About Woodbine Entertainment Group

What is Woodbine Entertainment Group? (Formerly known as the Ontario Jockey Club)

How is it accountable, and to whom?

Read our Responsible Gaming Policy Statement

CORPORATE PROFILE
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) is the largest and most innovative horse racing operator in Canada. In terms of live racing programs conducted, it is one of the largest in the world.

The Corporation operates two racetracks in the Province of Ontario. Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto hosts both standardbred and thoroughbred racing. It is the only track in North America that can offer both breeds of racing on the same day. Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville (approximately 20 miles west of Pearson International Airport) hosts summer standardbred racing from May through to October. Both of these racetracks also house slot machine gaming which is managed and conducted by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming.

The Corporation operates extensive off-track wagering operations through its “Champions” teletheatre network and its own facilities which include WEGZ Stadium Bar in Vaughan, Turf Lounge in downtown Toronto and Greenwood in the Beach area of Toronto. Additionally, the Corporation broadcasts its standardbred and thoroughbred televised racing from Woodbine and Mohawk to wagering operations owned by other racetracks in Canada and the Unitied States. WEG also operates HPItv (Horse Player Interactive), a Category II digital television channel which broadcasts its horse racing product into homes across Canada. Wagering on racing is also made available internationally through HPI both interactive telephone account wagering or HPI.com internet.

The Corporation’s Mandate
“Woodbine Entertainment Group is a corporation without share capital, operating a multi-dimensional entertainment business, committed to maximizing financial performance in order to achieve the highest quality of horse racing.”

The Corporation has no shareholders and therefore, as required under its not-for-profit status, reinvests its cash flow, after debt repayment, in upgrading its facilities and products.

The corporate name was changed on June 1, 2001 from The Ontario Jockey Club to Woodbine Entertainment Group to better reflect the scope of the company and its business operations. Woodbine Entertainment operates thoroughbred and standardbred racing, delivers horse racing product through offsite and in-home services, houses slot machine operations, and provides ancillary services such as food and beverage.

When The Ontario Jockey Club (OJC) originally incorporated on May 5, 1881, founders of the racing group declared its’ purpose was to "revive racing in Toronto under respectable auspices and make a success of it." The Corporation has come a long way since that time and is now recognized internationally as one of the most respected and innovative racing organizations.

With the Province’s introduction of slot machines into Ontario racetracks, the Corporation modernized its two racetracks, dramatically expanded product distribution and enhanced the quality of the horse racing product. The company emerged as a leader in Canada’s entertainment industry and has approximately 6 million visitors annually.

WEG strives to be a leader within the horse racing industry and in the communities in which we live and work. It is a priority of the Corporation to be concerned about the welfare of its employees, ensure that its facilities are operated safely, respect the environment and invest in the communities in which we operate. This cannot be achieved without ensuring the economic sustainability of the Corporation.

Woodbine Entertainment Group directly employs approximately 2,700 employees. In addition, its operations generate thousands of jobs throughout Ontario, particularly in the rural communities. The backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack stables approximately 2300 thoroughbred race horses. At Mohawk Racetrack there is stabling for 750 standardbred horses.

Corporate Community Investment Program
In recognition of the broad appeal of horse racing and the company's civic responsibilities, the company, its employees and horse people are involved in several community activities aimed at raising funds for organizations which serve the citizens of the communities in which WEG racetracks are located, as well as serving members of the racing community. Click here to view our Corporate Community Investment Program.

History

1881	Woodbine Entertainment Group (“WEG”), formerly The Ontario Jockey Club (“OJC”), was first established in 1881 by Thomas Charles Patterson with help from a number of his racing and business associates. Patterson had moved to Canada from England in 1858 and as a young lawyer, politician, manager and editor of The Mail had witnessed the growth in racing. Patterson was Canada’s and horse racing’s ambassador to the Royal Family. He also had close ties with the rich and powerful in the United States. Patterson, in announcing that he would organize an OJC, pledged to put down all nefarious practices with a strong hand while establishing such a “discipline” that would include owners, trainers, jockeys and the betting fraternity. Patterson had been encouraged to reorganize racing by Joseph Duggan, the owner of Woodbine Race Course (the former Greenwood racetrack or “Old” Woodbine.)  He obtained the financial support from William Hendrie, H. Quetton St. George, William Mulock, Colonel Frederick Cumberland and Dr. Andrew Smith  and the OJC was incorporated on April 29, 1881. At the OJC’s first metting in June Patterson obtained the support of his old partner, Colonel Casimir Gzowski who, along with most of the leading local business men, purchased five shares at $100 per share.
1947 to 1955	E.P. Taylor is elected as a director of the OJC in 1947. Taylor decides to bring racing  facilities in the Toronto area up to the standard of the leading racetracks in North America by acquiring the racetracks in the area (Hamilton, Thorncliffe, Long Branch, Dufferin and Stamford.) and consolidating their racing charters into three racetracks; the newly constructed Woodbine, Greenwood (the “Old” Woodbine) and Fort Erie. He worked closely with George C. Hendrie and J.E. Frowde Seagram, grandsons of dominant racing families at the turn of the century. By the end of 1955 the OJC had acquired enough racing charters to allow it to conduct 196 thoroughbred and 252 standardbred race dates. The racetrack acquisitions, the construction of the new Woodbine racetrack (“Woodbine”) and complete renovation of Greenwood and Fort Erie were financed during this period by a number of share and bond issues.
1956	On June 12, the new Woodbine is opened. The racetrack is constructed  on 780 acres in the Township of Etobicoke and its facilities comprize a one-mile dirt track, a 1 7/8th  turf track, grandstand facilities for 8,750 customers, parking for 15,000 cars and stabling for 900 horses.
1959	The OJC changes its name to The Jockey Club Limited (“JCL”) on March 12, 1959.
1963	On April 26, the OJC opens Mohawk Raceway (“Mohawk) for standarbred racing.
1971	On December 22, the assets of JCL are transferred to the Toronto Driving Club (“TDC”), a company incorporated on May 16, 1902 without share capital. The TDC was subsequently renamed the Ontario Jockey Club (“OJC”.) Shareholders of JCL receive six, 20-year, 10% secured debentures for every share previously owned in JCL.
1976	OJC introduces the first cash, sell automated wagering system in North America.
1982	OJC introduces simulcast wagering in North America for the first time when live Fort Erie racing is broadcast to Woodbine.
1993 & 1994	OJC opens its first “Champions”off-track wagering location (teletheatre.) Greenwood racetrack is closed on December 31, 2003 with its standarbred and thoroughbred race dates being transferred to Woodbine. A new 7/8th mile harness track and 1 mile dirt track, together with winter facilities, are constructed so that Woodbine can commence standardbred racing on January 1, 2004. Construction continues during 2004 at Woodbine and the 1½ mile E.P. Taylor turf course is opened on September 10. The course is named in honour of E.P. Taylor who made such a major contribution to the OJC and racing in Canada. The course, with its subtle up and down turns and long stretch run , provides a unique racing experience in North America, being more typical of turf courses in Europe.
1996	Breeders’ Cup is held for the first time outside of the United States at Woodbine racetrack. A record crowd of 42,243 watched one of the best staging of Breeders’ Cup, with Alphabet Soup out duelling Louis Quatorze and Cigar to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
1997	OJC sells Fort Erie racetrack to Nordic Gaming. In May the OJC launches its HorsePlayer Interactive telephone account wagering service together with improved handicapping and wagering information.
1999	The OJC commences its $125 million redevelopment of Woodbine and Mohawk to upgrade its racing facilities for the introduction of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (“OLG”) “Slots at Racetracks” program. In August 1999, Mohawk unveils a new slot area complete with 750 machines, a racebook featuring racing from around North America and eating areas.
2000	On March 27, the OJC opens its new racing, gaming and entertainment facilities at Woodbine. The facilities comprise a 57,000 sq.ft. slot machine area and associated bars and restaurants. The slot area houses 1,700 machines operated by the OLG. OJC renovates the whole of the 2nd floor grandstand for its racing customers. In March, the OJC introduces is player rewards program. In November, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission grants the OJC a category II digital television speciality programming licence to allow it to broadcast horse racing across Canada.
2001	On June 1, the OJC changes its corporate name to Woodbine Entertainment Group (“WEG”) to better reflect its current business operations.
2002	WEG purchases Hastings Park racetrack in Vancouver, British Columbia,from the Pacific Racing Association on April 30.
2004	On January 13, WEG obtains approval from the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency to launch its internet wagering site (HPIBET.com.) On April 7, WEG sells Hastings Park racetrack for $12.8 million for a net gain of $8.9 million.
2006	WEG signs definitive agreements on April 30 with The Cordish Company (“Cordish”), a Baltimore based real estate developer, for the development of approximately 200 acres at Woodbine racetrack.
2007	WEG’s joint venture partnership with Cordish, Woodbine Live LLP, obtains City of Toronto approval on July 19 for its exciting, $400 million retail, entertainment and residential development at Woodbine.

About Woodbine Entertainment Group
In recognition of the broad appeal of horse racing and the company's civic responsibilities, the company, its employees and horse people are involved in several community activities aimed at raising funds for organizations which serve the citizens of the communities in which The OJC racetracks are located, as well as serving members of the racing community. In particular, The OJC and its employees are involved with the United Way, Humber College, The Etobicoke Hospital Foundation, the E.P. Taylor Equine Research Fund and the Avelino Gomez Memorial Foundation.

Woodbine Entertainment Group (Formerly known as The Ontario Jockey Club)
Woodbine Entertainment Group is respected throughout North America, Europe and the Far East as one of the most innovative organizations in racing. The company is one of North America's oldest and largest sports associations.

In 1993, under the chairmanship of the late George M. Hendrie bold new plans were implemented to make Woodbine a track for all seasons for both breeds. As a result, a seven-eighths-mile harness track was built and a critically acclaimed mile-and-one-half grass track was officially opened on September 10, 1994.

The new track, named The E.P. Taylor Turf Course, in honour of one of racing's great leaders, is very European in nature, with subtle uphill and downhill turns. The E.P. Taylor Turf Course homestretch is the longest in North America: 1,440 feet from the top of the stretch to the wire. In addition, the one-mile dirt track was also completely rebuilt.

The company introduced simulcast wagering in North America in 1982, when live Thoroughbred racing from Fort Erie was beamed back to Woodbine, where fans watched the races on closed circuit. Since then, simulcasting has become a staple at virtually every North American track.

The company recognized the need for, and helped develop, the technology for a new pari-mutuel system, which allows racing fans to make all wagering transactions at one terminal and to cash that ticket at any mutuel window. The system was pioneered at Greenwood in 1977 and is now in use at every major pari-mutuel track or wagering facility in the world.

The respect which the company commands was instrumental in the decision by the Executive of the Breeders' Cup to award the 1996 Breeders' Cup, racing's 13th annual Day Of Champions, to Woodbine. Woodbine became the first racetrack outside of the United States to host The Breeders' Cup extravaganza.

And Woodbine, celebrating its 40th anniversary, never looked better. A record 42,243 racing fans basked in glorious "indian summer" weather. A huge NBC television audience, plus a then North American-record 875 simulcast and off-track betting locations, were stunned by the beauty of Canada's most famous racetrack.

The company has been a world leader in the development of interactive wagering systems and product distribution. It has invested heavily in TRN, a subscriber home-based TV system, and HorsePlayer Interactive, a popular telephone account betting system. As well it has developed an extensive off-track betting network in the Toronto area.

The company was, until 1997, the only Thoroughbred racetrack in North America with two $1 million, Grade One stakes races on its schedule - the Woodbine Mile and the Canadian International, formerly named the Molson Export Million and the Rothmans Ltd. International. The Mile was replaced in 1999 by the ATTO Mile, now a $1 million turf race which, like the International, attracts Breeders' Cup grass hopefuls. The International, which in 1973 showcased the great Secretariat in his final race, served as a springboard in 1996 for Singspiel to win his Eclipse Award.

Woodbine is also home to the $1 million Queen's Plate, North America's oldest continuously run stakes race. On many occasions since its 1860 inception, the Queen's Plate has served as a magnet for English royalty. The Queen's Plate and the Breeders' Stakes, the first and third jewels of the Canadian Thoroughbred Triple Crown, are both held at Woodbine.

Standardbred racing switches between Woodbine and Mohawk, a suburban seven-eighths-mile oval located 20 miles west of Pearson Airport, with racing on this circuit conducted on a year-round basis largely at night. The centerpiece of the Standardbred season is the $1 million North America Cup, a race for three-year-old pacers that is conducted in June at Woodbine. Woodbine will also host a special Breeder's Crown meet August 30, 2003.

Other major races on the harness schedule include the Canadian Pacing Derby, Metro Pace, Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic, all of which help to make Woodbine Entertainment Group a world leader in Standardbred racing.

What is Woodbine Entertainment Group? (Formerly known as the Ontario Jockey Club)
The Ontario Jockey Club was originally incorporated in 1881. In 1971, under a restructuring arrangement, it became a company incorporated without share capital and a non-for-profit organization. Shareholders at the time were offered secured debentures in exchange for their shares. Its defined objective under its not-for-profit status is to generate the revenues necessary in order to provide horse racing of the highest quality, at the best facilities possible, for the benefit of the public and all industry participants.

The Corporation's name was changed to Woodbine Entertainment Group to better reflect the realities of today's progressive operations. Woodbine Entertainment is involved in thoroughbred racing, standardbred racing, slot machine operations, ancillary services such as food and beverage, and the delivering of reacting product through such services as The Racing Network, Champions Teletheatre Network and Horse Player Interactive.

Woodbine Entertainment Group owns and operates two racetracks in Ontario at which it conducts Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing. Woodbine is a Thoroughbred / Standardbred operation and Mohawk conducts only Standardbred racing. Woodbine is the only track in North America capable of conducting thoroughbred and standardbred racing on the same day. Woodbine Entertainment extended its operations beyond the Ontartio borders with the purchase of Hastings, a picturesque thoroughbred track in Vancouver, British Columbia.

How is it accountable, and to whom?
Pari-mutuel wagering is permitted to be conducted at properly regulated racetracks under an exemption in Section 204 of the Criminal Code of Canada. All horse racing in Canada is supervised by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, an agency of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. In addition, all day-to-day activities of horse racing, such as the approval of racing dates and issuing of licences to owners, trainers and jockeys, are administered by the Ontario Racing Commission, a department of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services of the Province of Ontario.