As reported earlier on Canadian Thoroughbred, Woodbine Entertainment announced on December 14 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 American average.
2022 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
Looking Ahead
The 2023 Woodbine season is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 22, pending regulatory approval by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Woodbine has applied for 126 dates, 7 less than 2022.
“After thorough analysis, our original plan was to reduce the number of scheduled race days from 133 to 124 and start our season on April 29,” Michael Copeland, President, Commercial, said. “However, as a result of the feedback provided at our most recent Stronger Together session, and from some direct conversations with individual owners, breeders, trainers and other individuals on the backstretch, we put together a race schedule for next year that supports [horsepeople] while also helping address other important operating issues we are hoping to resolve.”
Copeland said the 2023 purse commitment remains the same as 2022 at $62 million and he anticipates the same number of races to be run as in 2022.
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