Woodbine Racetrack saw the end of its 2019 racing season this Sunday, marking a successful week of endless racing opportunities and wagering taking place on the premises of the racetrack. The last card of this racing season came with a total of 16 live races sprinkled across the Sunday Thoroughbred racing card, to everyoneās delight. Action commenced at 1:05 p.m. ET giving Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts enough time to make their way there.
April 20 saw the official start of this yearās Thoroughbred action at Woodbine Raceway, offerings plenty of time for live racing, wagers placed and money bagged as a result of those. This 2019 season came with a total of 133 live races ready to transform peopleās lives and make for a riveting time every weekend of the past few months.
16 Events on Dec. 15
Woodbine Entertainment is among the leaders in Ontarioās horse racing field and as such, it is known for its generous nature and the capacity to set trends. Woodbine Racetrack is one of the most popular Thoroughbred racetracks on a provincial level, not only because it is located close to Toronto, but also because it is one of the larger ones.
Many people associate it with the quality time spent with their families and the hefty winning opportunities it brings closer to them. This Sunday saw the official end of the 2019 live season with as many as 192 horses ready to race for the win in the crisp air. Such a number meant that this was the biggest card Woodbine Racetrack has offered in the past few months, making for a memorable experience.
With as many as 16 live races in its rich schedule, Sunday was eagerly anticipated by local racing fans. Jonathan Zammit, Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing for Woodbine Entertainment, stated that the ultimate goal for that day was to attract a crowd and be the grand closing day to this extensive and diverse racing season.
2019 Live Season Saw Purses Swelling
One of the events that attracted the widest audience was the CA$125,000 Valedictory Stakes Grade 3 live race that transformed the main track into a heated arena. Many local enthusiasts made their way to Woodbine Racetrack in honor of this event, as well as to celebrate the renowned Eurico Rosa Da Silva. December 7 celebrated him as the renowned jockey announced he is about to retire mid-December. He is among the most successful jockeys at Woodbine.
Mr. Da Silvaās professional career would come to an end this year, coinciding with the end of the 2019 Thoroughbred season on site ā December 15. It could be recalled that the Horsemenās Benevolent Protective Association of Ontario announced a special agreement ahead of the beginning of the 2019 live season. It covers four years, ultimately establishing a total purse payout of CA$71 million.
This means that the agreement would add some CA$18 million over the years ahead of 2022. About CA$4 million would also be invested in capital improvements over the upcoming 4 years of live racing at Woodbine Racetrack. Single-event sports betting is projected to make the popular location even busier if Ontarioās lawmakers begin working in this direction now that the US invest in their own wagering industry.
