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BloodHorse.com Articles for "Woodbine Entertainment Group"

Woodbine Lowers Takeout Rate on Win Bets

Woodbine Lowers Takeout Rate on Win Bets

Woodbine Entertainment Group has announced it is lowering the takeout on win wagers to 14.95% for the 133-day Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine that begins April 20.

 Thursday, April 11, 2013
TVG to Air Group I Races from Japan

TVG to Air Group I Races from Japan

TVG has announced that in partnership with Woodbine Entertainment Group, the horse racing network is expanding its live coverage of racing from Japan in 2013.

 Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Woodbine Implements Personnel Reductions

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Feb. 13 it has instituted a significant restructuring of its operating model and will reduce its work force by 109 salaried positions and a significant number of hourly positions.

 Thursday, February 14, 2013
Woodbine Expects Similar Daily Purses in 2013

Woodbine Expects Similar Daily Purses in 2013

A two-year funding agreement reached with the government of Ontario will see Woodbine reduce Thoroughbred race dates by 14.7% in 2013 but will allow the track near Toronto to offer average daily purses comparable to 2012.

 Thursday, January 24, 2013

Woodbine Reaches Agreement with Ontario

Woodbine officials say an agreement in place with the province of Ontario will ensure live racing and industry stability for the next two years.

 Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Average Daily Wagering Swells at Woodbine

Average Daily Wagering Swells at Woodbine

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Dec. 20 that handle on the Woodbine 2012 live Thoroughbred meet, which concluded Dec. 16, showed impressive growth over the 2011 season.

 Thursday, December 20, 2012
Keeneland, Woodbine Share Simulcast Award

Keeneland, Woodbine Share Simulcast Award

Keeneland and Woodbine Entertainment Group were declared co-winners of this year's Simulcast Award at the International Simulcast Conference in Clearwater Beach, Fla.

 Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Woodbine Permitted to Drop 11 Thursday Cards

Woodbine Permitted to Drop 11 Thursday Cards

Woodbine Entertainment Group received Ontario Racing Commission approval Sept. 7 to drop 11 Thursday afternoon cards from the Toronto track's 2012 live Thoroughbred racing calendar.

 Friday, September 07, 2012

Willmot Retires as WEG Chairman

Woodbine Entertainment Group Aug. 1 announced the retirement of David S. Willmot as the company's chairman of the board. James Lawson has been elected chairman in his place.

 Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Eaves: Closure of Woodbine Possible in 2013

Eaves: Closure of Woodbine Possible in 2013

As Woodbine prepares to hold the 153rd edition of the Queen's Plate June 24, Nick Eaves, the track's president, stunned the crowd at the June 21 post-position draw by revealing that Woodbine may be forced to close next April.

 Thursday, June 21, 2012
Woodbine Official Warns of Loss of Slots

Woodbine Official Warns of Loss of Slots

An executive with Woodbine Entertainment Group has told local officials its Woodbine racetrack will not survive if slot machines are removed from the facility in March of next year.

 Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Survey Shows Support for Woodbine Casino

Survey Shows Support for Woodbine Casino

A poll commissioned by Woodbine Entertainment Group indicates a majority of the Toronto, Ontario, residents surveyed oppose locating a casino downtown, and that slightly more than half support a full-scale casino at Woodbine.

 Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Fort Erie to Lose Slots But Vows to Race

Just two days after the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. announced it will end the slots-at-racetracks program in the province in March 2013, it acted swiftly by revealing that slots parlors at three tracks will close.

 Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Ontario: End Slots-at-Racetracks Program

Ontario: End Slots-at-Racetracks Program

The Ontario provincial government said March 12 it will be ending payments to racetracks through the slots-at-racetracks program in March 2013. The result could mean potential closures for many of the province's 17 tracks.

 Monday, March 12, 2012
Ontario Official Targets Racing's Slots Money

Ontario Official Targets Racing's Slots Money

A top government official in Ontario Feb. 14 questioned the $345 million horse racing gets from province-operated slot machines given a $16 billion budget deficit.

 Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sovereign Award Finalists Announced

Sovereign Award Finalists Announced

The Jockey Club of Canada will host its 37th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony to honor the Canadian Champions of 2011 April 5, 2012, on the third floor of Woodbine.

 Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Significant Increases in Woodbine Handle

Significant Increases in Woodbine Handle

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced that its 2011 live Thoroughbred racing season saw a significant increase in handle over the previous year.

 Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Strong First Half of Woodbine Meet

Strong First Half of Woodbine Meet

Woodbine Entertainment Group reported all-source betting on the live Woodbine Racecourse meet increased 11.82% on wagering handle of $206,056,400 at the halfway mark of the 167-day meet.

 Thursday, August 11, 2011
Woodbine Reduces Takeout on Trifecta Wager

Woodbine Reduces Takeout on Trifecta Wager

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced that the takeout on its triactor (trifecta) wager by 2% for the upcoming live Thoroughbred meet that begins April 2 at the Toronto, Canada track.

 Monday, March 28, 2011
Queen's Plate Highlights Woodbine Schedule

Queen's Plate Highlights Woodbine Schedule

Woodbine Racecourse has released a 2011 schedule consisting of 102 stakes offering nearly $22 million in purses, including cuts to two of its major races.

 Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Woodbine, HBPA in Five-Year Agreement

Woodbine, HBPA in Five-Year Agreement

Woodbine Entertainment Group and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario have entered into an agreement ensuring 167 dates of Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine each year for the next five years.

 Friday, February 18, 2011
Ricoh to Sponsor Woodbine Mile for Two Years

Ricoh to Sponsor Woodbine Mile for Two Years

Woodbine Entertainment Group has announced that one of its premier races will be sponsored by technology company Ricoh Canada under a two-year agreement.

 Monday, January 31, 2011
Emotional November Sale for Anderson's Team

Emotional November Sale for Anderson's Team

As they go about the tasks of showing horses and leading them to the sales ring at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale, the team at Anderson Farms does it with an emotional tug.

 Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Woodbine Named Winner of Simulcast Award

Woodbine Named Winner of Simulcast Award

For the fourth time in seven years, Woodbine Entertainment Group was named the winner of the 2010 Simulcast Award at the International Simulcasting Conference in Clearwater, Florida.

 Thursday, September 23, 2010

Eaves Succeeds Willmot as Woodbine CEO

On June 4, Nick Eaves assumed the title of chief executive officer of Woodbine Entertainment Group, succeeding David Willmot, who has served in the position since 1995.

 Friday, June 04, 2010
Woodbine Announces TV Programming Hosts

Woodbine Announces TV Programming Hosts

Woodbine Entertainment Group has announced the hosts for its redesigned TV programming offerings in 2010.

 Monday, May 10, 2010

Willmot to Step Down as Woodbine CEO in 2010

Woodbine Entertainment Group, which operates Woodbine Racetrack, announced that David S. Willmot plans to leave the post of CEO, effective with the board of directors next meeting June 4, 2010. Willmot announced his intentions during the WEG directors meeting Dec. 4.

 Friday, December 04, 2009

Woodbine Suspends 'Turbo-Charged' Pick 6

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced July 8 it is suspending its "Turbo-charged Pick 6" wager promotion, while leaving open the option of bringing it back later in the season or for special events.

 Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Woodbine Wagering Held Steady in 2008

Woodbine Wagering Held Steady in 2008

Betting on Woodbine's 2008 live Thoroughbred meet, which concluded Dec. 7, remained steady over last year, Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Dec. 10.

 Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Woodbine Promotes Four Employees

Woodbine Promotes Four Employees

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced March 12 personnel changes in its Thoroughbred racing operations.

 Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Woodbine, Horsemen Extend Contract

Woodbine, Horsemen Extend Contract

The board of directors of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario has unanimously approved the extension of its current contract with Woodbine Entertainment Group for an additional three years, the organization announced Jan. 18.

 Friday, January 18, 2008

Horsemen: Fix Account Wagering Mess Now

Horsemen are calling for an end to the stalemate over account wagering; and even though providers say they want it to end as well, there doesn't appear to be a resolution in sight.

 Saturday, July 21, 2007

AmTote Lands Woodbine Entertainment Contract

AmTote, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Magna Entertainment Corp., has entered into a tote service agreement with Woodbine Entertainment Group in Canada.

 Wednesday, July 11, 2007

CTHS Announces Improvement Program

The Ontario division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society has announced the release of the 2007 Thoroughbred Improvement Program. The program comes after negotiations with Woodbine Entertainment Group, Fort Erie Racetrack, the Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association, and the approval of the Ontario Racing Commission.

 Thursday, March 22, 2007

Willmot Sees Dark Future Without Cooperation on Simulcasting

A racetrack operator is calling on tracks to take control of simulcasts, which now produce about 85% of pari-mutuel handle in North America.

 Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Woodbine Handle Slips, but Officials Optimistic

Woodbine's all-source handle fell 8.6% in 2006, but a rebound in wagering and field size after installation of an all-weather main track has officials for the Woodbine Entertainment Group looking forward to next year.

 Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Martin Named VP of Racing for Woodbine Group

Jamie Martin has been promoted to senior vice president of racing for the Woodbine Entertainment Group, the company announced.

 Friday, October 20, 2006

Woodbine to Unveil Polytrack Surface Aug. 30

Woodbine Entertainment Group has targeted Aug. 30 for its first race to take place on the Toronto track's new state-of-the-art Polytrack surface.

 Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Woodbine to Install Polytrack in July

Officials at Woodbine Entertainment Group announced March 28 that the Ontario-based racing and entertainment company will install a Polytrack surface on its one-mile main dirt track at Woodbine. Construction is to begin in early July.

 Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Woodbine Mile Gets New Sponsor; Race Named for Northern Dancer

Woodbine Entertainment Group released its 2006 stakes schedule, which includes two new races named for Canadian-bred champion Northern Dancer and sponsor Bell Canada.

 Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Woodbine: No Signals for High-Volume Betting Shop

Woodbine Entertainment Group has reiterated its views on non-racetrack rebate shops by denying International Racing Group access to Woodbine-hosted pools.

 Thursday, December 22, 2005

Total Handle, Purses Increase at Woodbine Meet

Total handle and purses registered gains during the 167-day Woodbine meet that spanned April 16-Dec. 11.

 Thursday, December 15, 2005

Commingling of Pools with Canada Paying Off

In the two months since common pool pari-mutuel wagering with Canada was first introduced at Emerald Downs and Arlington Park, both tracks have seen significant increases in handle from Canada.

 Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Woodbine Gains Limited Access to U.S. Pools

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced July 2 that Canadian wagers on Balmoral Park, a Chicago-based harness track, will for the first time be combined with the U.S. host track's pools, giving customers in both countries the same winning payout prices.

 Saturday, July 02, 2005

Woodbine Looks To Commingle With U.S. Pools

Woodbine Entertainment Group, owner of Canada's largest racetrack, has filed applications that would allow its customers to place wagers directly into common pools at two tracks in the United States--The Meadowlands in New Jersey, and Calder Race Course in Florida. Similar applications for New York and California are slated to follow, said Steve Mitchell, WEG senior vice president and chief financial officer.

 Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Purses Boosted for Canadian International, Other Woodbine Stakes

Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Friday that the purse for this year's Pattison Canadian International (Can-I) has been increased to a record CAN$2 million in 2005, up significantly from the $1.5-million purse offered last year.

 Friday, February 18, 2005

Nomination Deadlines Extended at Woodbine

The closing date for nominations to Woodbine's fall turf classics, the Pattison Canadian International and its filly and mare companion, the E.P. Taylor Stakes (both Can-I), have been extended to Oct. 6.

 Saturday, September 04, 2004

Woodbine Purse Cuts to Average 5%

Woodbine Entertainment Group, blaming a decline in slot machine business at both Mohawk and Woodbine as a result of recent implementation of government no smoking laws, announced July 15 an overall 5% cut in purses for Thoroughbred racing.

 Friday, July 16, 2004

Willmot to KTFMC: Rebaters are a Threat

David Willmot shared his opinions on everything from slot machines to the relationship between purses and handle at Wednesday night's Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club meeting.

 Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Great Canadian Completes Purchase of Hastings Park

Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, through one of its subsidiaries 686486 BC Ltd., has completed its purchase of Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, in a $20.1 million deal.

 Thursday, April 08, 2004
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