2025 Live Racing Season



• 2025 Live Race Dates - click here
• NEW ENHANCED Shipping Incentives - click here
• REVISED Condition Book #1 - click here
• Stakes Schedule - click here
• Stall Application - click here

Live Racing Prime Rib Buffet

Reservations are now open for our live racing Certified Angus Prime Rib Buffet featuring succulent, melt-in-your-mouth prime rib prepared to perfection, chicken, seafood table, rotating entree selections and much more! Buffet prices: Adults $59.95, Seniors (65+) $54.95, Kids 6 to 12 years old $34.95, Kids 5 & under $22.95.

LIMITED OFFER ENDING SOON: $10 off per person for any race night in May. Promotional reservations are limited and must be made before April 30th.

A Snapshot in Time by Bob Gates

Today’s Snapshot in Time marks our final look at wins recorded by Irwin Driedger—and few were more important than his victory aboard Just Like Liz on October 27, 1981.

Who remembers the Downs’ “Ask Me Girls?” On this night, Irwin, the top rider at the Downs for three consecutive years, earned his 202nd win, securing the title of Canada’s leading rider.

That same year, Irwin was honoured with a Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey in Canada (Gerry Hart photo).

Woodbine’s 70th Opening Day; Star Shoot and Brooke Bays

Newly-turned 3-year-old fillies will sprint 6 furlongs in the opening day feature at Woodbine on Saturday, April 26, in the $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes, and new jockey faces include Brooke Bays, a promising apprentice, and Barbados' Affrie Ward.

The first of 128 racing days at Woodbine has nine races and 59 entrants, down from the 71 who raced on opening day a year ago, but all raring to go, as are their connections!

 ~ CanadianThoroughbred.com

Kentucky Derby Rankings Feature Week 13

It's time to sit back in your favourite chair with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the movie.

You know, those old films from the 1930s, '40s and '50s about the Sport of Kings, that even with their predictable endings still tug at the heart strings.

One of those films, considered the blueprint for future horse racing movies, is the stage setter for the horse story from this year's Derby. And it's a good one!

~ Secretariat.com

Kentucky Derby Hot Takes: What Will Happen, What Won’t Happen?

If there’s ever a time to have a bold opinion in horse racing, it’s the Kentucky Derby. What’s the fun in betting the favourite in the world’s biggest horse race? Holding a contrarian view in a betting event filled with 20 contenders can mean massive returns.

Over the past three years, a $10 win bet on the horse who won the Derby returned $818, $196.81 and $162.10. America's Best Racing has two hot takes for this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve: Something no one expects, that will happen, and something everyone expects, that won’t happen.

The Best of Bob by Bob Gates

From May 26, 2023: Last Breaths and Forever Fred

Not every horse our history guy writes about was a record-breaker or a star of the stakes races. This time around, Bob delights in telling the story of a modest claimer with bragging rights of his own. Does anyone remember Don Keyes and his horse, Fred?

While Fred didn’t race under that name, he spent his entire career at the Downs from 1976 to 1987 and could boast Native Dancer as his great-granddaddy. Click here to learn more about the heartwarming tale of Fred and the love of his life, Mother.