Woodbine Racetrack History: From Queen’s Plate to World-Class

Woodbine Racetrack, located in Toronto, Ontario, has a rich and fascinating history. Let’s take a journey through time:

1. Origins and Early Days (1881):
   • The story begins in 1881 when the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC) was formed.
   • Initially, races were held at various locations in the Toronto area.
   • On July 1, the Queen’s Plate, one of North America’s oldest horse races, returned to Toronto and took place at a picturesque track called “The Woodbine” by the shores of Lake Ontario.
2. King George VI and the King’s Plate:
   • In 1939, King George VI became the first reigning monarch to witness the running of the King’s Plate at Woodbine Park (later known as “Old Woodbine” and then Greenwood).
   • The King’s Plate is a prestigious race with a long and storied tradition.
3. Edward Plunket Taylor’s Vision (1947):
   • Edward Plunket “E.P.” Taylor, appointed director of the OJC, had a bold plan.
   • His vision was to elevate horse racing in the Toronto area to the standards of leading racetracks in North America.
   • Taylor’s plan involved acquiring local racetracks (such as Hamilton, Thorncliffe, Long Branch, Dufferin, and Stamford) and consolidating their racing charters into three racetracks: Fort Erie, Greenwood, and a new Woodbine.
   • By the end of 1955, the OJC had acquired enough racing charters to conduct 196 thoroughbred and 252 standardbred race dates.
4. Birth of Woodbine Racetrack (1956):
   • On 780 acres in the Township of Etobicoke, the new Woodbine Racetrack opened its doors.
   • The modern facility featured a one-mile oval dirt track and a seven-eighths turf course.
   • Beautiful infield ponds with scenic waterfalls adorned the landscape.
   • Woodbine became a crown jewel in Taylor’s master plan to transform the fragmented, inefficient racing circuit into one of the world’s elite racing facilities.
5. Notable Moments:
   • In 1959, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh attended the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine.
   • In 1964, under the twin spires of Churchill Downs Racetrack, Northern Dancer (a Canadian-bred horse) made history by winning the Kentucky Derby. He later triumphed in Canada’s most famous horse race, the Queen’s Plate, before retiring as one of the sport’s most prolific sires.
6. Legacy and Evolution:
   • Woodbine’s opening sparked an evolution that forever changed the Canadian horseracing industry.
   • Today, Woodbine Racetrack hosts iconic races like the Woodbine Mile, Woodbine Oaks, and the Canadian International.
   • It remains a hub of excitement, tradition, and world-class racing.

For more information, you can visit the official Woodbine Racetrack website.