Woodbine Overnight, Ontario Programs Get Purse Increase

Woodbine's upcoming Thoroughbred season will receive purse increases for its overnight and Ontario bonus programs, Woodbine Entertainment announced March 3.

The 2020 meet begins April 18 and features 133 race dates, 87 stakes, and total purses of $61 million highlighted by three $1 million races: the June 27 Queen's Plate, Sept. 19 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T), and Oct. 18 Pattison Canadian International (G1T).

"Woodbine is committed to attracting and retaining top quality horses in support of a strong racing program," said Jessica Buckley, senior vice president of Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing for Woodbine Entertainment. "We are pleased to offer enhanced overnight purses for some conditions as well as significant bonus increases for the Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred programs that will benefit the local horse racing industry."

The overnight increases, as much as 7.7% on base purses, apply to maiden allowance races and select maiden optional claiming races. Woodbine's overnight purses will average approximately $450,000 per race date for 2020.

Ontario remains the leader in the provincial/state-sired and -bred programs across North America with bonuses eclipsing 33% and 43%, respectively, without a cap, and multiple opportunities for restricted Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred stakes with purses of $100,000 and up. Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred bonuses are paid out to the top five finishers in a race.

"The changes and investments we have made in our overnight purse program combined with our stakes program for Ontario-bred and -sired horses means it pays to breed and race in this province," said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. "Overall, the strength of our purses and racing program, combined with the safety record of our Tapeta and two turf courses and world-class training facilities, makes Woodbine a top Thoroughbred racing destination in North America. We are excited to open the season in the coming weeks and look forward to working alongside horsepeople for another year of racing at Woodbine Racetrack."

Highlights:

•    Maiden allowance races for 2-year-olds will run for an all-in purse of nearly $127,000, including both Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred bonuses. The Ontario-sired bonuses will increase from 30% to 33% while Ontario-bred bonuses climb from 20% to 43%.

•    Maiden allowance races for 3-year-olds and up will run for an all-in purse of $123,000, including both Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred bonuses. The Ontario-sired bonuses will increase from 30 to 33% while Ontario-bred bonuses climb from 20 to 43%.

•    Total purses for the maiden optional claiming $40,000 or maiden Ontario-sired allowance condition will be more than $64,000, including both Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred bonuses. The Ontario-sired bonuses will increase from 20 to 33% while Ontario-bred bonuses remain at 20%. New for 2020, the option will be available for horses to run in this condition with or without the claiming tag, and still be eligible for the Ontario-sired bonus of 33%.

•    Woodbine is offering a new maiden optional claiming $25,000 or maiden Ontario-sired allowance condition with a total purse of $48,000, including bonuses. Horses will be eligible to run protected if they have raced in the maiden optional claiming $40,000 or maiden Ontario-sired allowance condition and had three consecutive starts finishing out of the money (sixth through last) in 2019 or 2020. 

•    Woodbine has increased the Ontario-sired bonus from 20 to 22% on every other condition.

The first condition book is now available under the Horsepeople section on Woodbine.com.

The meet will begin with live racing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with first post at 1 p.m. ET for the first two weeks. Friday afternoons with a first post at 2 p.m. will be added in May. The racing schedule will expand to four days a week in mid-May with the addition of Wednesday nights, when first post will be at 6:45 p.m., or afternoon racing on holiday Mondays, when first post will be 1 p.m., including Victoria Day, Civic Holiday, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. The post times will remain in effect through the end of the meet with the exception of Wednesday, July 1 when the special Canada Day program will begin 1:05 p.m.