Woodbine Racetrack

Historical Development and Industry Consolidation

The modern Woodbine Racetrack originated from a deliberate strategy by the Ontario Jockey Club to consolidate horse racing in Ontario during the 1950s. Under the leadership of Canadian industrialist and horse breeder E. P. Taylor, the OJC purchased and closed several competing racetracks to eliminate competition and focus resources. In 1952, the club bought and closed the money losing Thorncliffe Park and the Hamilton Racetrack, and purchased the Fort Erie Racetrack for CA$780,000. The following year, it acquired Stamford Park in Stamford township, closing it for residential redevelopment. In a key 1955 transaction, Taylor personally purchased the Orpen owned Dufferin Park and Long Branch Racetracks for CA$4 million. Those tracks were closed and their racing charters transferred to the OJC, which allowed the club to schedule 196 racing days, more than double its 1952 total of 84 days. All these acquisitions were designed to support the financing and patronage of a new centralised racing facility.

In 1952, the OJC identified a site of over 400 acres east of the Toronto airport near Highway 27 for this new 'supertrack'. Architect Earle C. Morgan, who had no prior track design experience, worked with American designer Arthur Froelich for two years on the plans. Froelich had designed Hollywood Park and Garden State Park in the United States. The design called for a capacity of 40,000 spectators, three race courses, two training tracks, stable space for 1,000 horses, and living quarters for 700 employees. Construction began in 1955, and the New Woodbine Racetrack opened on June 12, 1956, at a cost of CA$13 million. The original Woodbine track in southeast Toronto was renamed Greenwood Raceway, and thoroughbred and standardbred meets from Greenwood were transferred to the new Woodbine in 1994.

Track Configuration, Surfaces, and Engineering

Woodbine's racing surfaces offer significant versatility, a result of deliberate design and subsequent renovations. The outermost course is the E. P. Taylor Turf Course, an asymmetrical three turn grass oval measuring 1.5 miles in length. Completed in 1994 and renovated in 2025, its unique shape includes a first clubhouse turn of 30 degrees, a short straight, and then a tight 150 degree left turn. The backstretch is 2.5 to 3 feet higher than the homestretch, and the far turn is two and a half furlongs long. The homestretch itself is 1,440 feet long, which is the length of five American football fields and 30 percent longer than the stretch at Belmont Park, the only other 1.5 mile layout in North America. A chute allows for races of 1.125 miles to be run around a single turn.

The main track for Thoroughbreds is a one mile synthetic oval located inside the Taylor course. Its surface has been Tapeta since April 9, 2016, having been Polytrack from August 31, 2006 through 2015, and a natural dirt surface before that. Two chutes facilitate races at seven furlongs and at 1.25 miles. The innermost oval has a varied history. It was originally a seven eighths mile grass oval until 1994. After the opening of the E. P. Taylor course, it was converted to a crushed limestone dirt course for harness racing. Following the move of all standardbred racing to Woodbine Mohawk Park in April 2018, it was converted back to a turf course, known as the Inner Turf, for the 2019 thoroughbred season. The first race on the new Inner Turf was won by Bold Rally with jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva on June 28, 2019.

Premier Thoroughbred Racing and the Canadian Triple Crown

Woodbine Racetrack is the central venue for elite Thoroughbred racing in Canada, hosting a dense schedule of stakes races from April into December each year. The most important event is the King's Plate, the oldest continuously run horse race in North America and the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Restricted to three year old Canadian bred horses, it is not eligible for grading but remains the country's most prestigious race. The third leg of the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Stakes, is also run at Woodbine. The track's fall meeting is highlighted by international Grade 1 turf races including the Canadian International, the Woodbine Mile, the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, and the E. P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares. The 2026 thoroughbred season was scheduled to run from April 18 through December 13 with 128 race dates.

The track has hosted world championship events, most notably the Breeders' Cup in 1996. It also held the Arlington Million in 1988 when that race was temporarily relocated. Portions of the current E. P. Taylor turf course, specifically the backstretch and far turn, originally formed part of a long turf chute used for major races before 1994. This chute was used for Secretariat's final race, his victory in the 1973 Canadian International. The facility is also home to notable racing records, such as the mark for most wins by a jockey on a single race day. Richard Grubb set the record with seven wins on May 16, 1967, a feat equaled by Canadian jockey Sandy Hawley on May 22, 1972 and again on October 10, 1974.

Standardbred Racing History and the Breeders Crown

While now exclusively a Thoroughbred venue, Woodbine has a substantial history in standardbred, or harness, racing. The track was a regular host for the Breeders Crown, the year end championships for harness horses. After the event changed to a one night format in 2010, Woodbine hosted it three times, in 2011, 2012, and 2015. From 1994 to 2006, Woodbine was also the host of the CA$1,500,000 North America Cup for three year old pacing colts and geldings. Other major standardbred stakes previously held at Woodbine included the Elegant Image Stakes for three year old filly trotters and the Good Times Stakes for three year old colt and gelding trotters. These races, along with all other standardbred racing, were moved to Woodbine's sister track, Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton, starting in 2018. This move facilitated the conversion of Woodbine's seven eighths mile standardbred track into a second turf course for Thoroughbreds.

Casino Woodbine and Expansion of Gaming Facilities

Casino Woodbine opened on the property in 1999, beginning as a slot machine parlour. It underwent a major expansion in 2018 with the addition of live dealer table games. The casino now operates 24 hours a day and contains over 100 table games including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. Its gaming floor also features more than 3,500 slot machines, over 220 electronic table games, and 100 dealer assist stadium gaming positions. In 2019, construction began on a further expansion of the casino complex to include an entertainment venue, retail shops, and a hotel. This development aims to solidify the Woodbine property as a comprehensive regional destination for gaming and entertainment, separate from but complementary to the horse racing operations.

Recent Developments, Safety, and Future Projects

Woodbine Entertainment has pursued significant development projects to diversify the use of its large property. In March 2022, plans were announced to add an 8,000 seat soccer specific stadium and an adjoining 38,000 square foot training facility in the northeast corner of the grounds. This stadium is the presumed new home for the Canadian Premier League club York United FC and could also house a future professional women's soccer team. On the operational side, the track began using a GPS based timing system in 2018 to enhance race accuracy. The facility also engages with modern safety challenges, as seen in November 2024 when the final race card of the month was cancelled after three catastrophic injuries on the Tapeta track surface. This precautionary decision was made following incidents involving an unnamed horse during a workout, the three year old filly Social Dancer, and the six year old mare Owen's Tour Guide in the Grade III Bessarabian Stakes. The track consulted with the National HBPA, the Jockeys' Guild, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

Royal Visits, Paralympic History, and Cultural Role

Woodbine Racetrack has played host to events of national and international significance beyond daily racing. It served as the opening venue for the 1976 Summer Paralympics, with some of the sporting events held on the grounds. The track has also been visited by royalty on notable occasions. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the 100th running of the Queen's Plate on June 30, 1959. The Queen returned to Woodbine on July 4, 2010, to attend the 151st running of the Queen's Plate Stakes and present the trophies. The facility houses the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, which honours achievements in both the Thoroughbred and standardbred industries. This combination of major events, royal patronage, and institutional recognition underscores Woodbine's deep integration into Canada's sporting and cultural fabric.

Questions about Woodbine Racetrack

When does the racing season at Woodbine start and end?

The Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine typically begins in mid to late April and runs through mid December. For example, the 2026 season was scheduled to open on Saturday, April 18 and conclude on December 13, featuring 128 race dates. The fall meeting is particularly notable for its international turf races. Visitors should check the official Woodbine website for the most current annual schedule and hours of operation.

Has Woodbine ever hosted any major international racing events?

Yes, Woodbine has hosted several world class international racing events. Most notably, it was the site of the Breeders' Cup, the annual championship of Thoroughbred racing, in 1996. The track also regularly hosts the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes, which in 1973 was the final race of the legendary horse Secretariat. The Grade 1 Woodbine Mile also attracts top international competitors each fall.

What type of racing surface does Woodbine's main track have?

Woodbine's main one mile oval for Thoroughbreds has a synthetic surface. Since April 9, 2016, this surface has been Tapeta. It was previously covered with Polytrack from 2006 to 2015, and before that it was a conventional natural dirt track. The synthetic surface is designed to provide consistent and safer footing for horses in various weather conditions compared to traditional dirt.

What is the King's Plate and why is it important?

The King's Plate is Canada's oldest and most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race, managed and hosted by Woodbine Racetrack. It is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown and is restricted to three year old Canadian bred horses, which makes it ineligible for grading despite its high status. The race has a long history, with Queen Elizabeth II attending its 100th running in 1959 and its 151st running in 2010 to present trophies. As a base event for Canadian horse racing, it represents a major national sporting tradition held annually at the Toronto track.

Is there still harness racing at Woodbine Racetrack?

No, all standardbred harness racing has been moved to Woodbine's sister track, Woodbine Mohawk Park, starting in 2018. This move was made to facilitate the conversion of the former seven eighths mile harness track at Woodbine back into a second turf course for Thoroughbred racing, which opened for the 2019 season. Prior to this conversion, the innermost oval had been used for harness racing on a crushed limestone dirt surface. Major standardbred events like the North America Cup were also relocated to Woodbine Mohawk Park following this change.

What other attractions are at the Woodbine complex besides racing?

The Woodbine complex includes Casino Woodbine, which opened in 1999 as a slots parlour and expanded to include over 100 table games like blackjack and roulette in 2018. The property is also home to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Furthermore, in 2022, Woodbine announced plans to develop an 8,000 seat soccer specific stadium and adjoining training facilities in the northeast corner of the property, which is intended to be a new home for York United FC. Construction to expand the casino with an entertainment venue, retail shops, and a hotel began in 2019.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.