Woodbine Racetrack Betting

In 1956, Toronto decided to renew its commitment to horse racing by opening a new track to replace the “Old Woodbine Racetrack,” which had seen better days by that point. The goal was to create what organizers would call a “super track” where the best horses from all over Canada (and the globe) could put their skills to the test at the highest of levels. Thus began the legend of the modern-day Woodbine Racetrack.

Of course, besides being the last track “Big Red” ever raced on, Woodbine Racetrack plays host to some of Canada’s most storied horse races, including the King’s Plate, the Woodbine Mile (a competition that brings in horses from around the globe to earn a spot in the coveted Breeder’s Cup Mile), the Woodbine Oaks, the Canadian International Stakes, and a whole assortment of other top races.

Woodbine Betting

Like every racetrack in North America, there’s a person called a morning line oddsmaker. That person’s job is to look at the condition book and analyze the horses entering the race. After the horses’ post positions have been determined, that morning line oddsmaker will create odds on each horse to give the betting market an idea of who’s the best horse in the race.

Unlike fixed odds, which is what most sports other than horse racing are based on, horse racing operates with a peri-mutual system (also known as a “pool betting system”), where the market determines the final price of the horses in play. The morning line oddsmaker’s prices are merely suggestions.

Therein, based on how the betting public is reacting to certain horses, their prices can change on a dime. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to get a “price” on the favourite or find some value on a “sleeper horse” that all the wiseguys with big pockets love, but it can be helpful if you like playing longshots that get no respect from the betting public.

As always, if you want to be a Woodbine horse betting prodigy, you need to carefully study the Woodbine horse racing odds on a daily basis to find sharp angles and “linemaker mistakes.” Unlike other sports, horse racing oddsmakers aren’t perfect.

A Brief History of Woodbine Racetrack

Woodbine Racetrack, a legendary institution, has played an integral role in the equestrian and entertainment landscape for over a century. With its roots tracing back to the late 19th century, the racetrack has witnessed the evolution of the sport, the growth of the community, and the transformation of an industry.

The origins of Woodbine Racetrack can be traced to the opening of the Woodbine Race Course in 1874, situated on a vast expanse of land to the west of Toronto. This marked the inception of Toronto’s horse racing legacy, attracting both avid enthusiasts and curious onlookers to witness the spectacle.

Owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, “New Woodbine” has played host to some incredible events, including the last race of “horse racing’s last chart-topping superstar,” Secretariat. The race was the Canadian International Stakes, and it took place on October 28, 1973. Secretariat and jockey Eddie Maple (his regular jockey Ron Turcotte missed the race because he was suspended) romped the field, sending the phenom off to the stud barn in a blaze of glory.

In 1994, it became the first racetrack in North America to host both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing on the same day, a feat that showcased its commitment to diversifying the racing experience.

In 2019, it underwent a major transformation with the merging of Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Entertainment to form Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG). This strategic move allowed for a more streamlined approach to horse racing, entertainment, and hospitality.

Woodbine Racetrack has expanded its offerings beyond horse racing, becoming a hub of entertainment and community engagement. The racetrack hosts a diverse range of events, from music concerts to food festivals, drawing people from various walks of life to its grounds.

The legacy of Woodbine Racetrack is one that intertwines with Toronto’s history and the passion for horse racing, and it stands as a symbol of the enduring connection between sport, culture, and community.

The Various Racetracks at Woodbine

Woodbine is comprised of three tracks, with the main one-mile racing track an artificial surface called Tapeta, rather than the standard dirt surface you find on almost all other North American tracks. In the mid-2000s many tracks in the US converted to artificial surfaces, as various studies have indicated it is a safer footing for both horses and jockeys.

However, for a number of reasons (the cost of maintenance being the main one) almost all of those tracks reverted back to dirt, leaving Woodbine as one of the few artificial surfaces still in use.

This is an important aspect of handicapping at Woodbine, as horses that have become used to successfully racing on the Tapeta often have an advantage over horses that are shipping in for races from elsewhere and are not used to the artificial footing.

Most famously, Woodbine is home to the E.P Taylor Turf course, which along with Belmont Park in New York is the only 1.5 mile turf course in North America. The E.P Taylor is often described as a “European-style” course, as it is not a perfect oval, with a slight straight section on the far turn.

Up until 2018, Woodbine was the only race track in North America that could offer thoroughbred and standardbred racing on the same day, due to the fact Woodbine also featured a 7/8 mile standardbred track inside the main artificial track.

Popular Racing Events at Woodbine Racetrack for Betting

Thanks in part to the all-weather Tapeta surface at Woodbine, the track hosts a fairly long racing season, running from mid-April to early December each year. Live racing is typically held on Wednesdays and then Friday through Sunday, with occasional holiday Monday racing as well. The simulcast racing facility at Woodbine is open year-round, seven-days-per-week.

Now you may be asking, What are Woodbine’s biggest races of the year? Well, we’ve got some answers, so let’s talk about it.

Kings Plate at Woodbine Racetrack

The King’s Plate at Woodbine Racetrack takes place during the month of August. Billed as the most prestigious race in Canada and is the start of the legendary Canadian Triple Crown, the best Canadian-bred three-year-olds of the crop compete to edge their names in the history books. Not to mention winning the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown whilst also capturing their share of the $1 million purse.

The King’s Plate acts as Woodbine’s chance to show off the best horses Canada has to offer. Most owners/ownership groups buy Canadian-bred horses specifically to race in the King’s Plate. As important as the Kentucky Derby is to the American horse racing circuit, the King’s Plate is to the Canadian horse racing scene.

Many industry touts outside of Canada may downplay the King’s Plate but make no bones about it; it’s one of the most important races in North America. Don’t @ us.

Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack

The Breeders’ Stakes is the final jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. Unlike the other Triple Crown races, it’s run on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at a whopping distance of 1 1/2 miles (or 12 furlongs). If the Belmont Stakes is the “test of champions” in America, the Breeders’ Stakes should be coined the “test of the immortals” because it takes one hell of a pedigree to not only be able to go from the turf to dirt but to do all that in such a short time span against a bunch of horses that probably took the Prince of Wales Stakes off after not winning the King’s Plate and are better rested.

Woodbine Mile

The Woodbine Mile usually takes place midway through September. As the race is a part of the “Breeder’s Cup Win and You’re In Challenge,” some of the best turf horses throughout the world flock to Woodbine Racetrack to strut their stuff. As the name indicates, it’s a mile-long race. You’ll see horses of both sexes enter. This race on the turf course at Woodbine Racetrack brings fans from all over the world to the track. Woodbine Entertainment Group has done a good job of making the race such a big deal.

Woodbine Oaks

The Woodbine Oaks lets the three-year-old fillies take centre stage at the track. For whatever reason, these fillies seem to be dominating the colts in recent years. In fact, a lot of King’s Plate winners have triumphed in the Oaks, including the 2022 Oaks and Queen’s Plate (RIP Lizzie) winner, Moira.

Don’t sleep on the Woodbine Oaks.

Types of Woodbine Betting

These are some common horse racing bets that you can make at Woodbine Racetrack. We’ll briefly explain them here, but if you want some more in-depth strategies and to learn the nuances of each bet type, hop on over to our horse racing betting guide.

Win Bets

When you make a win bet, you’re wagering on a horse to win the race. That means the horse must finish in first place. If the horse doesn’t finish in the winner’s circle, you lose.

As an FYI, the morning line prices reflect how much a horse would pay if the horse won the race. The win bet is perhaps the most common bet horseplayers make and is the prototypical “straight bet” wager.

Place Bets

A place bet is when you pick a horse to finish in second place or better. If the horse finishes in third place or lower, the bet loses.

Show Bets

A show bet cashes if the horse finishes third or better. In horse racing jargon, someone might say you’re betting that the horse “finishes on the board.”

Now, we’re going to look at some “exotic bets”. In these bets, you’ll be picking multiple horses to finish in a certain order of a specific race.

Exacta Bets

An exacta bet requires you to pick the top two horses in a race in the correct order.

Trifecta Bets

A trifecta is a bet where you wager on the top three horses in the race. If you’re picking it “straight” with no horses boxed, you’ll need the horses to finish in the correct order that you picked. When you box horses, that means they can finish in whatever order, depending on how you “boxed them” in that bet.

We hear you parlay bettors. Yes, horse racing does offer “parlays.”

Multi-Race Bets

In the grand scheme of things, multi-race wagers in horse racing are sort of like parlays. Certain tracks will offer things like $1 pick 3s, 4s, 5s, and 6s that start at a certain time on the card. You’ll pick the horse(s) to win each race on the parlay. If you pick the parlay perfectly, you win one heck of a nice payout. If not, you’re SOL.

Where to Find the Best Woodbine Bets

Whether you’re looking for Woodbine horse racing markets, or wagering tips from expert handicappers, you’ve come to the right spot. We can help you determine who to bet on, how to bet, and where to bet the biggest races on the Canadian horse racing calendar.

For horseplayers throughout Canada, we recommend using bet365. In its partnership with Woodbine Entertainment Group, the sportsbook has single-handedly become the best place to bet on Woodbine horse racing from the comfort of your own home. You’ll be able to watch races live, read race previews, and participate in special markets.

No sportsbook will have better or worse Woodbine bets as the horse racing prices are decided by the peri-mutual system. That said, bet365 offers the best user interface that makes it easy for new and old horse racing bettors to make wagers quickly and securely.

Woodbine Casino Sports Betting

In addition to the live horse racing at Woodbine, the track is also the location of a year-round casino, offering live table games, slots, e-table games and stadium games. There are a half-dozen full-service restaurants, bars and lounges at Woodbine, and numerous fast-food outlets.

The recently opened Great Canadian Casino Resort, a premier gaming destination in Toronto, conveniently situated just a stone’s throw away from Woodbine Race Track. Immerse yourself in an unparalleled array of gaming choices, surpassing those of any other casino in Canada. Enjoy the added convenience of complimentary covered parking under constant 24-hour video surveillance and explore a diverse range of dining options tailored to appease every culinary desire.

The resort will soon host a 400-room luxury hotel with spectacular racetrack views and a state-of-the-art 5,000-person live entertainment venue.

How to Bet on Woodbine Horse Racing Pool Bets

Okay, now that you’re an expert on all things Woodbine Racetrack related, let’s help you get set up to start betting on the ponies. If you follow this process, your path to making shrewd bets on the four-legged creatures should be quite easy.

1. Select a Woodbine Betting Sportsbook

First off, you’re going to want to choose a sportsbook that offers horse betting. We recommend using bet365, but if you choose a different book, make sure that it’s a regulated sportsbook that’s allowed to operate in Canada/wherever you’re betting from. We don’t encourage using offshore sportsbooks due to their safety and security concerns.

2. Sign Up and Create an Account

Once you’ve found a sportsbook that you like, you’ll have to sign up for its services. That’s pretty easy. Hit the “sign up” button and enter all your information as it’s stated on your government ID. Most sportsbooks will verify your identity. Don’t be alarmed; you’ll have to send a picture of your ID. That’ll help the sportsbook verify your identity and put you on the fastrack to depositing and withdrawing money out of your account.

3. Understand the Woodbine Horse Betting Market

Spend some time learning about the nuances of horse racing wagering. We have several pages on our website that can help you learn, and there are many tutorials online that you can watch to better understand certain markets.

If you’re feeling up to learning a new skill, learning how to read past performance programs will take your game to the next level when selecting big winners.

Another suggestion for when you’re first starting out is to stick to one betting market. For example, stick to making $2 win bets. After a few weeks of playing win bets at Woodbine Racetrack you’ll start to notice trends. Some jockeys will be better than others. You’ll start to see how track conditions affect race outcomes and tons of other things. That’ll help you make smarter bets in the long run.

Once that’s all done, you can start playing the ponies.

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Woodbine Betting FAQs