JULY 2025 THE RIDER /13


New GO Station at Woodbine Racetrack to Anchor Urban Development


Toronto (June 26, 2025) — A new Metrolinx GO Sta- tion at Woodbine Racetrack will anchor one of Canada’s most ambitious urban devel- opments — a vibrant, tran- sit-connected urban centre in northwest Toronto that will deliver tens of thou- sands of new homes, jobs, and economic opportunities. Centered around the historic racetrack, the project will also create new revenue streams to support horse racing, a sport with a 250- year history in Canada. Situated on 684 acres


of land — the largest unde- veloped parcel of land re- maining in the City of Toronto — the project will bring new life to Rexdale through smart, sustainable design, all anchored by the world-class racetrack and Canada’s longest continu- ously run sporting event, the King’s Plate. “This is a once-in-a-


generation opportunity to create something truly spe- cial for Toronto,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “At the heart of this new urban centre will be Wood- bine Racetrack, a cultural landmark that will now also serve as the centrepiece of a thriving, inclusive and con- nected city within a city.” The project will be un-


locked by Woodbine Enter- tainment’s


committed


partnership with Metrolinx and $170 million investment towards the new GO Transit station on the Kitchener Line. The station will be less than 30 minutes from Union Station and will seamlessly connect with UP Express and Pearson International Airport, making Rexdale a transit hub for the first time in its history and unlocking new economic opportunities for surrounding communi- ties.


The new urban centre


will take shape over the next 25 years, supporting an esti- mated 43,000 construction jobs — helping address housing affordability and employment needs in one of Toronto’s most underserved areas.


The development will


include affordable housing, including new accommoda- tions to replace the existing dormitories for backstretch workers who care for the 1,700 horses stabled at Woodbine, further weaving the legacy and future of horse racing into the fabric of the community. Woodbine Entertain-


ment, which operates like a not-for-profit corporation, will develop and retain own- ership of the land and ex- plore strategic joint ventures to generate ongoing revenue that will continue to support horse racing in Ontario. But for residents and visitors, the promise of the project is about much more. “This isn’t just about


building housing. It’s about creating a complete commu- nity, a connected urban cen- tre,


with culture,


entertainment, green space and horse racing at the heart of it all,” added Copeland. “On behalf of Woodbine Entertainment, I want to sin- cerely thank Premier Ford and the Government of On- tario, including Minister Sarkaria, Minister Surma, and their dedicated teams, as well as Mayor Chow, Coun- cillor Crisanti and City of Toronto staff for helping bring this bold vision to life.”


GO Station Announce- ment Community State- ments


Horsemen’s Benevolent


Protective Association of Ontario (HBPA): “The HBPA recog-


nizes the importance of Woodbine’s property devel- opment plans and the signif- icant role they can play in generating new and recur- ring revenue to support horse racing and purses in Ontario for generations to come. We appreciate Wood- bine’s commitment to en- gaging with the horse racing community throughout this process. The formation of the HBPA advisory commit- tee, is a positive step to- wards ensuring that the needs and perspectives of our horse people are consid- ered as the property devel- opment moves forward.” — Sue Leslie, President, Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario (HBPA)


Woodbine Trainer “Horse racing has been


a way of life for my family for generations — it’s not just a career, it’s part of who we are. I believe Wood- bine’s property development plans represent an important step toward building a bright future for our sport. Creating new sources of revenue beyond wagering is a smart and necessary move to help ensure that other families, like mine, can con- tinue to build their lives around racing for genera- tions to come. This is a great step forward for the long- term health of the industry we all care so deeply about.” — Kevin Attard, Trainer,


Sovereign Awards’ Trainer of the Year 2024


About Woodbine Enter- tainment Woodbine Entertain-


ment is Canada’s largest horse racing operator, offer- ing premier Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine Race- track in Toronto and Stan- dardbred


racing


profit without share capital, Woodbine reinvests all prof- its into the horse racing in- dustry, supporting upwards of 25,000 jobs across On- tario and helping secure a sustainable future for the sport.


Stay up to date on all


the news and information for Woodbine Racetrack by bookmarking and following our websites and social feeds.


Website: Woodbine.com


X (Woodbine Racetrack): @WoodbineTB X (Woodbine Communica- tions): @WoodbineComms Instagram: @WoodbineTB


Facebook: facebook.com/Woodbi- neTB


YouTube: youtube.com/WoodbineRe- plays


at


Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton. We also own and operate HPIbet, the coun- try’s only dedicated horse racing wagering platform. Home to iconic events like The King’s Plate, the Pepsi North America Cup and multiple Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, our venues host some of the sport’s most prestigious mo- ments. As an organization that operates like a not-for-


We have evolved over the years along with the horse industry that we support. Thank you to all of you who have helped us along the way!


Visit our website at www.therider.com


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