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
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 Entertainment Group announced March 12 personnel changes in its Thoroughbred racing operations.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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 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, 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
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
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'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
Jamie Martin has been promoted to senior vice president of racing for the Woodbine Entertainment Group, the company announced.
Friday, October 20, 2006
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
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 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 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 and purses registered gains during the 167-day Woodbine meet that spanned April 16-Dec. 11.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
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 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 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
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
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 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
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 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
Hastings Park, which was put up for sale in February by parent company Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), already has a buyer.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
The debate over pricing, rebating, and computer betting has put the pari-mutuel industry at odds with some of its best customers, and judging from the latest exchange of opinions and statistics, it could be some time before the situation is resolved.
Friday, March 05, 2004
The Canadian Justice Department is investigating Woodbine Entertainment Group's new online wagering site that critics contend violates the law and should be shut down.
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Hastings Park is for sale. The Vancouver racetrack that was purchased by Woodbine Entertainment Group in 2002 apparently isn't performing as well as its parent company had hoped, even though attendance and wagering have increased since it changed hands.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Hastings Park opens its 71-day live season April 17. The track has scheduled two more live racing days than last season and purses have increased nearly 15% over last year.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Fraser Downs, a British Columbia Standardbred track located not far from Hastings Park, received approval Dec. 16 to install slot machines. The Surrey City Council will schedule a fourth reading on the measure and approve final documents in a few weeks, the track said in a press release.
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
After three straight years of gain in handle, due in part to the addition of slot machines in 2000, Woodbine reported a 4.5% drop in handle for its 2003 meet. The Ontario oval ended its 162-day meet on Nov. 30.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Operators of racetracks with gaming devices continue to look for ways to drive pari-mutuel handle, but they admit converting slots players to handicappers is a long-term challenge.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Canada's largest outdoor advertising company has agreed to sponsor the Canadian International (Can-IT) for the next three years.
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
The Vancouver city council has lifted its ban on slots, which means, if things progress as expected, Hastings Park racetrack could install as many as 900 slot machines by this time next year.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Woodbine Entertainment Group, which operates Thoroughbred and Standardbred meets, is considering a purchase or lease of Meadowlands, another dual-breed facility, according to a published report.
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
In the wake of the New York Racing Association's announcement it would require starters in the June 7 Belmont Stakes to be in a "stakes barn" about 24 hours before the race, officials at two major dual-breed racetracks said detention, or retention, has achieved its goals but continues to be assessed on a regular basis.
Monday, April 28, 2003
Scientific Games Corp. announced fourth quarter financial results (year ending Dec. 31, 2002) Feb. 28 and reported a 10% gain in revenue for the quarter.
Friday, February 28, 2003
Woodbine Entertainment Group has announced that Steve Lym has been appointed the company's Thoroughbred racing secretary.
Thursday, February 13, 2003
A threatened boycott at Woodbine by the Ontario Harness Horsemen's Association (owners and trainers) was averted Monday when both sides in a dispute over simulcasting agreed to extend their existing contract for 90 days while resuming talks.
Tuesday, December 31, 2002
The meet-end figures at Hastings Park showed a 29.7% increase in purses and nearly 6% upswing in total handle.
Wednesday, December 04, 2002
Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Thursday that a purse increase at Woodbine will go into effect Sunday.
Thursday, May 09, 2002
Woodbine Entertainment Group announced Wednesday that it has acquired through its subsidiary, Hastings Entertainment Inc., "substantially all" of the assets of Pacific Racing Association, which operates Hastings Park in Vancouver, Canada.
Wednesday, May 01, 2002
Woodbine, in suburban Toronto, has joined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association NTRA, it was announced Thursday.
Thursday, April 25, 2002
Woobine Entertainment Group has extended its telephone wagering services to patrons of the Flamboro Downs harness track, about 40 miles south of Toronto.
Friday, January 25, 2002
Woodbine Race Course reported a 14% increase in average daily handle driven by a substantial increase in purses and field size.
Thursday, December 06, 2001
The Fasig-Tipton Sales Co. is returning to Canada. After a 12-year hiatus, the Lexington-based company has been asked to run the annual yearling sale at Woodbine Racetrack. Canadian Thoroughbred industry leaders hope the change will bring some stability and growth to the breeding and sales markets.
Friday, October 26, 2001
The OJC on Friday changed its name to Woodbine Entertainment Group, and also unveilved a new Web site that reflects the change. In a prepared statement, WEG said the new name better reflects the scope of the company and its business.
Friday, June 01, 2001
