The following is a letter sent to Woodbine’s racing community on March 12:
To Woodbine Horse People,
The COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely disruptive for many industries, and that certainly includes the horse racing industry. It has impacted all areas of horse racing from owners and trainers to grooms and hotwalkers to jockeys and the racetrack operators – we have all felt the effects.
Unfortunately, at Woodbine Entertainment we expect to feel the financial impact of the pandemic for years to come. In addition to the shortened Thoroughbred and Standardbred seasons, our revenues have been further disrupted by the closures of our Champions teletheatres, the casinos at both of our racetrack facilities, our restaurants, and all the other ancillary revenue streams we receive from operating our grandstands. This has led to the very difficult and unfortunate decision of permanently laying off hundreds of our employees, while hundreds more remain temporarily laid off.
However, in recognition of the hardship the pandemic has caused all of us, and after collaborative discussions with the HBPA, we are pleased to confirm that we are committed to meeting the $61 million in purses for the upcoming 2021 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine Racetrack. This means that overnight purses and the average daily purses distributed at Woodbine will remain the same as the 2020 season and will not be reduced. Unfortunately, though, we are not in a financial position to increase our guaranteed purses as per our collective agreement with the HBPA.
Further, to realize cost savings to position us to meet the 2020 purses levels despite facing substantial financial challenges caused by the pandemic, the 2021 Thoroughbred meet will conclude on Sunday, December 5, reducing the season by four race days. The approximately $700,000 in allocated purses for those four race days from the Transfer Payment Agreement will be added to our purse account to be distributed throughout the season (there will be no additional carry over purse amounts from those four days of racing).
We would like to thank the HBPA for their partnership and support as we work through these difficult times together. We also appreciate your understanding and look forward to working with all of you to deliver an amazing 2021 Thoroughbred meet.
Thank you and be safe,
~ Jim Lawson
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