1881: The Ontario Jockey Club (OJC) Opens its Doors in Toronto and the first Queen’s Plate is held at “The Woodbine,” a picturesque track by the shores of Lake Ontario.

1939: King George VI is the first royal to witness the running of the King’s Plate.

1947: Under the leadership of E.P. Taylor, the OJC acquires local racetracks (Hamilton, Thorncliffe, Long Branch, Dufferin and Stamford) and consolidates its racing charters into three racetracks: Fort Erie, Greenwood and a to-be-built Woodbine.

1956: New Woodbine opens in Etobicoke.

1959: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh attend the Queen’s Plate for the first time.

1963: Mohawk Park opens for harness racing in Campbellville, Ontario.

1964: Northern Dancer makes history as the first Canadian horse to win the Kentucky Derby, and goes on to win the Queen’s Plate .

1973: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh attend the Queen’s Plate again.

Secretariat races for the final time before retirement at Woodbine in the Canadian International.

1976: The OJC introduces the first cash, self-automated wagering system in North America.

1982: The first simulcast wagering debuts in North America when OJC broadcasts live racing at Fort Erie to its Woodbine track.

1984: The first North America Cup is held at Greenwood and Intertrack Betting Begins. OJC tracks are also approved this year for Inter-Track betting between their own racetracks.

1993: The first “Champions” off-track wagering location opens at the Doctor’s House.
Greenwood Racetrack in the Beaches Area of Toronto closes as a racetrack, but operates as a teletheatre.

1994: Woodbine Racetrack is reconstructed with a 7/8 mile Harness track, a one mile Thoroughbred dirt track and a 1½ mile world renowned turf course.

1996: Woodbine hosts the Breeders’ Cup.

1997: The OJC launches Horseplayer Interactive (HPI), allowing customers to wager on racetracks across Canada, North America and around the world via their phone or computer.

1999: OLG brings Slots Gaming to Woodbine & Mohawk with the new ‘Slots at Racetracks’ program.

The Racing Network (TRN), a television service dedicated to Canadian and international horse racing, launches.

2001: OJC rebrands as Woodbine Entertainment.

2003: Woodbine Entertainment opens Turf Lounge, an upscale fine-dining restaurant/bar and teletheatre on Bay Street, in the heart of Toronto’s financial district.

2004: Woodbine Entertainment’s WEGZ Stadium Bar opens in Vaughan.

Internet wagering becomes a reality with the launch of HPIBet.com – Canada’s first legal online horse betting service.

Woodbine becomes the first track in Canada (and the second in North America) to install the revolutionary Polytrack synthetic racing surface.

2010: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh attend the Queen’s Plate – which is broadcast in HD (high definition) for the first time on CBC Television.

2012: OLG terminates the ‘Slots at Racetracks’ Program.

2014: The Ontario government announces its Horse Racing Partnership Plan to support the horse racing industry in the province.

2015: New synthetic Thoroughbred racing surface (Tapeta) is installed at Woodbine

2016: A Community Garden is launched on the grounds of Woodbine Racetrack providing learning opportunities and nutritious food to team and community members.

2017: Woodbine Mohawk Park becomes home to year-round Standardbred racing.

2018: New gaming service providers are welcomed to Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park to assume control of the gaming operations from the OLG.

2019: Woodbine Mohawk Park’s paddock receives a $6 million expansion.

Woodbine opens a new inner turf course.

Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts all 12 final Breeders Crown races in the same year.

2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Woodbine’s 2020 racing season is delayed until June. For the first time ever, horse racing carries on with no or limited in-person attendance.

The first edition of the Mohawk Million, a brand-new race with a purse of $1 million, for two-year-old trotters is contested at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

2022: Woodbine Entertainment surpasses a record-breaking $1 billion in all-sources handle.

The Woodbine Community Plan is launched, outlining a vision for the development of a new vibrant community on the expansive Woodbine property.

Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts the 2022 Breeders Crown.

2023: With sports betting newly legal in Ontario, horse racing becomes available on bet365.

The King’s Plate runs under its new name for the first time after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and coronation of King Charles III.