With the start of 2023, Woodbine Entertainment and Ontario are tightening the reins for another exciting horse racing year across the state. On the last working day last week, the leading horse racing operator published the 2023 Standardbread calendar. It's going to be more than exciting, with over C$15 million stake exercise taking place at the group's Woodbine Mohawk Park.
This year's season is set to be the most profitable season on the Campbellville track with a betting event of C$15 million. Some of the most anticipated races of the year are the 40th Pepsi North American Cup, Mohawk Million, Metroface and a whole new race. There is a possibility of improvement in the record-setting 2022 season.
Starting with the most anticipated card, the Pepsi North American Cup tournament for 3-year-old pacer will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023. The elimination of the event takes place a week in advance. Cards include C$450,000 Fan Hanover, C$330,000 Rose Red, C$250,000 Ambro Flight, C$250,000 Good Times and C$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational.
Meanwhile, Mohawk Million will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Again this time, the 1 million Canadian dollar race for a 2-year-old Trotter comes in buy-in format, where you can purchase 9 slots. Each slot costs C$100,000, and the 10th and final slots are determined by the winner of the C$665,000 Willian Wellwood Memorial. Purchase deadline is February 15, 2023.
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, the C$650,000 William Wellwood Memorial for Second Trot Players and the C$350,000 Peace Road for Second Trot Phillies should be designated. And the following week, September 2, 2023, the 600,000 Canadian Pacing Derby for Passers 3 and older and the 600,000 Canadian dollar Maple Leaf Trot for Trotters 3 and older will be held.
For this season, the horse racing operator will introduce the new Ontario Syard Graduate Series in April and May 2023. The three series targets the Ontario Saird 4-year-old racehorse, the Ontario Saird 4-year-old racehorse and gelding, and the Ontario Saird 4-year-old trotter. They will each have three legs and a final, and on May 6, 2023, the $75,000 OSS Graduate Final will be held.
During the 2022 Standardbread and Thoroughbred racing seasons, Woodbine Entertainment posted all-time source handle numbers. Last year, Woodbine Mohawk Park generated an all-time record CA$444 million steering wheel for Standardbread, accumulated through 218 racing cards. Each card had an average handle of 193,707.73 Canadian dollars.
Meanwhile, at Woodbine Racecourse, which hosts the Thoroughbred Race, the group witnessed all single-season handles of Canadian $621,782,346. The figure was boosted largely by the track's strong overseas market performance and hit a record high of C$515 million on foreign handles. The Thoroughbred track also witnessed an average handle of CA$519,016 per race.