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48-630: The current Woodbine carries the name originally used by a racetrack which operated in southeast Toronto, at Queen Street East and Kingston Road, from 1874 through 1993. (While the Old Woodbine Race Course was at the south end of Woodbine Avenue , the current Woodbine is nowhere near it.) In 1951, it was operated by the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC) and held the prestigious King's Plate , but it competed with several other racetracks in Ontario and

96-637: A breakdown of an unnamed horse during a workout , the 3-year-old filly Social Dancer (Society's Chairman)'s awkward step at the half-mile marker and in the GIII Bessarabian Stakes , the 6-year-old mare Owen's Tour Guide (Tourist)'s wrong step , resulting in their euthanasia . Casino Woodbine opened in 1999, offering a slots parlor and later expanded to table games in 2018. It contains 100+ table games, 3,500+ slot machines, 220+ electronic table games, and 100+ dealer assist stadium gaming. Table games include blackjack, roulette and baccarat. It

144-581: A jockey on a single raceday at Woodbine is seven, set by Richard Grubb on May 16, 1967, and twice equaled by the legendary Canadian jockey Sandy Hawley , first on May 22, 1972 and then again on October 10, 1974. Major Stakes races for Thoroughbreds run annually at Woodbine include the: The following graded stakes were formerly run at Woodbine in 2019: 43°42′45.09″N 79°36′7.35″W  /  43.7125250°N 79.6020417°W  / 43.7125250; -79.6020417 Old Woodbine Race Course Greenwood Raceway (originally Woodbine Race Course )

192-455: A body of water that rivers in York Region and Toronto flow into. The shield features a YU monogram and nine vertical stripes, a nod to the club's nickname "The Nine Stripes". A crown at the top of the shield represents Canada's monarchical history . A trillium and a maple leaf are incorporated into the crown's design, with the former representing Ontario . Although the club does insinuate

240-453: A future professional women's soccer club. The club's namesake and crest pays homage to The Queen's York Rangers , as well as Toronto and York Region's predecessors, York, Upper Canada and York County . The crest's shape is derived from that of The Queen's York Rangers, a Canadian Army regiment based in Toronto and York Region. A blue element on top of the shield symbolizes Lake Ontario ,

288-588: A management consultant and later as the team's President, GM, and CEO. York9 was expected to begin their second season in the Canadian Premier League in April 2020 but the season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic . During the postponement, the club sold young midfielder Emilio Estevez to Dutch Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag , the first CPL player to be sold to a European top flight. On December 11, 2020,

336-485: A modular, wooden, 15,000-seat stadium within the next three years. As of August 2021 , financing and location of the new stadium was yet to be determined. In March 2022, Woodbine Racetrack announced plans to add an 8,000 seat soccer-specific stadium and adjoining training facilities in the northeast corner of their property in Rexdale , Etobicoke ; this would be the presumed new home of York United and possibly house

384-425: A natural dirt surface prior to that. Two chutes facilitate races at seven furlongs [.875 miles (1.408 km)] and at 1.25 miles (2.01 km). The innermost oval was originally a 7/8-mile [.875 miles (1.408 km)] grass oval until the E. P. Taylor turf course opened in 1994. It was then converted to a crushed limestone dirt course and was used for harness racing until April 2018. It was then converted back to

432-423: A neighbourhood of North York , Toronto . Initially, the club had planned to use Alumni Field , on the same campus, while York Lions Stadium was being renovated for use at the end of the season. Before the start of the 2021 season, the stadium was renovated with a larger, artificial turf pitch and the removal of the athletic track which surrounded the playing surface. In 2018, the club announced plans to build

480-500: A racetrack, he spent the next two years developing the design in conjunction with Arthur Froelich , who had designed Hollywood Park Racetrack and Garden State Park Racetrack in the United States. The new track was designed to hold 40,000 spectators, have ample parking, three race courses and two training tracks. It had stable space for 1,000 horses and rooms for 700 employees. The grandstand, designed to get as many people as close to

528-400: A second turf course for the 2019 thoroughbred racing season. The first race on the new Inner Turf was run on June 28, 2019 and was won by Bold Rally with Eurico Rosa da Silva aboard. Portions of the current E. P. Taylor turf course (the backstretch and far turn) originally formed part of a long turf chute that crossed over the dirt course to the inner turf oval at the top of the stretch. This

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576-412: Is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long with a chute allowing races of 1.125 miles (1.811 km) to be run around one turn. It is irregularly shaped, the clubhouse turn departing from the traditional North American oval, and the backstretch is from 2.5 feet (76 cm) to 3 feet (91 cm) higher than the homestretch. The Taylor turf course and the main dirt course at Belmont Park on New York's Long Island are

624-525: Is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto , Ontario . The club competes in the Canadian Premier League and plays its home games at York University 's York Lions Stadium . In December 2017, former Canadian international Jimmy Brennan stepped down as executive director of Aurora FC and announced his intentions to take a role within the Canadian Premier League. In March 2018, it

672-564: Is open 24 hours a day. In 2019, construction began to expand the casino to include an entertainment venue, retail shops and a hotel. Woodbine has been a regular host for the Breeders Crown . Since the event changed to a one-night format in 2010, the facility has hosted three times—2011, 2012, and 2015. Woodbine was also the host of the CA$ 1,500,000 North America Cup for three-year old pacing colts and geldings from 1994–2006. That race along with

720-526: The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame . In 2018, the track began using a GPS-based timing system. In 2022, Woodbine announced plans to add an 8,000-seat soccer-specific stadium and adjoining training facilities in the northeast corner of the property; this would be the presumed new home of York United FC and possibly house a future professional women's soccer club. The outermost E. P. Taylor turf course for thoroughbreds, completed in 1994,

768-596: The Canadian Soccer Association 's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League , York9 played in the 2019 Canadian Championship competing for the Voyageurs Cup . The team lost the quarterfinal to Montreal Impact after a 2–2 draw at home and a 1–0 loss at Montreal. In early 2020 the team announced the departure of Preben Ganzhorn from the club. He was replaced by Angus McNab, initially as

816-788: The Orpen -owned Dufferin Park and Long Branch race tracks. By 1956, the OJC operated just three facilities, consisting of the Fort Erie Racetrack in Fort Erie, Ontario , and two facilities in Toronto. A new facility for Thoroughbred horse races was constructed in Etobicoke and given the name Woodbine Racetrack . The old facility was completely renovated and renamed Greenwood Raceway in 1963. It held both harness racing and Thoroughbred racing meets until its closure at

864-762: The Elegant Image Stakes for three-year old filly trotters and the Good Times Stakes for three-year old colt and gelding trotters, have been moved to Woodbine's sister track, Woodbine Mohawk Park . Starting in 2018, all standardbred racing has been moved to Woodbine Mohawk, as the 7/8 standardbred track is being converted into a 2nd turf course. Jk Shesalady Y. Gingras/N. Johansson 08/30/2014 Thinking Out Loud Sweet Lou R. Waples/B. McIntosh D. Palone/R. Burke 06/16/2012 06/09/2012 Bee A Magician R. Zeron/R. Norman 09/13/2013 Canepa Hanover Y. Gingras/J. Takter 06/12/15 The record for most wins by

912-515: The Hamilton Racetrack, and purchased the Fort Erie Racetrack for CA$ 780,000 . Renovations began immediately at Fort Erie and at Woodbine, financed by a public offering of stock for CA$ 2 million . In 1953, the OJC bought Stamford Park in Stamford township (now part of Niagara Falls, Ontario ). It was closed and later redeveloped into a residential subdivision. In 1955, Taylor himself purchased

960-414: The OJC to run 196 days of racing, more than double its allowed total of 84 days in 1952. All of the efforts at racetrack acquisitions and closures were designed to support a new "supertrack". In 1952, the OJC identified the new location of the racetrack at Highway 27 east of the Toronto airport and bought over 400 acres (160 ha). The architect chosen was Earle C. Morgan. Although Morgan had not designed

1008-950: The Plate Trials but worked out between the two divisions of the Trials. Their times were faster than the times of either of the trial divisions. Greenwood Raceway was the site of the Canadian Pacing Derby , the North America Cup , the Fan Hanover Stakes , the Maple Leaf Trot , and the Canadian Trotting Classic . In 1994, the Thoroughbred and harness operations were moved to Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke. The stadium

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1056-450: The Queen's Plate, and Queen Elizabeth II again on July 4, 2010, attended the 151st running of the Queen's Plate Stakes and presented trophies. The track was the opening venue for the 1976 Summer Paralympics , and some of the sporting events were held here. The Arlington Million was held at Woodbine in 1988. The Breeders' Cup was held at Woodbine in 1996. The Woodbine facility is also home to

1104-509: The U17 International Soccer Cup held at York Lions Stadium. The team beat Juventus FC before losing to Toronto FC in the final. The team has been called "Y9" and "The Nine Stripes" by the media and the league. York9's first match was the inaugural CPL match at Forge FC on April 27, 2019, launching the 905 Derby with a 1–1 draw, as Ryan Telfer scored the first goal in Canadian Premier League history. To determine

1152-427: The club as "electric green", "charcoal grey", and "black on black"). These colours symbolized the region's nature (in tandem with the club's environmental focus) and Black Creek . Much more so than other CPL teams, York is a club which relies heavily on data and analytics to make decisions. A supporters' group called Generation IX was present at the club's launch event; the group later ended its support following

1200-461: The club was rebranded as York United FC, adopting a new crest and colour scheme along with the name change. While the original club name exclusively targeted York Region, the new branding also represents the City of Toronto. In their first season as York United FC, the club finished 4th in the 2021 Canadian Premier League season. They were eliminated from the playoffs after a 3–1 loss to Forge FC . Following

1248-511: The club's 2020 rebrand. Prior to the team's second season in 2020, two new supporters' groups formed: a student supporters' group based out of York University called The Green Lions and a female-led supporters' group called Dames of York. Three new supporters' groups, Centre of the Universe, The Northern Corridor, and Eastenders 416, were formed in 2021. York United has a geographic rivalry with Forge FC in nearby Hamilton . As both towns use

1296-583: The competing Orpen -owned Dufferin Park Racetrack and Long Branch Racetracks for CA$ 4 million ($ 44.6 million in 2023 dollars). The Orpen tracks were closed and redeveloped, and the Orpen race charters transferred to the OJC. The OJC continued the Canadian International and Cup and Saucer stakes races that had been held at the Orpen tracks. The racing charters acquired from the other tracks enabled

1344-414: The construction of a five- furlong (1006 m) stone dust harness track inside the Thoroughbred track. This track was known for its tight turns and long back and homestretches. In the early 1950s, the Ontario Jockey Club, led by directors E. P. Taylor , George C. Hendrie and J. E. Frowde Seagram , undertook an acquisition and consolidation program for southern Ontario racing. The OJC bought and closed

1392-537: The crest used as inspiration is of the original Town of York , that then became the City of Toronto, the club's colours of dark green, dark blue, white, and gold, are taken from the coat of arms of the City of York , a former city that was later amalgamated into the new City of Toronto in 1998. Unlike the majority of clubs in the CPL, York typically uses home kits that are primarily white. The club used its original branding while it

1440-504: The end of 1993. Steeplechase races were held at Woodbine/Greenwood for a few years, and there was a Thoroughbred race announcer by the name of Foster "Buck" Dryden for several years. A horse by the name of Last Mark (owned by James G. Fair of Cainsville, Ontario) won the "Plate" in 1948, setting a new Plate record and only being equalled once before the track was decommissioned. R.J. Speers' horse, Lord Fairmond, came second in that Plate race. Fair had two horses in that Plate which never ran in

1488-561: The finish line as possible, included several restaurants and cafeterias. Construction on the new supertrack began in 1955. The new racetrack opened on June 12, 1956, built at a cost of CA$ 13 million ($ 143 million in 2023 dollars). It was initially known as the New Woodbine Racetrack. It dropped the New in 1963. The old track was converted to a combined thoroughbred and standardbred track known thereafter as Old Woodbine or, for most of

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1536-400: The harness meets. The track was at the junction of Kingston Road and Queen Street East, with only a narrow strip of land between it and Lake Ontario . Thoroughbred racing continued at the racetrack on a shortened six- furlong (1,207 m) track. Harness races were at first conducted on the Thoroughbred track, but serious problems with mud (including the starting gate being immobilized) led to

1584-428: The name York9 FC to represent the nine municipalities that make up York Region – Aurora , East Gwillimbury , Georgina , King , Markham , Newmarket , Richmond Hill , Vaughan , and Whitchurch-Stouffville . On July 27, 2018, York9 announced executive vice president of soccer operations Jimmy Brennan as the club's first head coach. In August, York9 fielded a York Region Soccer Association Selects team to compete in

1632-515: The only mile-and-a-half layouts in North American thoroughbred racing. In 2016, Woodbine will contest up to 40 turf races running clockwise (right-hand turns) in what are being billed as "EuroTurf" races. Inside the Taylor course is the 1 mile (1.6 km) synthetic course for Thoroughbreds. Since April 9, 2016, the surface has been Tapeta ; it was Polytrack from August 31, 2006 through 2015, and

1680-491: The original landowner and retired innkeeper. In 1881, Duggan helped found the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC). The facility hosted seasonal harness racing for Standardbred horses and flat racing events for Thoroughbreds . Harness racing dates were transferred to the racetrack from Thorncliffe Park Raceway to fill the gap between the spring and fall thoroughbred meets, and the track was known as Greenwood Raceway during

1728-518: The property became Woodbine Park with a water fountain feature in a man-made pond. It is separated from Woodbine Beach by Lake Shore Boulevard. In 2016, it was announced that Live Nation Entertainment had purchased the other half of the property (known as Greenwood Off Track Wagering or Champions Greenwood) with the intent of repurposing the site into a medium-sized entertainment venue with a capacity of 2,700 attendees. York United FC York United Football Club (formerly known as York9 FC )

1776-453: The rest of its history, as Greenwood Raceway (during standardbred meets) and Greenwood Race Track (during thoroughbred meets). The two thoroughbred and two standardbred meets conducted at Greenwood were transferred to the new Woodbine in 1994, which was until then exclusively devoted to thoroughbred racing. On June 30, 1959, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the 100th running of

1824-520: The season on November 3, 2023. On November 30, 2023, the Canadian Premier League announced that Mexican-based Game Plan Sports Group had purchased York United with immediate effect. The ownership group is led by brothers Eduardo, Ricardo and Miguel Pasquel, who each took roles in the day-to-day operations of the club, respectively, as chief executive officer , president and general manager, and chief commercial officer . On May 21, 2024, manager Martin Nash

1872-589: The season, head coach Jim Brennan's tenure at the club ended after it was announced November 23, 2021, that his contract would not be extended. He was replaced by Martin Nash on December 21, 2021. During the 2023 season, it was announced that the club was sold from the Baldassarra family to the Canadian Soccer Business with plans to transfer the club to new ownership. Angus McNab stepped down from his role as president, CEO, and general manager following

1920-795: The youngest manager in Canadian Premier League history and the first former Canadian Premier League player to manage a CPL club. In November 2024, the club announced the formation of the York United FC Academy to play in the League1 Ontario Championship , featuring a U20 roster (along with up to 3 U23 players), as well as being able to send up to three first team players to the quad on short-term loans. York plays its home matches at York Lions Stadium in York University 's Keele Campus in York University Heights ,

1968-403: Was a horse racing facility in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. Inaugurated in 1874 as Woodbine Race Course at the foot of Woodbine Avenue and Lake Ontario , it was owned and operated by Raymond Pardee and William J. "Jiggs" Howell. The facility's land was mostly owned by Jesse Ashbridge and C.C. Small. Within a few years, financial problems resulted in the property reverting to Joseph Duggan,

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2016-410: Was demolished and replaced by residential and commercial development, including a betting parlour.To commemorate the history of the site, two of the new residential roadways were given names that reflected horse racing themes: Northern Dancer Blvd. (in honour of the famous thoroughbred Northern Dancer ) and Winners Circle. Joseph Duggan Road was named after the historical landowner. The southern half of

2064-505: Was in need of modernization. During the 1950s, the OJC, under the leadership of Canadian industrialist and horse breeder E.P. Taylor , began a program of racetrack acquisitions aimed at becoming the biggest and most profitable operator in Ontario horse racing, similar to Taylor's earlier acquisitions and consolidations in the Canadian brewing industry. In 1952, the OJC purchased and closed the money-losing Thorncliffe Park , purchased and closed

2112-429: Was known as York9 FC, between 2018 and 2020. The main feature of the crest's design was nine beams at the top of the crest, one for each municipality in York Region. The upward angle of the bars is a nod to the region's motto "Ontario's Rising Star". A white trillium at the base of the crest recognized Ontario, the province's floral emblem since 1937. The official club colours were light green, grey, and black (branded by

2160-464: Was relieved of his head coaching duties and replaced by Mauro Eustáquio on an interim basis. On June 4, 2024, York United FC announced Benjamín Mora as their new head coach. It was announced at the end of the 2024 season that Benjamin Mora and the club had mutually parted ways. On November 21, 2024, York United announced the appointment of Mauro Eustáquio as permanent head coach. At 31, Eustáquio became

2208-548: Was revealed as the owner of York9, with his son Mike as the chairman. Both Brennan and Ganzhorn were pictured at the Annual Meeting of the Members when the group was announced. York9 FC was officially unveiled on May 10, 2018, as the first team to join the Canadian Premier League. As well as confirming their place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed their crest, colours and branding. The club adopted

2256-550: Was revealed that Brennan had been named executive vice-president of York Sports & Entertainment back in January. The following day, it was revealed that the company's president Preben Ganzhorn named himself as president of an unknown entity called York9 FC, believed to be a Canadian Premier League franchise. On May 5, 2018, York Region was one of four groups accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership. Greenpark Group, headed by Carlo Baldassarra ,

2304-631: Was used for several major races, including Secretariat 's final race in the 1973 Canadian International , until the entire E. P. Taylor course was completed in 1994. In November 2024, Woodbine cancelled its November 10 final 2 racecard after three catastrophic injuries on the Tapeta track surface as a precautionary approach . It consulted the National HBPA , the Jockeys' Guild and the AGCO . The incidents include

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