Woodbine’s 20-cent minimums to be available to U.S. bettors

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Horseplayers from south of the border will be able to take advantage of the 20-cent minimum wager on Woodbine’s pick four and superfecta, beginning with Friday’s Thoroughbred and Standardbred programs.

Previously, the minimum wager on those bets was $1 when wagers originated from sites in the United States.

Canadians have had access to fractional wagers on racing from the Woodbine Entertainment Group’s Woodbine and Mohawk tracks since 2005.

"One of the reasons we've seen increased pool size in the pick four and superfecta is the introduction of the 20-cent minimum bet," Greg Martin, Woodbine Entertainment’s director of wagering operations, said in a press release.

"The American racing fan has shown interest in fractional bet offerings, so we worked hard to accommodate them."

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency and AmTote International were key partners with the Woodbine Entertainment Group in the development of the standards and software required for the change.

The next logical step would be for the parimutuel agency to allow Canadian horseplayers the same type of access to pools in the United States.

Canadians playing into pools at U.S. tracks currently face $1 minimums even when host sites offer fractional wagering.