Woodbine And HPBA Agree To Two-Year Deal

Friday, March 17, 2023 | 11:36 am

Updated: March 17, 2023 at 4:57 pm

Toronto On June 4, 2022.Woodbine Racetrack.Jockey Rafael Hernandez (yellow and blue silks #5) guides Boardroom to victory in the $175,000 (Grade II) Royal North Stakes for owner LNJ Foxwoods and trainer Josie Carroll.Boardroom covered the 6 1/2 Furl in 1.13.2 over the E.P.Taylor turf Course. Woodbine/ Michael Burns Photo

Woodbine Entertainment and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario (HBPA) have reached an agreement for a new two-year deal that commits to $62m in purses for the 2023 and 2024 Thoroughbred racing meets, both released in a statement Friday.

The deal also includes a 133-raceday meet in 2023 and 129 race dates in 2024. Despite the fewer race days next year, the track expects the number of races offered to be substantially the same as 2023 through more optimized scheduling during the meet.

As part of the agreement, Woodbine Entertainment will continue to contribute $300,000 to the HBPA in each year of the deal for improving working benefits and conditions for those working on the Woodbine backstretch.