Woodbine Racetrack

Historical Development and Industry Consolidation

The modern Woodbine Racetrack resulted from a deliberate plan to consolidate Ontario's horse racing industry under the Ontario Jockey Club, led by industrialist E.P. Taylor. Beginning in 1952, the OJC purchased and closed several money-losing or competing tracks to centralize operations and funding. This series of acquisitions included Thorncliffe Park, Hamilton Racetrack, and Stamford Park, which was later redeveloped into a residential subdivision after its purchase in 1953. In 1955, Taylor personally bought the Orpen-owned Dufferin Park and Long Branch racetracks for four million dollars, transferring their racing charters to the OJC and closing the tracks for redevelopment. These moves increased the OJC's allowed racing days from 84 in 1952 to 196, providing the operational need and financial base for a new, larger track designed to be a 'supertrack'. The club selected a site of over 400 acres near Highway 27 and the Toronto airport, commissioning architect Earle C. Morgan to design the new facility with input from American track designer Arthur Froelich, who had worked on Hollywood Park and Garden State Park. Construction started in 1955, and the New Woodbine Racetrack opened on June 12, 1956, at a cost of thirteen million dollars. The original Woodbine track in southeast Toronto was renamed Greenwood Raceway and later had its thoroughbred and standardbred race meets transferred to the new Woodbine in 1994, ending the dual-track era. In 1951, the old Woodbine Race Course operated at Queen Street East and Kingston Road and held the King's Plate.

Facility Design and Track Configuration

Woodbine Racetrack's physical layout is defined by its three racecourses, a configuration completed in 1994 and updated through subsequent renovations like the 2025 work on the turf course. The outermost course is the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, an asymmetrical 1.5-mile grass oval that features a chute allowing races of 1.125 miles to be run around a single turn. Its unique design includes a first clubhouse turn of 30 degrees, a short straight, and then a 150-degree turn on a radius as tight as the inner turf course, with a backstretch that is 2.5 to 3 feet higher than the homestretch. The far turn is two and a half furlongs long and begins on a wide radius before tightening into a homestretch that is 1,440 feet long, longer than the stretch at Belmont Park. Inside this lies the one-mile main track for thoroughbreds, which has seen several surface changes from its original dirt to Polytrack in 2006 and then to the current Tapeta surface installed on April 9, 2016. This synthetic oval includes two chutes that facilitate races at seven furlongs and at 1.25 miles. The innermost oval was originally a seven-eighths-mile turf course until 1994, then became a crushed limestone track for harness racing after the E.P. Taylor course opened. After all standardbred racing moved to Woodbine Mohawk Park in 2018, this oval was converted back to a turf course, known as the Inner Turf, which held its first race on June 28, 2019, and was won by Bold Rally ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva. The facility was designed to hold 40,000 spectators and includes stable space for 1,000 horses, rooms for 700 employees, and multiple training tracks, along with several restaurants and cafeterias in the grandstand. Portions of the current E.P. Taylor turf course originally formed part of a long turf chute used for races like Secretariat's final race in the 1973 Canadian International.

Major Racing Events, Records, and Annual Schedule

Woodbine Racetrack operates a lengthy thoroughbred racing season, with the 2026 schedule running from April 18 to December 13 over 128 race dates. The track's calendar is built around several premier events that attract international competitors and large crowds. The most significant is the King's Plate, a one-million-dollar race for three-year-old Canadian-bred horses and the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. The 2026 running will be the 167th edition of this race, which has been run at Woodbine since 1956 and was attended by Queen Elizabeth II in both 1959 and 2010. Other major annual fixtures include the Breeders' Stakes, the third Triple Crown leg, and the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, along with the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes and the E. P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares. The track has also hosted one-time major events like the Breeders' Cup in 1996 and the Arlington Million in 1988, and it served as the opening venue for the 1976 Summer Paralympics. For standardbred racing, Woodbine was a former host of the North America Cup from 1994 to 2006 and has hosted the Breeders Crown three times under its single-night format in 2011, 2012, and 2015. A notable performance record at Woodbine is the single-day win mark of seven victories by a jockey, set by Richard Grubb on May 16, 1967, and matched by Sandy Hawley on May 22, 1972, and again on October 10, 1974. In November 2024, Woodbine cancelled its November 10 final racecard after three catastrophic injuries on the Tapeta track surface as a precautionary approach.

• King's Plate (Ungraded, but Canada's premier race for Canadian-breds)
• Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (Grade 1, run in early fall)
• Breeders' Stakes (Ungraded, third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown)
• Woodbine Mile (Grade 1 thoroughbred turf stakes)
• Canadian International (Grade 1 thoroughbred turf stakes)
• E. P. Taylor Stakes (Grade 1 turf race for fillies and mares)

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto Gaming and Amenities

Adjacent to the racing facility, Casino Woodbine opened in 1999 as a slots parlour and later expanded to include table games in 2018, growing into the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The casino operates 24 hours a day and includes a mix of traditional and electronic games. Its gaming floor includes over 3,500 slot machines, more than 100 live table games such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, and over 220 electronic table games for players who prefer digital versions of classic games. A distinct area features stadium gaming with more than 100 dealer-assist terminals, allowing multiple players to participate in games managed by a single live dealer. In 2019, construction began on a major expansion to add a 400-room integrated luxury hotel with racetrack views, retail shops, and an entertainment venue, transforming the property into a full resort destination. This development allows guests to access gaming, hotel stays, dining, and live racing all within the same large property. The casino is a significant part of the Woodbine Entertainment Group's operations and contributes to the overall visitor experience of the complex in northwest Toronto. The table games form a core part of the live action on the casino floor, with primary games including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

• Blackjack, a card game where players compete against the dealer.
• Roulette, a game involving a spinning wheel and a ball.
• Baccarat, a comparing card game played between two hands.

Ownership, Operations, and Recent Developments

Woodbine Racetrack and its associated casino are owned and operated by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, which was known as the Ontario Jockey Club from 1881 to 2001 and also operates Woodbine Mohawk Park for standardbred racing. The group manages the entire property, including the racing operations, casino, and any future developments like the planned soccer stadium announced in 2022. Woodbine has implemented several technological and operational updates in recent years, including adopting a GPS-based timing system in 2018 to improve the accuracy and reliability of race timing and results. The property has also been slated for further non-racing development, with plans announced in 2022 to build an 8,000-seat soccer stadium and training facilities in its northeast corner, a presumed new home for York United FC and a potential women's professional soccer club. The track serves as an important venue beyond racing, having been the opening venue for the 1976 Summer Paralympics where some sporting events were held, and it also maintains the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame on its grounds. The 2026 thoroughbred season represents a full return to racing, with the season opener on April 18, continuing the track's long tradition of hosting world-class horse racing.

Visitor Experience and Practical Information

A visit to Woodbine Racetrack offers activities centred on live horse racing, casino gaming, and dining, with free admission and parking making it accessible for a casual outing or a major event day. Patrons can check daily race schedules and post times online through the track's official website or by calling the track's information lines at 416-675-7223 or the toll-free number 1-888-675-7223 for the most current details. The grandstand, designed by Earle C. Morgan to bring many people close to the finish line, contains several restaurants and cafeterias with views of the track action, providing food and beverage options for racegoers. For gaming, the adjacent Great Canadian Casino Resort provides thousands of slot machines and table games open all day and night, with the integrated resort hotel offering convenient accommodation with views of the racetrack for those staying overnight. The property is accessible by car via Highway 27 and Rexdale Boulevard, with ample parking available on the over 400-acre site, and it is located east of Toronto Pearson International Airport for visitors travelling from farther away. Special event days like the King's Plate draw large crowds and often include additional entertainment and hospitality options, such as the royal presentation of trophies that occurred when Queen Elizabeth II attended in 2010. The facility also hosts group events and has been the site of notable occasions beyond racing, including the 1976 Paralympics and potential future soccer matches. The original Old Woodbine Race Course operated at Queen Street East and Kingston Road from 1874 through 1993.

• Address: 555 Rexdale Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, in the Etobicoke area.
• Racing Season: The 2026 thoroughbred season runs from April 18 to December 13.
• Admission: Free entry and free parking for the racetrack.
• Casino Hours: The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is open 24 hours a day.
• Contact: Phone 416-675-7223 or toll-free 1-888-675-7223 for race information.

Questions about Woodbine Racetrack

Where is Woodbine Racetrack located?

Woodbine Racetrack is located at 555 Rexdale Boulevard in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The property is situated on over 400 acres of land near Highway 27, east of Toronto Pearson International Airport. It is easily accessible by car and offers free parking for visitors. The original Old Woodbine Race Course operated at Queen Street East and Kingston Road from 1874 through 1993.

What is the King's Plate and when is it held?

The King's Plate is Canada's most famous thoroughbred horse race. It is a stakes race for three-year-old Canadian-bred horses and is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. The race is managed and hosted by Woodbine Racetrack. While restricted to Canadian-breds and not eligible for grading, it is a prestigious event with a one-million-dollar purse. The 2026 edition will mark the 167th running of the race. Queen Elizabeth II attended the race in 1959 and 2010.

Does Woodbine Racetrack have a casino?

Yes, Woodbine Racetrack is part of a complex that includes the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. This casino originally opened as Casino Woodbine in 1999, offering a slots parlor, and expanded to include table games in 2018. It operates 24 hours a day and contains over 100 table games, more than 3,500 slot machines, and over 220 electronic table games. A major expansion that began in 2019 added a 400-room hotel, retail shops, and an entertainment venue to the resort.

What type of horse racing happens at Woodbine?

Woodbine Racetrack is primarily dedicated to thoroughbred horse racing. It features a one-mile synthetic Tapeta main track and two turf courses: the E.P. Taylor Turf Course and the Inner Turf course. The 2026 thoroughbred season runs from April 18 to December 13 with 128 race dates. Major thoroughbred stakes races include the King's Plate, the Canadian International, and the Woodbine Mile. Standardbred (harness) racing was moved to its sister track, Woodbine Mohawk Park, in 2018. The track hosted the Breeders' Cup in 1996.

What are the track surfaces at Woodbine?

Woodbine features three main racecourses with different surfaces. The primary track is a one-mile synthetic oval surfaced with Tapeta, installed in 2016 after previously being Polytrack and originally dirt. The facility also has two turf courses: the expansive, asymmetrical 1.5-mile E.P. Taylor Turf Course on the outside, and a smaller, seven-eighths-mile Inner Turf course converted from a harness track in 2019. This configuration allows for a diverse range of racing conditions and distances throughout the season.

Can you visit Woodbine just for the casino?

Yes, you can visit Woodbine just for the casino. The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is a separate 24-hour facility located at the Woodbine complex. It opened in 1999 with a slots parlor and expanded to include table games in 2018. The casino operates independently of live racing schedules. It features over 100 table games such as blackjack and roulette, more than 3500 slot machines, and 220 electronic table games, along with stadium gaming terminals.

Sources and further reading

• Woodbine Racetrack (Wikipedia)
• Casino at Great Canadian Toronto (greatcanadian.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-11-12.