Harness: Woodbine Entertainment and COSA ratify five-year agreement

Woodbine Entertainment and Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) jointly announced today that both parties have ratified the new five-year agreement that was announced in January.

“We remain committed to our vision in being the leader in harness racing in North America and having a long term agreement with our horsepople is paramount in making that happen,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “Our commitment is further demonstrated by a significant increase in purses and continued investment in Mohawk Park. We look forward to a great 2019 and beyond.”

Highlights of the agreement include a $15 million increase in guaranteed purses and a commitment of $5 million in capital investments to support racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park over the course of the agreement.

“We are thrilled to finalize this new agreement with our partners at COSA and look forward to growing Standardbred horse racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park,” said Jessica Buckley, President of Woodbine Mohawk Park. “This season is going to be an exciting year at Mohawk Park with the paddock expansion that is well underway, our exciting stakes schedule, the Pepsi North America Cup and to cap it all off, the Breeders’ Crown in October.”

“COSA is excited to finalize our new agreement with Woodbine Entertainment as it provides our horsepeople with certainty over the next five years,” said Bill O’Donnell, President of COSA. “We look forward to working with our partners at Woodbine Entertainment to collectively reach our goals of growing harness racing and offering a first-class product.”

Woodbine Mohawk Park reopened for the 2019 harness racing season on January 5. A total of 221 live race dates are scheduled for this season, highlighted by the Pepsi North America Cup and the 2019 Breeders’ Crown.

-release (Woodbine)