We traveled north to Rexdale, a subdivision of Toronto Ontario on Weds June 25th, 2008 to see and gamble on live thoroughbred racing at the Woodbine Racetrack. I drove. We traveled there together.


Unfortunately due to an ongoing labor dispute between the casino security workers and the Ontario Lotteries and Gaming Commission, the evening was very poorly attended. I was shocked to discover that the CAW, the union that represents the casino workers, had established a picket line at the gate! This created a traffic jam of cars all trying to get into an empty parking lot.

At 6:30 pm we had all hurried upstairs to the popular Champions patio desperate to get what we assumed would be the last available outdoor seating... only to discover the well appointed patio completely deserted. My group sat together quietly making bets and perusing the menu in the final minutes before the first race.


Lately I've been playing a horse race betting game and I've been so totally yearning to go to the Woodbine racetrack; I think I've developed this sport's perfect betting strategy.

It was somewhat deflating to find the racetrack deserted. After interacting with the colourful cast of characters on the [url=http;//getsulky.com]Get Sulky[/url] harness racing fan site, I was looking forward to meeting some of the real folks who frequent the racetrack.

Listen up when you see me at the betting window - I've evolved a rather sexy signature bet.


I pick a good horse (good odds) with an average jockey (good win rate) then i pick a slower horse (weaker odds) with a great jockey (very high win rate). Let's call these horses #1 and #2. When I stand at the betting window I say, '...one dollar exactor box bet, horse #1 and #2'. This means that it doesn't matter which horse comes in first or second (its essentially two bets) and because its a $1 bet I only pay $2.00 total. The value here is the exactor combination is always difficult to win and therefore pays large $$. The $1 box bet exactor is a cheap ticket to a big payout.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association was formed on the first day of February 1961 to represent Ontario harness horsemen and horsewomen in negotiations of purses, racing conditions. They handle all matters affecting the racing industry with the tracks, Standardbred Canada, the Ontario Racing Commission, and the Provincial and Federal governments.

Harness Racing is the third largest agricultural sector in Ontario, in terms of expenditure. This agriculture based industry helps to increase and diversify tourism. Horse racing generates well over $1 billion dollars annually. On a per dollar basis, every dollar of expenditure in this industry results in $1.22 in wages, interest, rent and profits. Ontario's horse racing industry directly generates over 17,000 jobs, many of which are in rural areas.