bet woodbine at nassau otb sun april 16

canada dispatches lawyer to represent nassau otb cashier and pick upthe check from the state of new york, canada killer, andrew cuomo presiding

even canadians understand ny const art 1 sec 3

1. Sports

Woodbine reducing purses in some 2017 stakes races

In an attempt to offset a purse account shortfall, Woodbine will reduce the purses in a number of races including the Woodbine Mile and Canadian International. 

Jockey Julien Leparoux (in red and white) guides Sir Dudley Digges to capture the $1-million Queen's Plate Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in 2016. The Queen's Plate will remain the only $1-million event after Woodbine cuts purses in some 2017 stakes races.  (MICHAEL BURNS)  

By The Canadian Press

Fri., March 3, 2017

Woodbine Entertainment Group has reduced the purses in a number of its stakes races this year, including the Woodbine Mile and Canadian International.

The purses of the two Grade 1 events has been cut from $1 million to $800,000, leaving the Queen’s Plate as the lone $1 million event.

The purse of the Breeders’ Stakes, the third and final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown was cut $100,000 to $400,000. The 1 ½-mile turf race is scheduled to be run Aug. 20.

The moves were made to offset a purse account shortfall.

“We’re proceeding with an initiative to rebalance our overall Thoroughbred purse program, committing another $1 million to overnight purses, which will substantially benefit our local horse people,” Jamie Martin, Woodbine’s executive vice-president of racing, said in a statement. “This reorganization towards overnight purses and resulting stakes purses reflects WEG’s $68 million overall purse contribution in 2017.

“We continue to commit to working with our industry partners, who understand the challenges Woodbine faces in balancing the pressures of offering quality horse-racing product to our loyal fans and the significant expense attached to conducting our business.”

A date for the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, at Fort Erie Racetrack hasn’t been announced.

The Queen’s Plate will be run July 2 and highlight Woodbine’s 133-day meet, which begins April 15 and runs to Dec. 10. For the second straight year, the Woodbine Mile will go on a Saturday (Sept. 16) rather than a Sunday.

The Canadian International is scheduled for Oct. 15. A total of 98 stakes events will be on this year’s schedule.

The Woodbine Oaks’ purse remains at $500,000 and the race will run June 11. The Plate Trial Stakes is also on the same card but its purse was reduced from $150,000 to $125,000.