A History Of The Old Woodbine Raceway In 1 Minute
Greenwood Raceway, originally known as the Woodbine Racetrack, is a horse racing facility with an storied history in Toronto. Built by the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC), which later changed its name to the Woodbine Entertainment Group (2001), this racetrack was the organization’s first racetrack to stage both thoroughbred and standardbred horses at the same facility in North America.
Greenwood Raceway was built in 1874 as the Woodbine Race Course along the shores of Lake Ontario in eastern Toronto. It was originally owned and operated by two men, Pardee and Howell, who then passed the raceway on to Joseph Duggan, the original owner of the land, after experiencing financial problems. Duggan went on to form the OJC in 1881, an organization that would be the catalyst in putting Toronto on the horse racing map. The ‘Old Woodbine’ (a nickname it received after the construction of the new facility in 1956) held the Queen’s Plate (Canada’s oldest thoroughbred horse race, founded in 1860) on July 1, 1881.
In 1939, King George VI became the first reigning monarch to witness the running of the King’s Plate. In 1947, the OJC, led by Edward Plunket Taylor, George C. Hendrie and J.E. Frowde Seagram, developed a bold plan to put Toronto on the same level as other racetracks in North America, and by 1955, E.P. Taylor had acquired the local tracks, Hamilton, Thorncliffe, Long Branch, Dufferin and Stamford, which became consolidated into Fort Erie, Old Woodbine and the soon-to-be-built New Woodbine. By 1956, a more extravagant track was built in former Etobicoke, named the ‘New Woodbine’, paying homage to its older sister track, with 780 acres of land, a turf course, infield ponds, scenic waterfalls, and a modern facility. In 1963, the Old Woodbine was renovated and renamed the Greenwood Raceway, which hosted both standardbred and thoroughbred racing up until its closing in 1993. In 1984, Greenwood hosted the inaugural North America Cup and also played host to the Canadian Pacing Derby, the Fan Hanover Stakes, the Maple Leaf Trot and the Canadian Trotting Classic.
By 1994, all operations were moved to the New Woodbine track and the stadium was demolished, replaced by residential and commercial buildings, with half of the property turned into a park, otherwise known as Woodbine Park. In memory of the track, streets nearby were named after famous thoroughbred horses: Northern Dancer and Winners Circle.
On December 19, 1997, the OJC opened its new 42,000 sq. ft. off-track wagering facility at Greenwood, which now operates as the Greenwood Teletheatre, where patrons can place bets off-site.
📅 Greenwood Teletheatre: 11:30am-11:30pm as per racing schedule
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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
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