Woodbine kicks off with opening day record handle

The 2021 Woodbine Thoroughbred meet kicked off on Saturday afternoon with an opening day record handle of $6.9 million.

With the start of the 2021 campaign delayed nearly two months because of the COVID pandemic and ensuing provincial restrictions, horseplayers were clearly eager for the return of live racing at Woodbine Racetrack, taking advantage of strong field sizes to wager a total of $6,912,477 on the season-opening 11-race card.

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The $6.9 million handle broke the previous opening day handle record of $5.5 million in 2020, which was also a delayed opening day because of the pandemic.

Woodbine’s extensive wagering menu saw horseplayers flood the featured multi-leg wagers on opening day. A total of $147,660 was wagered on the Early Pick-4, $160,339 on the Late Pick-4 and $128,908 on the Early Pick-5.

The afternoon’s eighth race (14-horse, mile, maiden allowance on the E.P. Taylor turf course) generated the largest single-race handle of the day at $1.1 million.

The average per race handle was $628,407.

The 2021 meet continues Sunday with a 13-race card, with a 1:20 p.m. EDT post time. Following opening weekend, live (spectator-free) racing resumes Friday at Woodbine and continues through the weekend. The regular schedule of live racing four days a week will start on Thursday, June 24.