The Ontario government is starting construction at Woodbine GO Station, marking a significant milestone in the province’s plan to provide two-way, all-day service across core segments of the GO Transit network. As part of its agreement with the provincial government, Woodbine Entertainment Group is also providing up to $170 million to support the construction of the new station.
Centered around the historic racetrack, the project will also create new revenue streams to support horse racing, a sport with a 250-year history in Canada.
Situated on 684 acres of land — the largest undeveloped parcel of land remaining in the City of Toronto — the project will bring new life to Rexdale through smart, sustainable design, all anchored by the world-class racetrack and Canada’s longest continuously run sporting event, the King’s Plate.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something truly special for Toronto,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “At the heart of this new urban centre will be Woodbine Racetrack, a cultural landmark that will now also serve as the centrepiece of a thriving, inclusive and connected city within a city.”
The project will be unlocked by Woodbine Entertainment’s committed partnership with Metrolinx and $170 million investment towards the new GO Transit station on the Kitchener Line. The station will be less than 30 minutes from Union Station and will seamlessly connect with UP Express and Pearson International Airport, making Rexdale a transit hub for the first time in its history and unlocking new economic opportunities for surrounding communities.
The new urban centre will take shape over the next 25 years, supporting an estimated 43,000 construction jobs — helping address housing affordability and employment needs in one of Toronto’s most underserved areas.
The development will include affordable housing, including new accommodations to replace the existing dormitories for backstretch workers who care for the 1,700 horses stabled at Woodbine, further weaving the legacy and future of horse racing into the fabric of the community.
Woodbine Entertainment, which operates like a not-for-profit corporation, will develop and retain ownership of the land and explore strategic joint ventures to generate ongoing revenue that will continue to support horse racing in Ontario. But for residents and visitors, the promise of the project is about much more.
“This isn’t just about building housing. It’s about creating a complete community, a connected urban centre, with culture, entertainment, green space and horse racing at the heart of it all,” added Copeland. “On behalf of Woodbine Entertainment, I want to sincerely thank Premier Ford and the Government of Ontario, including Minister Sarkaria, Minister Surma, and their dedicated teams, as well as Mayor Chow, Councillor Crisanti and City of Toronto staff for helping bring this bold vision to life.”
“Bringing mass transit to Woodbine is a transformative step for our racetrack and the broader North Etobicoke community,” added Copeland. “This new transit connection unlocks the potential of our property to become a vibrant, inclusive, and transit-connected urban centre — with Woodbine Racetrack at its heart.”
“The new Woodbine GO Station is going to be a gamechanger for Etobicoke and for commuters coming in from across the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. “The investments we are making in Woodbine GO and in two-way, all-day GO service across the province will keep workers on the job in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty and will help commuters get around faster and more conveniently in one of Ontario’s fastest growing regions.”
Once complete, Woodbine GO Station, located on the Kitchener Line, will be one of the busiest stations across the GO network, allowing for increased capacity and future expansion improvements on the Kitchener Line. The new Woodbine GO Station will replace the nearby Etobicoke North GO Station, which lacks the capacity to accommodate future growth along the line. The new station will provide increased capacity and feature new rail platforms, accessible facilities, pedestrian bridges, dedicated parking, a passenger pick-up and drop-off area, a bus loop and a passenger waiting area for seamless transfers. In addition to Woodbine Racetrack, the station will create new links between the Union Pearson Express, Kitchener GO train and Pearson International Airport, as well as local bus services including the TTC, MiWay, York Regional Transit and Brampton Transit.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making historic investments in public transit to protect Ontario during unprecedented times,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “This new station will provide better access to jobs and the community in a rapidly growing area as we deliver two-way, all-day GO service across the region.”
“We are getting Toronto moving with more public transit to help people get to their destination faster,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “The Woodbine GO Station will make it easier for thousands of people to get to work and the downtown core and enable more housing that will come to this area. Partnering with the province through the New Deal, we are building a better city for everyone.”
(with files from Woodbine and the Province of Ontario)