The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has reached a settlement with Woodbine Entertainment following an investigation sparked by a series of horse injuries late last year.

Ontario’s gaming regulator is requiring Woodbine to make a $200,000 donation to support equine aftercare and welfare and implement more internal and external oversight measures after an investigation found evidence of “inadequate” and “inconsistent” practices for track maintenance.

The AGCO says that the lack of care at Woodbine led to a series of racehorse injuries at the facility between October 2024 and December 2024.

Over a three-month period, Woodbine saw 19 racehorses suffer injuries while competing on the facility’s all-weather Tapeta surface. The injuries led to the euthanasia of 10 of the racehorses. During a single day of training in November, Woodbine had to euthanize three racehorses.

The AGCO’s probe found Woodbine improperly maintained its track equipment while lacking standardized maintenance protocols or proper surface measurements. The regulator also alleged that the racetrack employed undertrained staff who administered underwhelming care.

“The AGCO is committed to ensuring safe horse racing in Ontario. In line with that commitment, Woodbine has agreed to a set of enforceable actions aimed at improving track maintenance practices and protecting the welfare of racehorses competing at Woodbine,” said the regulator in a press release.

Canadian Gaming Business reached out to Woodbine for comment but none was offered.

Woodbine must comply with multiple measures

Those measures include that Woodbine must employ two world-renowned track safety efforts for two years, who will be tasked with conducting safety assessments of Woodbine’s horse racing surface. Woodbine is also mandated to establish a Track Surfaces Committee to monitor the safety and improvements of the track. Its Governance and Compliance Committee will oversee the Track Surfaces Committee.

Woodbine vowed not to contest the penalty levied by the AGCO. If it fails to comply with the AGCO’s measures, Woodbine faces regulatory penalties, including a $200,000 fine.

The AGCO noted that Woodbine has already taken steps to improve its track surface conditions, including renovations, comprehensive training and the installation of tools to ensure safety.

Woodbine will make its $200,000 donation to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The two entities will split the donation evenly.

AGCO imposes another racehorse penalty

The AGCO has dished out penalties to horse racing companies and personnel in the recent past.

Last November, it banned horse trainer Richard Moreau for 10 years after his horse, Funtime Bayama, tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug during standard testing for the North America Cup. Moreau and harness driver Sylvain Filion were fined $40,000 for the drug violation after an AGCO probe found them responsible for the miscue.

Filion was also suspended for 10 years, with his ban to be lifted in October 2034. Last month, Filion had his request to put a stay on the suspension denied by an appeal panel.