Woodbine Entertainment

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...

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...

Not just anyone could join their club. You had to possess status, refinement, wealth and charm. Oh, and the real test was, "The ability to drive four horses with grace and skill," which translated to holding the reigns in one fist--whew, tough. Founded in 1875, New York's Coaching Club had strict guidelines for membership, which included that you could not be involved in racing of any kind. Interesting that the CC's annual parade was replaced in 1917, the same year America entered The Great War, by a race for 3-year-old...

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) canceled live racing Friday at Belmont Park due to a rapid decline in air quality late this morning, the organization said in a release midday. After horses were in the paddock for the first race, the decision was made in consultation with the New York State Equine Medical Director, NYRA management and veterinary staff in order to ensure the safety of all participants. The indoor facilities at Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack remained open for simulcasting. Live racing is scheduled to resume on...

Ellis Park will host its first Grade I race in its 100-year history Saturday, but there are plenty of other graded stakes scheduled before the Fourth of July at Belmont Park, Delaware Park, Woodbine Racetrack and Gulfstream Park. Here's a rundown of what's on tap. Showdown in Belmont's Dwyer One of two graded stakes on Saturday in Elmont is the GIII Dwyer S. Going a mile, the race pits Fort Bragg (Tapit), who was forced to scratch from the GI Woody Stephens S. by trainer Bob Baffert when the 3-year-old...

Michael Copeland was unanimously chosen to be the next Chief Executive Officer of Woodbine Entertainment by the company's board of directors. Copeland will take over from Jim Lawson--who announced he would be stepping down earlier this year--effective Oct. 1. Copeland, who is currently President, Commercial, joined Woodbine Entertainment in 2021 after holding various  leadership roles in sports and entertainment, including President and CEO of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts from 2015 to 2018, and President of the CFL's head office from 2006 to 2015. He has a law degree...

Woodbine Entertainment announced the addition of long-time Thoroughbred breeder Yvonne Schwabe and perennial leading Standardbred owner and breeder Brad Grant to committees for its Board of Directors. Schwabe will serve on the Thoroughbred Racing Committee, while Grant joins the Standardbred Racing Committee. Schwabe, a breeder for over 25 years and is the owner of Persley Den Farms in Acton, Ontario, notably bred 2013 Queen's Plate winner Midnight Aria. In addition to her successful breeding operation, Schwabe is a former director and current Funding Chair for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. She...

New York Thunder (Nyquist) declared victory in his first stakes attempt for AMO Racing at Woodbine on Saturday. Perfect in his only two career starts towards the end of his juvenile year, the bay colt was a debut winner Nov. 27 at Gulfstream by 6 1/2 lengths sprinting over the Tapeta. He then switched to turf against optional claimers in Hallandale and drove clear by 1 3/4 length. After working out in Kentucky for nearly two months, the Jorge Delgado trainee shipped to Canada and was well-regarded at the windows...

Jim Lawson will step down from his role as chief executive officer at Woodbine Entertainment this fall, the company announced Tuesday. Lawson has held the position since 2015. "Being CEO of Woodbine Entertainment has been a great honor and passion for me," Lawson said. "On a personal level, I have truly enjoyed my time leading the organization and I am so grateful for the incredible people that I have had the honor of working with, but it's now time to spend more time with my family. "On a professional level,...

Woodbine Entertainment and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario (HBPA) have reached an agreement for a new two-year deal that commits to $62m in purses for the 2023 and 2024 Thoroughbred racing meets, both released in a statement Friday. The deal also includes a 133-raceday meet in 2023 and 129 race dates in 2024. Despite the fewer race days next year, the track expects the number of races offered to be substantially the same as 2023 through more optimized scheduling during the meet. As part of the agreement,...

The historic Queen's Plate, North America's longest continuously run stakes race, will be renamed The King's Plate. Woodbine will run the next edition of the Canadian Classic Sunday, Aug. 20. Entry conditions for the 2023 King's Plate are unchanged with the race remaining open to all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds foaled in Canada. "The Plate is one of the most celebrated events in horse racing, and we're proud to celebrate its history while starting a new chapter under the banner of The King's Plate," said Jim Lawson, Woodbine Entertainment's CEO. "Those who...

Woodbine Entertainment has made some changes to its senior leadership team, promoting Michael Copeland to President, Commercial and Tom Via to President, Operations. Both will report to CEO Jim Lawson. "We have a tremendous amount of opportunity before us to grow our business and the horse racing industry in Ontario," said Lawson. "I strongly believe we have the right leadership and people in place--and now we have the right structure that will enable us to maximize and fully leverage those opportunities." Copeland, who joined Woodbine Entertainment in 2021 as Chief...