Woodbine will pay trainers new starter bonus in 2024
With the backstretch open this week, Woodbine announced a starter bonus for trainers will be introduced for the 2024 racing season.
A starter bonus of $50 in Canada money, currently US$36.81, will be paid to all trainers for each horse who finishes outside the top five in an overnight race. The bonus is not applicable to stakes races.
“We appreciate and understand that our trainers are managing rising operating costs just like we are,” said Tim Lawson, vice president of Thoroughbred racing for Woodbine. “The starter-bonus idea has been discussed previously with our horsepeople, and this off-season we took a close look at it and found a way to implement it this season that will support our trainers and put some money back in their pockets.
“Ultimately, our goal is to further increase our investment in our horsepeople when we are in a position to do so, but in the meantime we are constantly looking for creative ways to ease some day-to-day financial pressures for trainers throughout the long meet.”
Woodbine also reported it allocated about 1,900 stalls, 90-100 more than last year. Horses started to ship in this week with the training track scheduled to open Saturday and the all-weather main track for training March 11, subject to weather.
The 129-day meet at Woodbine opens April 27.