Woodbine Entertainment and the Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association Of Ontario (HBPA) jointly announced today that both parties have ratified the new four-year agreement that was agreed to in principle in December, 2018.
The new deal, which runs through the 2022 season, increases guaranteed purses by $18 million and commits an additional $4 million in capital improvements for Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine Racetrack over the course of the agreement. This significant increase brings the total purse pay out to $71 million for the 2019 season, further establishing Woodbine as a top Thoroughbred racetrack in North America for total purses paid per year.
“Woodbine Entertainment is committed to sustaining and growing horse racing in Ontario and this new agreement that includes a significant increase in purses is a demonstration of that commitment,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “We look forward to working collaboratively with the HBPA and our horsepeople to grow the sport we all love. We have a lot of heavy lifting ahead of us, but finalizing this deal was a critical step in positioning all of us for future collective success.”