TV host Portuondo leaving to work for Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Long-time Woodbine Entertainment television host Jason Portuondo is leaving the company on June 26 to become a racing official with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
Better known throughout the Woodbine racing community as ‘Porty,’ Portuondo has been involved in horse racing since 1985, when he was a groom on the backstretch. He eventually joined Woodbine Entertainment’s coverage of Thoroughbred racing in 1999 before moving to Sportsnet in 2002. He returned to Woodbine in 2014 and would be a main fixture in simulcast coverage for both Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing.
“Jason has been a big part of our racing product over the years and represented our brand, our sport, and our industry with professionalism, enthusiasm, and integrity,” said Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson. “Although we will certainly miss Porty, it’s comforting to know he will remain in our industry, and we will all continue to see him around our racetracks.
“On behalf of our industry and our fans, I would like to thank Jason for all his contributions throughout his years at Woodbine and wish him good luck in his new endeavour.”
Woodbine Entertainment has started a search for an on-air simulcast host.