Gone are the days of quaint, colourful hippodromes with a cosy ambience. The horse racing landscape is now dominated by conglomerates catering to vast online and offline audiences. These entities boast expansive capabilities, offering a growing array of services to an expanding clientele, resulting in increased revenue.
As the largest horse racing operator in Canada, Woodbine Entertainment Group boasts ownership of two premier racetracks in Ontario - Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto and Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton, hosting world-class racing events. Notably, Woodbine Racetrack stands out as the sole North American venue offering both thoroughbred and harness racing.
Augmenting its reach, Woodbine Entertainment operates its television network, Champions, facilitating off-track betting. Complementing this, the company extends its presence with establishments like WEGZ Stadium Bar in Vaughan and Greenwood in Toronto Beach. Moreover, Woodbine Entertainment oversees the online betting platform HPIbet (https://www.hpibet.com/) and an AI-driven betting application, Dark Horse Bets (https://darkhorsebets.com/). Additionally, patrons can engage in horse race wagering via telephone or the company's mobile app.
Strategically situated within the Greater Toronto Area, alongside casinos, betting parlours, hotels, and various retail outlets, Woodbine Entertainment's racetracks form part of the Golden Horseshoe, encompassing the Niagara region. This area, housing nearly 10 million people, represents approximately 20% of Canada's population and over 59% of Ontario's populace.
Benefitting from its prime geographical positioning, Woodbine Entertainment Group emerges as a pivotal player not only within the Canadian and North American horse racing spheres but also on a global scale.
Where It All Began: Thomas Charles Patterson
The official genesis of the company traces back to 1881.
Thomas Charles Patterson, hailing from Parney, Wiltshire, England, arrived in Canada in 1858. Engaging in various pursuits, he served as Toronto's postmaster, practised law, and played an active role in the country's political scene. In 1872, he established The Toronto Mail, which swiftly ascended to become the city's premier publication.
Patterson's interests were eclectic; he was an avid hunter, engaged in outdoor sports, led the Canadian Cricket Eleven team for multiple years, tended to his farm, and held a profound affection for horses.
As an emissary for the royal family, Patterson facilitated the transport of thoroughbred horses to Canada from across the ocean. In an era marked by unregulated horse racing, Patterson sought to instil order and coherence among owners, jockeys, trainers, and the betting community. Thus, on April 29, 1881, the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC) was established, with interested parties, investors, and Woodbine Racetrack owner Joseph Duggan coming together for its formation. Shares were made available and acquired by local entrepreneurs at a rate of $100 per share.
The Hendry Legacy
For four generations, the Hendry family has been intricately connected to the Ontario Jockey Club.
William Hendry, a prominent railroad magnate and fervent horse racing aficionado, stands as a foundational figure within the Jockey Club's history. Playing a pivotal role as one of its founding fathers, he generously sponsored its inception and subsequent endeavours. Taking the helm as club president in 1893, his stewardship continued through the leadership of his sons. From 1963 to 1971, the mantle was passed to William Hendry's grandson, George Campbell Hendry, who steered racing in Ontario as the club's president. In 1992, the legacy endured as William Hendry's great-grandson, George M. Hendry, ascended to the position of chairman of the club's board.
Renowned as a Thoroughbred owner, William Hendry's distinctive trait was his steadfast refusal to wager on his horses. To him, racing epitomised pleasure, artistry, and tranquillity.
In 1989, his filly Butter Scotch achieved an unprecedented feat by clinching victory in eight consecutive races organised by the esteemed Canadian thoroughbred breeding company, Seagram Stables.
Among his illustrious equine companions, Martimas emerged as a standout performer, securing victory in the prestigious 1998 New York Futurity. Remarkably, Martimas' winnings were directed towards the construction of the Hamilton Hospital, underscoring William Hendry's philanthropic ethos. In recognition of his contributions, William Hendry became the first Canadian to attain the esteemed title of honorary member of the British Jockey Club. Additionally, in 1976, he received the distinguished honour of being inducted as an honorary member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
The EP Taylor Era
In 1953, the enterprising EP Taylor assumed leadership of the Ontario Jockey Club, heralding an era of innovation and industry evolution that would significantly shape the landscape of Woodbine today.
EP Taylor's tenure was marked by visionary foresight and decisive action. Recognising the limitations posed by the existence of numerous small and scattered hippodromes across the Golden Horseshoe region, he advocated for sweeping transformations aimed at consolidating resources and centralising operations. Indeed, his strategies laid the groundwork for the emergence of the Woodbine Entertainment holding company.
During the 1950s, under Taylor's astute guidance, the OJC undertook a series of acquisitions, absorbing competing racetracks such as Thorncliffe Park, Dufferin Park, Long Branch, Hamilton, and Stanford tracks. Subsequently, these acquired tracks were shuttered, making way for residential developments. Racing activities from these sites were seamlessly transitioned to the newly constructed Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, which debuted in 1956.
Continuing his visionary pursuits, Taylor oversaw the construction of Mohawk Park Race Track in 1963, specifically designed to accommodate harness racing. Notably, Mohawk Park Race Track distinguished itself by hosting year-round competitions, including night races, setting a new standard for equestrian sports entertainment.
Evolution of Woodbine Entertainment Group
The onset of the late 20th century witnessed a seismic shift in the landscape of horse racing, particularly with the advent of legalised gambling.
In 1996, Greenwood Racetrack, colloquially known as the "old" Woodbine, faced closure as the legalisation of gambling prompted a significant exodus of patrons from the track. The upkeep of Greenwood proved unsustainable in the wake of these changing dynamics.
Responding to the evolving market demands, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation introduced the Slot Machines at Racetracks program at Woodbine Racetrack. Seizing the opportunity, the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC) embarked on a strategic initiative to establish gaming and entertainment centres within newly developed plazas adjacent to Woodbine. Concurrently, efforts were made to modernise the tracks and upgrade the bleachers. By the turn of the millennium, Woodbine's gaming centres boasted an impressive array of 1,700 machines.
Reflecting its expanding scope of operations, the OJC transformed, rebranding itself as the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG).
In January 2004, WEG received approval from the Canadian Betting Agency to launch its pioneering online betting platform, HPIBET.COM.
The company's footprint in Toronto burgeoned over the years. In 2004, the inauguration of the new 1.5-mile E.P. Taylor turf racing track marked a significant milestone. Subsequently, in 2007, WEG secured permission from the City of Toronto to embark on the development of a ground-breaking $400 million entertainment and shopping centre.
Year after year, Woodbine continues to draw throngs of tourists, horse racing aficionados, and gambling enthusiasts to Toronto. Renowned for hosting top-tier racing events for Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, Woodbine has emerged as a premier destination.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of the Woodbine Entertainment Group, the complex has evolved into a veritable Mecca for horse racing enthusiasts. Setting the bar with its unparalleled racing standards, exceptional service, cutting-edge infrastructure, and innovative incorporation of technology, WEG stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the global leaders in the realm of horse racing.