E.P. Taylor Turf Course Renovations To Begin Next Week, Major Stakes Shift To Inner

[Wandering Eyes]

Renovations to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine will begin the week of Aug. 18, 2025. The project will restore a five-furlong section of the backstretch run and install a modern drainage system and new Kentucky Bluegrass. For the remainder of the season until the completion of the project in September 2026, turf racing will be conducted on the bet365 Inner Turf Course.

“The E.P. Taylor Turf Course has played host to some of the most memorable moments in Canadian racing, and this renovation ensures it remains one of the finest turf courses in the world,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “This project is about more than infrastructure–it reflects our long-term commitment to delivering a world-class racing experience for our horses and riders, horseplayers and fans, and the entire racing community.”

The fall turf stakes traditionally contested over the E.P. Taylor will be relocated to the inner turf, including the GI Woodbine Mile, the GI Summer Stakes and GI Natalma Stakes all at a two-turn mile on Sept. 13. The Breeders' Stakes on Sept. 28 and the GI Canadian International on Oct. 4 will also be run over the inner turf course. The latter two events will be held over their traditional mile-and-a-half distances, but will be three-turn races instead of two.

To support the project timeline, post times at Woodbine will be adjusted beginning the week of Aug. 18. Thursday post time will shift from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., while Friday's first race will be moved to 4:30 p.m. from 1:05 p.m. Saturday and Sunday post times remain unchanged.

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