Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) today announced it has reached a long-term lease agreement with the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG) for gaming operations at Mohawk Racetrack in Milton.
“At Woodbine Entertainment Group, our mission is to support the foundation and lead the growth of the Ontario horse racing industry,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of WEG. “This long-term lease agreement signifies a positive step forward for the industry and helps us pave the way for future investments at Mohawk. We look forward to fulfilling our core mandate of achieving the highest quality of horse racing and ensuring that Mohawk is a world class Standardbred racing facility.”
In addition, WEG and OLG were able to reach an agreement which provides for the continuation of WEG’s Hospitality services for the Mohawk gaming operations.
“This lease and the food and beverage agreement are great news for our employees and local horsemen and provides them with some much needed certainty,” Mr. Lawson added.
The completion of the lease agreement will provide reassurance to the province’s Standardbred racing and breeding industry and allow Mohawk to thrive as the hub of the sport in Ontario.
“This announcement provides security for horse people and horse breeders, and confirms government is committed to working with the industry,” said Rob Cook, Executive Director for Ontario Racing. “Ontario Racing welcomes the Woodbine Entertainment Group’s continued dedication to leveraging their expertise for the growth of our sport.”
The Mohawk Racetrack site has been host to horse racing since 1963 and gaming operations since 1999. It’s the home of the Pepsi North America Cup, one of the continent’s leading Standardbred races, and will host the Milton Stakes on Saturday evening.
(with files from WEG)