Woodbine Racetrack: the neighbour that makes this an unusual airport hotel

Illustration generated for this guide — not a photograph of the hotel.

The track in brief

Woodbine Racetrack opened on 12 June 1956 as the “New Woodbine”, according to its Wikipedia entry, and is owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group. It hosts the King's Plate, the first leg of Canada's Triple Crown for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, and Grade I turf races such as the Woodbine Mile and the Canadian International. Since 1994 it has had three courses: the E. P. Taylor turf course, 1.5 miles around with a homestretch of 1,440 feet; a one-mile synthetic course, surfaced with Tapeta since April 2016; and an inner turf course, rebuilt for Thoroughbreds in 2019. All standardbred (harness) racing moved to Woodbine Mohawk Park in 2018.

Free to watch

Woodbine's own page puts it plainly: “Watching races at Woodbine Racetrack is free!” — with no admission charge except on King's Plate day, and free parking. It also says most of its track-facing restaurants are open during live racing, from a burger in the grandstand to seafood on the Stella Artois Terrace.

The rest of the 2026 season

When we read Woodbine's calendar on 29 October 2026, it listed live racing on Thursdays to Sundays through Sunday 29 November 2026, and no December dates. The November pattern was a 3:00 PM first post on Thursdays and 1:00 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Post times change and cards can be cancelled — Woodbine cancelled a November card in 2024 as a precaution after injuries on its synthetic track — so check the day's card before you plan around it.

Track and hotel: how they connect

The operator's site map puts the racetrack at the southernmost part of the property, with the Grandstand Casino — the original Casino Woodbine, opened in 1999 as a slots venue — at the south-west. The Grandstand Casino is a gaming area and therefore 19+, so families should use the racetrack's own public entrances rather than cutting through. Woodbine's mailing address is 555 Rexdale Boulevard.

A race-weekend stay

For a Saturday at the races, ask for a Racetrack King or Racetrack Two Queen and let us confirm the outlook — the hotel's room cards label them “City View”, which we cannot square with the name. Arrive Friday after 4 PM, walk to the track for a 1 PM post on Saturday, and eat on the property in the evening. On Sunday, check-out is by 11 AM; ask about a late check-out if you want to watch the early races from your room.

A word on wagering

Betting on horse races is gambling, and the same limits and the same help apply as anywhere else. In Ontario, ConnexOntario answers 24 hours a day on 1-866-531-2600. Our responsible gambling page lists other options, including self-exclusion.