Near-record handle for Woodbine

TORONTO, Canada (CMC):

Woodbine reported a near record all-sources handle for the just concluded season yesterday, with half-billion Canadian dollars during the six-month campaign.

Officials said the celebrated southern Ontario racetrack recorded CDN$505,348,339 (J$61.6 billion), driven largely by a foreign wagering handle of CDN$420,666,755 (over J$51 billion) – the highest-ever single-season foreign wagering handle.

Surpassing the half-billion-dollar mark meant the third-highest season in all-sources handle – the total amount of money bet – at Woodbine.

“Growing and strengthening the Woodbine brand across North America has been a focal point of our day-to-day activities over the past several years,” said Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson.

“We’re proud of our success in this area, as it’s evident these efforts continue to raise the profile of our world-class racing product at Woodbine.

“Although our gains in the US are considerable, we’re intently focused on revitalising wagering in our home market area for 2022. Through evolving restrictions, we now have our racetracks and off-track locations operating, while also sporting our largest number of HPIbet users ever.

“Our task now is to leverage all options available in 2022 to push this area towards sustainability.”

For the second year running, Woodbine was forced into a shortened season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the campaign getting under way on June 12 – almost two months later than scheduled.

Despite this, organisers churned out 946 races on 99 race-days, with an average field size of nine horses.

Several Caribbean jockeys contributed to the successful season, with eight-time Sovereign Award winner Patrick Husbands racking up 67 wins from 343 mounts to finish fifth, as Japanese Kazushi Kimura clinched the riding title with 138 wins from 717 rides.

The 48-year-old Husbands managed CDN$3.6 million (J$439 million) in purses, boosted by a season-leading 15 added money victories.

Another Barbadian, Keveh Nicholls, won 35 races from 425 outings to count CDN$1.3 million (J$158.5 million), while Jamaican Shaun Bridgmohan rode 27 winners from 225 mounts.

Barbadians Jason Hoyte (15), Chris Husbands (12), Juan Crawford (seven) and Simon Husbands (seven), along with Jamaicans Jodeien Anderson (six) and Kirk Johnson (three), and Guyana-born Sunny Singh (five) all finished down the leader board.

The 2022 Woodbine season is expected to get under way on April 16.