Letter to the Editor: Hugh Mitchell on Woodbine

Horse racing is an honourable sport that is steeped in tradition; built by generations of hardworking and passionate individuals and families. It's an industry that brings people together from all walks of life, and is critically dependent on everyone's contribution to its stability and success. While this diversity of roles and shared passion is racing's greatest strength, it exists within a very complex and challenging business environment that results in constant pressure to plan, adapt, and aggressively fight to secure our future.

At Woodbine Entertainment, we own and operate two racetracks: Woodbine Mohawk Park (Standardbred racing) and Woodbine Racetrack (Thoroughbred racing). If you are reading this with interest, it's important to understand that Woodbine operates as a not-for-profit minded organization. The late, great breeder and visionary, E.P. Taylor, donated a large piece of land in Toronto where Woodbine Racetrack is now situated. His vision was to provide this land, and this racetrack, to the hardworking horse people of Ontario so they would always have a place to race horses and earn a living doing so. Woodbine Entertainment, formerly the Ontario Jockey Club, carries the responsibility, mandate, and obligation to honour his vision. We do not have an owner nor shareholders. We have an independent and committed Board of Directors whose job is to ensure that this mandate is strictly followed. Our executive management team is accountable to this Board.  Every decision we make is to create a strong and sustainable Ontario horse racing industry. That's why Woodbine exists, and for no other reason. Every dollar of profit we make is invested to support the entire Ontario horse racing industry. Our vision and ambition is to support all current industry stakeholders as best we can while also thoughtfully investing to grow the Ontario horse racing industry towards a strong, vibrant, and sustainable future.  It's a very difficult balance requiring judgment and trade-offs. We recognize that not everyone will agree with the decisions we make to achieve this balance, however, we hope and expect that everyone will respect our motivation and purpose to support the present and future of racing in Ontario.

A decade ago, the provincial government in power at the time ended a lucrative funding agreement that was supporting horse racing. This decision almost killed the industry in Ontario. At the time, the only path forward was for Woodbine Entertainment to lead the industry-something that was asked of us by the government, and staying true to E.P. Taylor's vision, we agreed. We worked tirelessly to reach a new long-term funding agreement that is now in place. To this day, we continue to lead the industry at a substantial cost to our operations, and we do so proudly.

While this long-term funding agreement is essential to our industry's existence today, our vision is to develop the property that Woodbine Racetrack is situated on to create new revenue streams that will eventually allow us to not depend on government funding. This will support our mandate to create a strong and sustainable Ontario horse racing industry. Every cent of profit generated from this investment will be used to support the industry. In addition to fueling substantially larger purses, we will be able to invest even more heavily in our racing facilities, people and industry support programs.

We're also investing in other game-changing areas like sports betting and technology-things that will further develop new revenue streams that will be spent back on racing in Ontario. Until we get some of these major initiatives across the finish line, we need to continue to operate prudently and be patient to allow the long-term vision to come to life. At the same time, we understand the challenges that all of our industry stakeholders face today. It's difficult to make a reasonable living, and we must provide as much support as financially possible while building towards a brighter future. We must allocate the dollars we have available today across numerous stakeholders that often have different priorities, issues, and needs.

In the meantime, wagering is Woodbine's primary line of business that can immediately drive significant incremental revenue. This revenue supports the above-mentioned purses and capital improvements. Therefore, healthy field sizes and competitive racing is necessary to provide a product that will drive wagering.

Despite the challenges our industry faces today, we are extremely confident in our future. We are a world-class racing industry with tremendous opportunity in front of us. We are blessed with an incredibly hardworking and talented group of horse people and employees. If we take care of our people today, and provide for a better future for them tomorrow, we will have successfully achieved the future E.P. Taylor envisioned decades ago.

Sincerely,

Hugh Mitchell

Chair, Board of Directors

Woodbine Entertainment

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Ontario Racing’s Horse Ownership 101 Sessions Work Their Magic

Edited Press Release

Purchasing two in-foal broodmares at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale doubled the size of Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds' broodmare band. The mares Tiptoe and Turning Point were the latest step in Colin Davis's methodical entrance into the racing game.

Davis, a resident of Cobourg, Ont., is new to racehorse breeding and ownership, but familiar with the equine stars of the sport. Growing up, he attended races at Kawartha Downs and in the last decade has owned multiple off-track Thoroughbreds.

As Davis went looking for more information on the racing industry, he found Ontario Racing's Horse Ownership 101 Sessions. An initial meeting with Elissa Blowe provided clarity on what style of ownership matched his vision. Blowe connected Davis to leading bloodstock agent Marette Farrell, and he headed to the Bluegrass State for the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Davis spent four days, “pounding the pavement” with Farrell and left Kentucky with two mares purchased through Ontario Racing's Mare Purchase Program (MPP), a component of the Thoroughbred Improvement Program. When purchasing in-foal mares at recognized public auctions outside of the province, Ontario residents can apply for an incentive totaling half the purchase price, to a maximum of $25,000 per mare and $75,000 annually per person or partnership. The two mares Davis purchased in 2022 were also supported by the MPP.

“(The MPP) has been instrumental,” said Davis. “The first year I would have started with one mare, and then went to two. Each year you try and get an economy of scale, but it just sets you back because it's the same leg work, and the same expenses but no efficiencies.”

The program allowed Davis to target quality by stepping up to the price point where he and Farrell could purchase mares by proven broodmare sires. Tiptoe is by Tiz Wonderful the broodmare sire of 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Wonder Wheel and Turning Point is by Hard Spun. In 2021, he brought home Johansson by Pioneer of the Nile and Renata by Medaglia d'Oro.

In addition to his burgeoning band of broodmares, Davis has dipped his toes into racehorse ownership. He connected with Sovereign Award-winning trainer Catherine Day Phillips and is a partner in three horses. One of them, an Ontario Bred filly named Millie Girl, made her racing debut July 16, and won at Woodbine. The Davis family, Colin, his wife, and their two daughters Josephine and Felicity, made their way to the winner's circle.

“It's a different world, with a lot to learn once you get into it,” said Davis. “But if you can bridge that gap, it will help people get in the door, because once you're through that door, it is a lot of fun.”

For more information on Ontario Racing's Mare Purchase Program click here. To learn how you can become a Thoroughbred breeder, click here.

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Ontario Racing’s Mare Purchase Program Back for 2023

Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program's (TIP) Mare Purchase Program (MPP) is back in time for the upcoming breeding stock sales, with a total budget of $800,000.

The MPP provides Ontario residents, who purchase an in-foal mare at a recognized public auction outside of Ontario, a rebate of 50% of the purchase price up to $25,000 CAD. There is a maximum distribution of $75,000 CAD for any one individual, partnership, corporation or other ownership group.

The MPP is operated on a first come, first served basis, and in order to qualify for the program, participants must provide specific documents as part of their application. Please review the information page on the TIP website to ensure your application is correctly submitted in full. Ontario residents applying for the program must possess a valid AGCO license.

In addition to the 50% rebate of the purchase price, there is a $2,500 CAD breed back bonus for every mare that is bred back to a Registered Ontario Sire in the 2023 breeding season upon declaration of live foal with The Jockey Club.

For more information about the MPP please email tbprogram@ontarioracing.com

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Sales Credit Update for Canadian Premier Yearling Sale

Thoroughbred owners with Ontario-breds competing in the claiming ranks at Woodbine or Fort Erie can check the Thoroughbred Improvement Program website for a list of sales credits eligible to be used on a yearling at the Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, Wednesday, Aug. 31.

The sales credits currently on the website include those earned through Aug. 23 and the list will be updated Aug. 29 to include the results from Woodbine through Sunday, Aug. 28. The sales credits will be posted on each sales barn during yearling previews. On sale day, a final list will be available at the Ontario Racing booth. Ontario Racing staff will be on hand to answer questions about the Sales Credits and TIP in general.

Click to view the current Sales Credit List and for more information on how sales credits are accrued. For additional questions or details about transferring Sales Credits, please contact the Program Coordinator at tbprogram@ontarioracing.com.

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