Woodbine Thoroughbred meet generates largest all-sources handle in track history
TORONTO, December 13, 2022 – Woodbine Entertainment today announced 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.”
Key Highlights
- Highest single-season all-sources handle ($621M) in Woodbine history
- Highest single-season foreign handle ($515M) in Woodbine history
- Average per-race handle of $519,016 was higher than any season Pre-COVID
- Average field size of 8.2 (above North American industry average)
- 25 race cards topped $6 million in handle (11 in 2019)
- Moira captures 163rd running of The Queen’s Plate
- Modern Games dominates in Ricoh Woodbine Mile
- Reintroducing – The King’s Plate
The 2023 Woodbine Thoroughbred season is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 22. The 164th running of The King’s Plate will take place on Sunday, August 20.
For the latest information on Woodbine Racetrack, visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB or @WoodbineComms on Twitter.
