Woodbine Introduces Starter Bonus for Trainers for 2024 Meet 

TORONTO, March 1, 2024 – With the backstretch opening at Woodbine Racetrack this week, Woodbine Entertainment announced that it is introducing a Starter Bonus for trainers for the 2024 racing season.

A Starter Bonus of $50 will be paid to all trainers who start a horse in an overnight race that finishes outside of the top-five. The Starter Bonus is not applicable to stakes races. 

“We appreciate and understand that our trainers are managing rising operating costs just like we are,” said Tim Lawson, Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing for Woodbine. “The Starter Bonus idea has been discussed previously with our horse people and this off-season we took a close look at it and found a way to implement it this season that will support our trainers and put some money back in their pockets. 

“Ultimately, our goal is to further increase our investment in our horse people when we are in a position to do so, but in the meantime, we are constantly looking for creative ways to ease some day-to-day financial pressures for trainers throughout the long meet.” 

Woodbine also shared that it has allocated approximately 1,900 stalls, 90-100 more stalls than last year. Horses started to ship-in earlier this week with the training track scheduled to open on Saturday, March 2, and the all-weather main track for training on Monday, March 11, subject to weather. ​ 

The 129-day 2024 racing meet at Woodbine Racetrack opens on Saturday, April 27.

Grace Martin

Grace Martin

Communications Specialist, Woodbine Entertainment

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About Woodbine Entertainment

Woodbine Entertainment is the largest horse racing operator in Canada, with Thoroughbred horse racing at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, and Standardbred horse racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton. Woodbine Entertainment also owns and operates HPIbet, Canada’s only betting platform dedicated to horse racing. Woodbine and Mohawk Park are host to several world-class racing events including The King’s Plate, three Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, and the Pepsi North America Cup. Run without share capital, Woodbine Entertainment has a mandate to financially invest all profit back into the horse racing industry and the 25,000 jobs it supports across Ontario.

Contact

555 Rexdale Blvd. Toronto, Ontario.

(416) 675-7223

woodbinecommunications@woodbine.com

woodbine.com