Woodbine Generates Largest Handle in Track History

Woodbine Entertainment announced Dec. 14 the 2022 Thoroughbred season produced an all-sources handle of $621,782,346, the largest single-season total in Woodbine history.

The $621 million total smashes the previous record of $533 million set in 2018.

The 2022 Thoroughbred season was the first full season contested at Woodbine since the 2019 campaign. A total of 1,198 races were contested over 132 dates of racing. Both the 2020 and 2021 seasons had delayed starts and interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We're very happy with the results of our 2022 season, our first full season in a few years," said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. "At the start of the pandemic, I felt that through determination and resiliency—which is the trademark of this industry—we would emerge stronger and this record all-sources handle is evidence we are on the right track."

Woodbine continued its sizable gains in the foreign market in 2022, taking in a record $515 million in foreign handle. The previous record for foreign handle in a season was $420 million in 2021.

Woodbine's home market area generated $87.2 million in handle this season.

Woodbine handled on average $519,016 per-race in 2022, higher than any season pre-COVID. The average field size in 2022 was 8.2, which remains above the North America average.

"Our racing team did a fantastic job despite challenges in putting together competitive and sizable fields," said Lawson. "Field size directly impacts our wagering and we're constantly looking at ways to keep our numbers healthy."