The Woodbine Entertainment Group's 2011 live thoroughbred meet came to a completion yesterday at Woodbine Racetrack. According to a report, officials with the suburban Toronto oval have stated that the meet's all-sources handle is up 7.5 per cent from 2010, but that wagering in the local market has declined

.

In an article by the Toronto Star, WEG President and CEO Nick Eaves has been quoted as saying that major wins by Canadian connections in the United States this year, plus an attractive wagering product at Woodbine, have helped make WEG's live thoroughbred offerings popular with American punters.

Although, in regard to the apparently-sagging attraction of WEG's live thoroughbred market in it own backyard, Eaves was quoted as saying, “We’re not satisfied about our home market being down in wagering,” and that, “We have to turn that around.”

In addressing both the positive and negative aspects of what has been an overall-successful '11 meet for the WEG runners, Eaves took the opportunity to say that the Canadian racing giant is continuing to look to the future in terms of wagering.

“We are investing in developing a mobile application so that wagering on the races is more convenient,” Eaves was quoted as saying in the report. “We realize that people are not coming out to the track as much and we want to be leading edge from a technology standpoint.”

(With files from the Toronto Star)