Latest news with #WoodbineEntertainment
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Woodbine To Renovate E.P. Taylor Turf Course After King's Plate
Woodbine To Renovate E.P. Taylor Turf Course After King's Plate originally appeared on Paulick Report. As part of its ongoing commitment to delivering premier Thoroughbred racing, Woodbine Entertainment will begin a major renovation project on the iconic E.P. Taylor Turf Course following King's Plate Weekend. The project will restore a five-furlong section of the backstretch and install a modern drainage system and new Kentucky Bluegrass, delivering long-term improvements to one of North America's most renowned turf racing construction, Woodbine's second world-class turf course - the bet365 Inner Turf Course, which opened in 2019 - will serve as the primary turf racing surface until the project's targeted completion on Sept. 1, 2026. 'The E.P. Taylor Turf Course has played host to some of the most memorable moments in Canadian racing, and this renovation ensures it remains one of the finest turf courses in the world,' said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. 'This project is about more than infrastructure—it reflects our long-term commitment to delivering a world-class racing experience for our horses and riders, horseplayers and fans, and the entire racing community.'The 1½-mile E.P. Taylor Turf Course opened in 1994 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the top turf courses in the sport. Its backstretch was originally part of the former Marshall Turf Course, which operated from 1956 to 1993. The E.P. Taylor course is home to many of Woodbine's most prestigious races, including four Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' events – the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile, Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes, Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, and Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes – as well as the Grade 1 Canadian support the project timeline, post times at Woodbine Racetrack will be adjusted beginning the week of August 18, 2025: Thursday post time will move from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday post time will shift from 1:05 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday post time remain unchanged The fall turf stakes races traditionally run on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course will be contested on the bet365 Inner Turf, including the Woodbine Mile, Summer Stakes, and Natalma Stakes, scheduled for Saturday, September 13. The Breeders' Stakes (Sunday, September 28) and Canadian International (Saturday, October 4) will also be run on the Inner Turf. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Toronto Sun
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
No Time leads Casse parade in Woodbine Oaks
Jockey John Velazuez guides No Time to victory in the 70th running of $500,000 Woodbine Oaks presented by Stella Artois at Woodbine on July 20, 2025. No Time is owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse. Photo by Michael Burns / Woodbine Entertainment No Time had a good time at the Woodbine Oaks on Sunday. Could she have an even better time when Canada's biggest horse race rolls around? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The three-year-old filly was sharp in victory in the $500,000 Oaks, spearheading a 1-2-3 finish for trainer Mark Casse and placing herself squarely in the field for the King's Plate on Aug. 16. Ridden by John Velazquez, No Time raced close to the early pace in the 1 1/8-mile race, tracking on the outside while stablemate Winterberry had command. Approaching the stretch, No Time was three wide but had found the gear she needed to take command early in the stretch and draw off at odds of 6-1. Winterberry was third while Casse's most-fancied runner, 2-1 favourite Shifty, ended second. 'We knew there was going to be a lot of pace in the race so I wanted to see how it would develop,' Velazquez said. 'By the time we got to the half-mile pole, I just kept it nice and easy. I didn't want to make a premature move.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The quarter-pole came and she found another gear.' A daughter of Not This Time, No Time broke her maiden last September and opened her 2025 season with a win before finishing fourth in the Selene Stakes. The energy she had after the race proved to his hall-of-fame rider that the 1 1/4 miles of the Plate should be to her liking. 'She galloped out very nicely,' Velazquez said. 'If she can do that again and she can relax in the early part of the race, she has a very good chance.' The Plate gained another new contender one race earlier when Sedbury's Ghost emerged from a bunched pack to win the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes. Ridden by Ryan Munger, Sedbury's Ghost was smartly taken near the back of the 10-horse field with a scorching pace up front. The pack closed up around the turn and Munger took his runner to the outside where he was able to get the lead in mid-stretch at odds of 7-1. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trained by Barbara Minshall, Sedbury's Ghost broke his maiden in his second attempt last year and started this season with a win before finishing fourth in the Marine Stakes. 'He had a bit of a troubled trip in the Marine. I thought he could have won that,' Minshall said. Second-place finisher Notorious Gangster, who won the Queenston Stakes earlier in the year, is also expected to go to the Plate along with third-place runner Scorching. Others pointed to the August 16 Plate are Marine Stakes winner Mansetti and U.S.-based runner Tom's Magic. Two other stakes were run Sunday. In the $200,000 Canadian Stakes, Ready for Shirl made a strong late charge to nail favourite Gimme a Nother and post a 6-1 upset. The win gave jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson a high point in an otherwise tough year. The veteran rider recovered from a late-season injury during the winter to make it back to the races in June. She's had a couple of small mishaps since but she was at her best Sunday. 'It's fun to be back in the tack. It's fun to be back in the winner's circle. It's fun to be here,' Wilson said. It was the fourth career win in 12 starts for Ready for Shirl, a Roger Attfield trainee. And in the $175,000 Connaught Cup, 9-1 shot Cruden Bay overtook heavily favoured Kehoe Beach in mid-stretch for a decisive score and a repeat of the stake he won a year ago. Fraser Aebly rode the seven-year-old gelding for trainer Don MacRae. It was Cruden Bay's eighth career score in 24 starts. Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA Football Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Construction gets underway on planned Woodbine GO Station
An artist's rendering of the future Woodbine GO Station is pictured. (Handout) Work is finally getting underway on the long-promised Woodbine GO Station in Etobicoke. Premier Doug Ford said Thursday that construction is officially kicking off on the station, which was announced by the province back in 2019. 'This station will be a key part of our plan to provide two-way all-day GO service, and will connect travellers on the Kitchener Line to Pearson Airport and the UP Express to local transit and, of course, the Woodbine Racetrack,' Ford said. While the original target for the station to open was 2023, Ford said it's taken six years to get started on construction because the province had to conduct environmental assessments and consult with the community. Woodbine Entertainment will be contributing $170 million to support the construction of the new station, Ford said. The province did not list the total cost. 'This is going to be a game changer for North Etobicoke and for the people who rely on the Kitchener Line every day, with better connections, improved services and new jobs and growth in the community,' Ford said. The new station will replace the nearby Etobicoke North GO Station, which the province says is unable to accommodate future growth. The next stage of work will include deep sewer and underground utility works, realigning Entrance Road and preparing for a future track diversion to accommodate the platform at Woodbine Station. When complete, Woodbine Station will be accessible and will include dedicated parking, a passenger pick-up and drop-off area, a bus loop and a passenger waiting area. It will connect with the Union Pearson Express (UP Express), Kitchener GO train and local bus services from the TTC, MiWay, York Regional Transit and Brampton Transit. Mayor Olivia Chow said the new station will help create a 'complete neighbourhood,' with hundreds of new homes. 'Now with Woodbine GO Station as an anchor, a transit-oriented community with thousands of new homes will spring up,' Chow said. 'It will be a complete neighborhood with new homes, parks, shops, libraries and community gathering spaces.' She said it will also support thousands of construction jobs. Metrolinx says it expects the new station to serve approximately 7,000 daily riders by 2041. The province did not respond to an email asking for a completion date and total cost for the station.
