Woodbine Racetrack

Historical Development and Industry Consolidation

Canadian industrialist and horse breeder E.P. Taylor led the OJC in a series of strategic acquisitions throughout the early 1950s designed to create a single dominant and profitable operator. In 1952, the club purchased and closed the money-losing Thorncliffe Park and Hamilton Racetracks, and also acquired Fort Erie Racetrack for CA$780,000. This was followed by the 1953 purchase and closure of Stamford Park in what is now Niagara Falls, which was later redeveloped into a residential subdivision. In 1955, Taylor personally purchased the competing Orpen-owned Dufferin Park Racetrack and Long Branch Racetracks for CA$4 million, which was approximately $46.6 million in 2025 dollars. The Orpen tracks were closed and redeveloped, and their racing charters were transferred to the OJC, allowing the club to continue historic races like the Canadian International and Cup and Saucer Stakes.

All these closures were intended to support the construction of a new supertrack and to consolidate racing days. The racing charters acquired from the various shuttered tracks enabled the OJC to run 196 days of racing, which was more than double its allowed total of 84 days in 1952. Planning for the new facility began in 1952 when the OJC identified a location at Highway 27 east of the Toronto airport and bought over 400 acres of land. The architect chosen was Earle C. Morgan, who spent two years developing the design in conjunction with American track designer Arthur Froelich, known for Hollywood Park and Garden State Park. Their design called for a facility to hold 40,000 spectators, with stable space for 1,000 horses, rooms for 700 employees, three race courses, and two training tracks. Construction commenced in 1955 with a budget of CA$13 million, and the new racetrack opened on June 12, 1956, initially known as the New Woodbine Racetrack before dropping the 'New' in 1963.

Track Configuration, Surfaces, and Engineering

Woodbine Racetrack is distinguished by its three concentric racecourses, a configuration finalized in 1994 and renovated in 2025. The outermost and most notable is the E. P. Taylor Turf Course, a 1.5-mile, asymmetrically shaped three-turn grass oval completed in 1994. Its unique engineering includes a first clubhouse turn of 30 degrees left, followed by a short straight run, then a 150-degree left turn on a radius as tight as the inner turf course. The backstretch is 2.5 to 3 feet higher than the homestretch, and the lengthy 2.5-furlong far turn begins on a wide radius before tightening into a homestretch measuring 1,440 feet, which is longer than a quarter mile and 30 percent longer than the stretch at Belmont Park. A chute allows for races of 1.125 miles to be run around a single turn. Portions of this course, specifically the backstretch and far turn, originally formed part of a long turf chute that crossed over the dirt course to the inner turf oval, used for major races like Secretariat's 1973 Canadian International until the full course was finished.

Inside the E. P. Taylor turf course is a one mile synthetic course for Thoroughbreds. Since April 9, 2016, the surface has been Tapeta. It was Polytrack from August 31, 2006 through 2015. Prior to that, it was a natural dirt surface.

• From 1956 to August 2006, the surface was a natural dirt oval.
• From August 31, 2006, through 2015, the surface was Polytrack.
• Since April 9, 2016, the surface has been Tapeta.

This oval includes two chutes to facilitate races at seven furlongs and at 1.25 miles. The innermost oval was originally a seven-eighths-mile grass course until the E. P. Taylor course opened. It was then converted to a crushed limestone dirt course for harness racing until April 2018. For the 2019 Thoroughbred season, it was converted back to a turf course, now known as the Inner Turf. The first race on the new Inner Turf was run on June 28, 2019, and was won by the horse Bold Rally with jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva aboard.

Major Racing Events, Records, and Notable Occurrences

Woodbine Racetrack is the central venue for Canadian Thoroughbred racing, hosting the country's most significant races. The pinnacle event is the King's Plate, a historic stakes race for three-year-old Canadian-bred horses that is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Other premier Grade 1 events include the Woodbine Mile, the Canadian International Stakes, and the E. P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares. The track has also hosted international spectacles, including the Arlington Million in 1988 and the Breeders' Cup in 1996. For Standardbred racing, Woodbine was a regular host of the Breeders Crown, holding the event in 2011, 2012, and 2015 after it shifted to a one-night format. It also hosted the CA$1,500,000 North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings from 1994 to 2006, before that race moved to Woodbine Mohawk Park along with the Elegantimage and Good Times Stakes.

The record for most wins by a jockey on a single race day at Woodbine is seven, a feat first achieved by Richard Grubb on May 16, 1967. This record was matched by the legendary Canadian jockey Sandy Hawley on two occasions, first on May 22, 1972, and again on October 10, 1974. The facility also served as the opening venue for the 1976 Summer Paralympics, where some sporting events were held. Royal visits have marked the track's history, with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attending the 100th running of the Queen's Plate on June 30, 1959, and the Queen returning for the 151st running on July 4, 2010, to present trophies. In November 2024, Woodbine cancelled its November 10 final race card after three catastrophic injuries on the Tapeta track surface as a precautionary measure, consulting with the National HBPA, the Jockeys' Guild, and the AGCO.

Casino Operations and Broader Entertainment Expansion

Adjacent to the racing operations, Casino Woodbine opened in 1999, initially as a slots parlour before a major expansion in 2018 added live table games. The casino operates 24 hours a day and is a major entertainment draw, featuring over 3,500 slot machines, more than 100 table games including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, 220 electronic table games, and 100 dealer-assist stadium gaming positions. In 2019, construction began on a further expansion project to add an entertainment venue, retail shops, and a hotel to the casino complex. Beyond gaming, Woodbine announced plans in 2022 to develop an 8,000-seat soccer-specific stadium with adjoining training facilities in the northeast corner of its property. This stadium is presumed to be the new home for York United FC of the Canadian Premier League and could potentially house a future professional women's soccer club, integrating professional sports into the site's offerings.

Operational Shifts, Technology, and Institutional Role

The operational management of horse racing at the Toronto facility has seen significant changes. Following the opening of the new Woodbine in 1956, the original track operated as Greenwood Raceway for Standardbred meets and Greenwood Race Track for Thoroughbred meets. In 1994, these meets were transferred to the new Woodbine, which had until then been exclusively devoted to Thoroughbred racing. A major consolidation occurred in 2018 when all Standardbred racing was permanently moved to Woodbine's sister track, Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton, Ontario, allowing for the conversion of the inner oval. The track is also home to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, celebrating the achievements within the sport. In a move toward technological modernization, Woodbine began using a GPS-based timing system for races in 2018 to ensure precise results. The Woodbine facility itself was designed with a grandstand intended to get as many people as close to the finish line as possible, and it included several restaurants and cafeterias for spectators.

Key Races and the Structure of the Canadian Triple Crown

The annual racing calendar at Woodbine is built around several major events that define the Canadian racing season. The most prestigious of these is the King's Plate, a race restricted to three-year-old Canadian-bred Thoroughbreds which, despite its ineligibility for international grading due to the restriction, remains the country's most famous horse race. It forms the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, followed by the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie and concluding with the Breeders' Stakes, run over 1.5 miles on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine. The track's fall meet is highlighted by international-class turf events that attract top competitors, serving as key preparatory races for the Breeders' Cup Turf. The following table details the premier annual stakes races held at the track.

The track continues the Canadian International and Cup and Saucer stakes races that were originally held at the Orpen tracks. The Ontario Jockey Club acquired and closed the Orpen owned Dufferin Park Racetrack and Long Branch Racetracks in 1955. The Orpen race charters were then transferred to the Ontario Jockey Club. This allowed the club to continue hosting these established races at the new location.

Standardbred Racing History and the Breeders Crown

While now exclusively a Thoroughbred venue, Woodbine Racetrack has a rich history with Standardbred, or harness, racing. The track was a regular host for the Breeders Crown, a championship event for harness racing. Since the event changed to a one-night format in 2010, Woodbine has hosted it three times: in 2011, 2012, and 2015. Woodbine was also the host of the lucrative CA$1,500,000 North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings from 1994 to 2006. That race, along with the Elegantimage Stakes for three-year-old filly trotters and the Good Times Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters, were moved to Woodbine's sister track, Woodbine Mohawk Park. Starting in 2018, all standardbred racing was moved to Woodbine Mohawk, as the seven-eighths-mile standardbred track at the Toronto location was being converted into the second turf course for Thoroughbreds. This move completed the separation of the two racing codes at the primary Woodbine Entertainment Group facilities. The track's history with major Standardbred events is notable.

• The Breeders Crown was hosted in 2011, 2012, and 2015.
• The North America Cup was hosted from 1994 to 2006.
• The Elegantimage Stakes was hosted before moving to Mohawk.
• The Good Times Stakes was hosted before moving to Mohawk.

Questions about Woodbine Racetrack

Where is Woodbine Racetrack located?

Woodbine Racetrack is located in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The specific address is near Highway 27, east of the Toronto Pearson International Airport. It is not located near the original Woodbine site at Queen Street East and Kingston Road, from which it takes its name. The original track operated from 1874 through 1993.

Does Woodbine have a casino?

Yes, Casino Woodbine is located on the racetrack property. It opened in 1999 with a slots parlour and expanded in 2018 to include live table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. The casino is open 24 hours a day and features over 3,500 slot machines, more than 100 table games, 220 electronic table games, and 100 dealer-assist stadium gaming positions. An expansion including a hotel, entertainment venue, and retail shops began construction in 2019.

Has Woodbine hosted any major international racing events?

Woodbine has hosted several prestigious international racing events. Most notably, it was the site of the Breeders' Cup in 1996, a championship event for North American Thoroughbred racing. It also hosted the Arlington Million in 1988. The track served as the opening venue for the 1976 Summer Paralympics, with several sporting events held on the grounds. It has also hosted the Breeders Crown harness racing championship multiple times.

What types of race surfaces does Woodbine have?

Woodbine Racetrack has three racecourses. The outermost main track is the E. P. Taylor turf course, which is a 1.5 mile long turf course. Inside that is a one mile synthetic course for Thoroughbreds, which has a Tapeta surface. The innermost oval is a seven eighths mile turf course, which was converted back from a harness track for the 2019 thoroughbred racing season.

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

The King's Plate is Canada's most famous Thoroughbred horse race, managed and hosted by Woodbine Racetrack. It is a stakes race for three year old Canadian bred thoroughbreds and serves as the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. While its restriction to Canadian bred horses makes it ineligible for international grading, it remains one of Canada's most prestigious races. The race has a long royal history, with Queen Elizabeth II attending the 100th running in 1959 and the 151st running in 2010. Woodbine Racetrack, owned by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, is the permanent home for this central event in Canadian racing.

Is harness racing still held at Woodbine Racetrack?

No, standardbred harness racing is no longer held at Woodbine Racetrack. Starting in 2018, all standardbred racing was moved to Woodbine's sister track, Woodbine Mohawk Park. This relocation included major events like the North America Cup, which had been hosted at Woodbine from 1994 to 2006. The move allowed the innermost oval at Woodbine, which was a seven eighths mile crushed limestone dirt course used for harness racing until April 2018, to be converted back into a second turf course for thoroughbred racing. The first race on this new Inner Turf course was run on June 28, 2019.

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