Woodbine Mourns the Passing of Renowned Horseman Paul Buttigieg
TORONTO, May 28, 2025 – Woodbine Entertainment is joining the racing community in mourning the passing of longtime trainer, breeder, and owner Paul Buttigieg, a respected and accomplished figure in Canadian horse racing.
A fixture in the Woodbine racing community for decades, Buttigieg was known for his unwavering dedication to the sport, his deep knowledge of horses, and hands-on approach to training. Over the course of his distinguished career, he amassed 672 wins and more than $19 million in earnings as a trainer.
In addition to his work at the racetrack, Buttigieg operated his own training centre in Egbert, Ontario, where he developed his racehorses and provided many of Woodbine’s top trainers with an exceptional facility to winter their horses and prepare them for the next season. Buttigieg Training Centre has stabled horses for top trainers such as Robert Tiller, Kevin Attard and Michael De Paulo.
Among Buttigieg’s greatest achievements was champion Phil’s Dream, who he bred, owned, and trained. Phil’s Dream captured the Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes in 2013 and was honoured as that season’s Champion Male Sprinter at the Sovereign Awards.
Buttigieg also notably campaigned multiple graded stakes winner Artie’s Storm, who was a Sovereign Award finalist in 2022, Strait From Texas, who won the 2003 Nassau Stakes (Grade 2), and Gypsy Ring, a multiple stakes winner that was Grade 1 placed.
“Paul Buttigieg was the embodiment of dedication in Canadian racing,” said Jim Lawson, Executive Chair, Woodbine Entertainment. “Paul was a true horseman in every sense of the word as a breeder, owner and trainer. He did it all with passion for the Thoroughbred and was part of the fabric of our Woodbine racing community. His loss is deeply felt and he will be dearly missed.”
Woodbine Entertainment wishes to extend its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Paul Buttigieg.
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Mark McKelvie