Woodbine Increases its Handle Again in 2010

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I wasn't impressed with their product this year, not enough turf races carded, an over emphasis of keeping the portable rail up year round with the exception of big race days stunk.

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Originally Posted by Rare Bog

Woodbine was a key track in the Breeder's Cup, generating huge payouts in several races? 6 of 18 in the money for 33% including two winners generating a flat bet profit on both win, place, and show wagers. Also, perhaps more pointedly to your argument, 4 of these 6 finishers did so on turf. Hardly seems like the product was poor....

Breeders' Cup Marathon (Gr. III), $500,000 1 3/4 miles
1. 4-Eldaafer $23.20, $12.00, $7.00
2.6-Gabriel's Hill $25.40 $13.20
3.12-Au Minor $5.20

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Gr. II); $1M; 1 mile (T)
1.11-More Than Real $29.20, $9.20, $5.80
2. 7-Winter Memories $3.60, $2.60
3. 4-Kathmanblu $3.60

Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Gr.I); $2M; 1 1/16 miles
1. 4-Awesome Feather $10.40, $5.40, $4.00
2. 3-R Heat Lightning $6.20, $4.20
3. 9-Delightful Mary $7.60

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Gr.II); $1M; 1 mile (T)
1. 13-Pluck $14.80, $6.60, $5.00
2. 9-Soldat $5.20, $4.00
3. 7-Willcox Inn $8.80

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Gr. II); $1M; 5 furlongs (T)
1. 1-Chamberlain Bridge $15.80, $8.20, $5.60
2. 2-Central City $9.80, $7.80
3. 4-Unzip Me $7.00

TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr.I); $2M; 1 mile (T)
1. 10-Goldikova $4.60, $3.20, $2.40
2. 3-Gio Ponti $4.00, $3.20
3. 7-The Usual Q.T. $6.60

Biofuel, Fatal Bullet, Ventura, Sealy Hill also in previous years. I hear your point Rare Bog, I only wish they carded more turf races. This is one area Saratoga and Belmont really get it right. It's a peeve of mine why they keep that portable rail up all year round saving the inner lanes for only 2 or 3 race days. Quite puzzling to have such wonderful turf course and not use it to it's full potential, that's all I am saying.

[odbaxter]

I live here in Toronto and there is a serious, hard core marketing push in the last 2 years going on. I'm not sure who is in charge of this change but he/she is heading for a major promotion. Lots of Television adds in Primetime across all major networks. Print adds in all the Daily Newspapers, combined with an almost cornered slot machine market in a city of almost 3 million. I see another 8-10% in 2011.

We need more grass racing. No doubt!

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Originally Posted by odbaxter

I live here in Toronto and there is a serious, hard core marketing push in the last 2 years going on. I'm not sure who is in charge of this change but he/she is heading for a major promotion. Lots of Television adds in Primetime across all major networks. Print adds in all the Daily Newspapers, combined with an almost cornered slot machine market in a city of almost 3 million. I see another 8-10% in 2011.

We need more grass racing. No doubt!

Do you remember the old inner and marshall turf courses there? If you ask me, I thought the turf racing was better then. The misconception about the new course is it favours closers, but in actuality front runners do well on the new course.

[odbaxter]

I started watching after the track was reconfigured. I find that it plays friendly to front runners as well. They tend to be way over protective of the turf and during the week days seem to restrict it to 1 or 2 grass races a day, if that. With the field sizes as big as they are I would imagine that they could really boost the handle if they carded grass more aggressively.

[Round Pen]

We have Raced a Woodbine For Several Years and One thing I thought Would Work Really Well If they Would Do it(But know they never Will).

1st IS too Stop Running Harness Races at Woodbine and Keep them Strictly at Mohawk, Most of the harness people hate the shipping part every day anyway.

2nd I would take the harness track which I believe is 7/8's of a mile and turn it into a dirt track that way you could race on all three surfaces (Dirt, Poly and turf) and when the Weather is good you could card races on all three.

THere also would be alot of options for a racing Secretary when you would have all 3 surfaces.

Like I said its just a thought I feel certain that it will never happen

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Originally Posted by Round Pen

We have Raced a Woodbine For Several Years and One thing I thought Would Work Really Well If they Would Do it(But know they never Will).

1st IS too Stop Running Harness Races at Woodbine and Keep them Strictly at Mohawk, Most of the harness people hate the shipping part every day anyway.

2nd I would take the harness track which I believe is 7/8's of a mile and turn it into a dirt track that way you could race on all three surfaces (Dirt, Poly and turf) and when the Weather is good you could card races on all three.

THere also would be alot of options for a racing Secretary when you would have all 3 surfaces.

Like I said its just a thought I feel certain that it will never happen

Interesting idea making the 7/8 track as a third surface, didn't they use this track when they were in the process of installing the polytrack? They used to race at a 2nd track called Greenwood racetrack, it was a little bullring that was better suited for the standardbreds, unfortunately they did away with it and this forced Woodbine to become a multifaceted facility. I'm not a fan of standardbreds, Woodbine is probably the only major track that oversaturates itself with too many products. I think they would do better if they would just concentrate on the T breds, focus on turf racing as EP Taylor's vision was, and why not race in the winter or atleast extend the dates, they have that all weather track?