Speaking during a "Stronger Together" meeting Nov. 22 with horsemen and other members of the racing community, Woodbine executives provided updates related to ongoing 2023 business and the Canadian track's plans for future racing seasons.
Among the announcements was the scheduling of The King's Plate next year, which will move from a Sunday to take place on Aug. 17, a Saturday. The historic CA$1 million race is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine, reported that the Canadian track's purses would be flat in 2024, expected to be around CA$62 million over 129 racing dates.
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He shared handle figures for the current meet, showing total betting off a little more than 5% from 2022 and wagering down more than 8% in Ontario. These figures follow drops by United States tracks such as Del Mar, Saratoga Race Course, and Keeneland this summer and fall.
Copeland said Woodbine's business was impacted this year by heat and smoke cancellations and economic conditions.
Average field size is down slightly from 8.2 to 8.1 runners per race in a meet that continues through Dec. 17.
Track officials said they intend to use tarps on its inner turf course next year, which may allow it to be used earlier in the season. A longer-range improvement to the outer E. P. Taylor turf course is also planned, with Woodbine planning to revamp a five-furlong section of backstretch portion of it. The project will also include the installation of a new drainage system, allowing for the possibility of an extended turf season. That project will not begin until 2025 at the earliest, but planning is underway.
Numerous horsemen spoke during the meeting, with some expressing dissatisfaction with Woodbine's policy to restrict Woodbine-stabled horses from racing at Fort Erie, another Canadian track.
The King's Plate
Following the meeting, Woodbine issued a press release related to the date of the 165th running of the King's Plate.
"This year's King's Plate was a big success, delivering a record handle, sold-out crowd and really exciting racing," Copeland said in the release. "The third weekend in August has been a good spot for attracting a quality field on the track and an energetic crowd off the track."
More than CA$18.1 million was bet across all 13 races on the King's Plate card this year. It was run Aug. 20.
This year's race was the first under The King's Plate name in more than 70 years after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September of 2022. Since its inception in 1860, the race has been named after the reigning British monarch.
An invitation to His Majesty King Charles III to attend has been extended to Buckingham Palace, Woodbine announced.
The King's Plate is North America's longest continuously run stakes race. It is open to Canadian-bred 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Woodbine's synthetic Tapeta main track.
