Woodbine Entertainment has announced its cooperation with Century Miles regarding the Grade 3 Canadian Derby.
Earlier this week, Woodbine Entertainment announced that it had finalised an agreement with Century Miles regarding the Grade 3 Canadian Derby. According to the two, the winner of the high-status race will automatically be awarded a free entry to the Grade 3 Ontario Derby and stand a chance to win CA$50,000.
The Grade 3 Canadian Derby will take place on 20 August 2022. The event will be hosted at the Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton. Additionally, the Grade 3 Ontario Derby will be held on 23 October 2022 at the Woodbine Racetrack near Toronto.
New Joint Incentive
Woodbine Entertainment CEO, Tim Lawson, said that the initiative is an excellent opportunity to connect sports across the country and forward the Canadian thoroughbred industry. Lawson described the Canadian Derby as a race with rich history and many notable champions. The company looks forward to having the race champion compete in the Ontario Derby.
As mentioned, the Grade 3 Canadian Derby will be held on 20 August 2022 at the Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton. Through this initiative, the race winner will gain free entry to the Grade 3 Ontario Derby, which takes place on 23 October 2022. Should a horse win both races, he would be eligible for a CA$50,000 bonus, split between the two tracks.
Paul Ryneveld, director of racing at Century Mile and Century Down, also backed Tim Lawson’s comments on combining the sports event between the two provinces. Ryneveld said that the development of the east-west partnership would provide opportunities for equestrians and diversify wagering options for fans across Canada.
The Grade 3 Canadian Derby is a race for three-year-olds covering one and a quarter miles at the Edmonton horseracing facility. Conversely, the Grade 3 Ontario Derby also features three-year-olds over a distance of a mile and an eighth over a tapeta surface at the Woodbine Racetrack. The latter is expected to commence its thoroughbred season on 16 April 2022.
