletonian.

Ken Warkentin, the brilliant 2-year-old champion of which Domi owns a share, is the strong favourite in one of two $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations Saturday at The Meadowlands in New Jersey. The 80th Hambo itself goes the following Saturday, Aug. 6, and clearly it's the race for which trainer Jimmy Takter has been aiming Ken Warkentin since they figured out how good he is.

John Fielding of Toronto, who has been around harness racing a long time, was the colt's first owner, snatching him at a sale for $26,000 (U.S.). Fielding brought in Domi early, along with Christina Takter, the trainer's wife. They later sold half the horse — for potentially a couple of million U.S. dollars — to a Swedish investor who wants to stand the horse at stud in Sweden when his racing days are done. One other suitor had been Mats Sundin, who has had success owning trotters. Sundin, though, hasn't had one potentially as good as this one — which Domi, enjoying his first standardbred, doubtless is kind enough to remind him.

There is huge money at stake here, particularly if Ken Warkentin can win the Hambo. He has been brought along slowly this year by Takter, set back in early summer by a cough. He has won two of his three starts this year, the most recent an impressive mile in one inute, 52 3/5 seconds at The Meadowlands July 15 when he bided his time for the first half mile in fifth place, then drove away down the stretch.

Takter, too, is to be trusted. He has won this race before with Malabar Man and identified the Hambo as the one true goal last year. Ken Warkentin (named for one of The Meadowlands race callers) should be as good as he can be for Aug. 6.

The other serious contender appears to be Classic Photo, winner of four in a row. He's in the other elimination. The top five finishers from each come back for Aug. 6.

WEIR ENTERS INTERNATIONAL: Mike Weir, trying to solidify his spot on the Presidents Cup team, has added a tournament to his schedule, entering the International next week outside Denver. He has played there before, finishing tied for 54th in 2003 and tied for 19th in 2000.