Racing to continue at Woodbine

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Horse racing will continue for at least the next two years at Woodbine and Mohawk Racetracks after an agreement in principle has been reached between Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) and the province of Ontario.

"This long-awaited agreement offers stability while WEG and our partners in horse racing work with government towards a long-term sustainability solution," said Jim Lawson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Woodbine Entertainment Group. "It's clear to us that this is only a short-term fix, and sustainability can only be achieved by the integration of horse racing into the province's gaming strategy. As the largest operator of horse racing in Canada, WEG is committed to working with the government to achieve this critical outcome.

"Our challenge is to now build a new, sustainable model for horse racing in Ontario that continues to set the standard internationally. I'm confident that working with our partners in industry and government, we can achieve that goal. Our industry deserves nothing less."

Woodbine is the home of the Queen's Plate, Canada's premier race for 3-year- olds, along with the Canadian International and Woodbine Mile.