Woodbine Entertainment

Headrick Joins Woodbine Executive Team

Lisa Headrick has been appointed executive vice president, finance, strategy and operations at Woodbine Entertainment. "Lisa brings incredible depth and experience to the Woodbine leadership team," Woodbine Entertainment CEO Michael Copeland shared. "We are excited to have her join our team and help lead our business and the horse racing industry to ambitious new heights." Formerly a Vice President of Finance at Loblaw Companies Limited, Headrick led Finance for the Discount Grocery Retail Division and prior to that, the E-Commerce and Loyalty (PC Optimum) segments. She spent over 20 years...

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Woodbine's 2023 Thoroughbred Meet Produces Mixed Results

Woodbine Entertainment's 2023 Thoroughbred season produced an all-sources handle of $613,125,180 CAD, which was the second largest single-season recorded, but that overall number was down $8 million from 2022, the organization said in a release Wednesday. In 2023, a total of 1,180 races were contested over 128 dates of racing compared to 1,198 races over 132 dates in 2022. Woodbine ran four less dates and 18 less races in 2023 due to an unprecedented number of cancelled race cards (five) because of extreme heat and poor air quality caused by...

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King's Plate 2024 Date Set for Aug. 17; E.P. Taylor Turf Course Renovation Plans Unveiled

The King's Plate will be held in August for the third straight year in 2024 when it will be run Aug. 17 at Woodbine Racetrack. "This year's King's Plate was a big success, delivering a record handle, sold-out crowd and really exciting racing," said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine. "The third weekend in August has been a good spot for attracting a quality field on the track and an energetic crowd off the track. Building on our momentum created at this year's Plate, we are excited to make the event...

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Woodbine Solidifies Racing Leadership

Woodbine has promoted Tim Lawson and Bill McLinchey to vice president positions, Woodbine Entertainment's Bill Ford, General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Racing, announced Thursday. Lawson has been promoted to Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing and McLinchey has been promoted to Vice President of Standardbred Racing. "Over the last several years, Bill and Tim have been instrumental in the continued growth of our world-class racing programs," Ford said. "Through their leadership, racing knowledge and expertise, we are confident both will make major contributions towards Woodbine being a global leader...

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Earlier Weekend Post Times at Woodbine

Post times for the upcoming weekend at Woodbine will be 10 minutes earlier than previously scheduled. Thursday post time remains unchanged at 4:40 p.m., but racing Friday, Saturday and Sunday begins at 1:05 p.m.

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Woodbine Adds Monte McNaughton to Executive Leadership Team

Former Ontario politician Monte McNaughton will join Woodbine Entertainment as Executive Vice President, Industry Relations and People Experience, it was announced Tuesday. McNaughton, who was most recently Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for the Province of Ontario, has served in public office for more than 15 years and was a Member of Provincial Parliament since 2011. "We have an opportunity to expand our business in a way that benefits Ontario's horse racing industry and the families depending on it. I believe Monte's expertise and leadership will guide...

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Wade Jost Joins The TDN Writers' Room Podcast To Tell The Story Of Carson's Run

When Carson's Run (Cupid) won the GI bet365 Summer S. at Woodbine Racetrack this past weekend, earning a trip to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, the story was bigger than one horse and one race. The 2-year-old chestnut colt is named for the 31-year-old son of Wade Jost, who bought into the horse from his classmate at the United States Military Academy, Terry Finley, thorough West Point Thoroughbreds. Carson Jost continues to battle Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. The story might sound familiar, as Cody's Wish (Curlin) is named in honor of...

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Woodbine's GIII Seaway S. Goes Sunday

Woodbine Racetrack isn't done with the graded entertainment as the GIII Seaway S. for 3-year-old fillies and mares going seven furlongs takes to the Tapeta on Sunday. Drawn to the outside is the last out winner of the GIII Trillium S. July 23 in Toronto, Il Malocchio (Souper Speedy). Cutting back, the Martin Drexler trainee is the morning-line favorite at 5-2. The 5-year-old will face eight others, including Catherine Day-Phillips trainee Millie Girl (Hard Spun), who finished third in the June 3 GII Royal North S. and in the same...

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Pink Lloyd's Full-Brother Tops Canadian Yearling Sale

At the Woodbine Sales Pavilion Aug. 30, a full-brother to Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd (Old Forester) led the way with $150,000 at this year's Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS)'s Ontario Division said in a release Thursday morning. With 68 RND'd, gross sales out of 168 increased by 4.6% to $4,017,790 from $3,837,700 a year ago when 150 went through the ring. Seven hips sold for $100,000 or more (three in '22), while the average was $23,915 and the median $15,000. The top...

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'Prince' Leads Royal Procession in King's Plate

On paper, it appeared that Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) had many things going for him heading into the 164th King's Plate at Woodbine. Trained by Mark Casse, who is one of only a handful of individuals who has been honored by both the U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fames, the chestnut was benefitting from the services of another Canadian stalwart in Patrick Husbands. Not to mention he is owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, the latter well-known for having campaigned the likes of a trio of Classic winners--2019 Preakness...

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Woodbine And Bet365 Bring Horse Racing To Ontario Bettors

Woodbine Entertainment and bet365 have made horse racing now available to Ontario sports bettors, the track said in a release Friday. "This a great day for Ontario sports bettors and especially for the horse racing industry in the province," said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "For over a year, we have been working hard with regulators, government agencies and our partners at bet365 to develop the technology and satisfy all requirements to allow players to access pari-mutuel horse racing betting products using accounts with legal gaming operators in Ontario with...

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Woodbine Entertainment Adds New Board Members

Standardbred owner and breeder Brad Grant and Canadian sports business executive Scott Mitchell were named to the Woodbine Entertainment Board, the organization said in a release Wednesday. Also, Mark Saunders has been re-elected to Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors after taking a short leave of absence to run in the recent By-Election for Mayor of the City of Toronto. "We are very pleased to welcome Brad and Scott, and welcome back Mark, to our Board," said Hugh Mitchell, Chair of Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors. "Their diverse wealth of business...

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