Q & A: With HBPA President Sue Leslie

1. How do you think things went in 2025, primarily with both wagering and track conditions at Woodbine?

Things in 2025 were generally acceptable.

We have real concerns regarding the decline in wagering. While this is an industry wide trend, our home market continues to be particularly affected, which negatively impacts TIP, the purse account, and Woodbine’s overall revenue.

We have also continued to receive complaints about the track surfaces. This year, the training track in particular caused us to lose most of the month training. That said, there has been noticeable improvement over the course of 2025 to the main track surface.

Another major concern is the contraction in both horse supply and our ownership base. We are very appreciative of the owners and trainers who continue to support and sustain participation in both racing and breeding.

On a positive note, the year featured some remarkable horses and exciting races. We also maintained regular meetings with Woodbine and Fort Erie management and made meaningful progress through Ontario Racing in securing additional financial support from the Ontario Government. We extend our thanks to the Premier, Minister Cho, and OLG for their support.

2. 2026 racing season is just around the corner; What do you see for the future at both Woodbine and Fort Erie will look like in 2026?

With respect to 2026, we are optimistic about the upcoming racing season at both Woodbine and Fort Erie.

A key priority is finalizing the additional funding through the 5^thamendment secured through Ontario Racing. This support will be critical in enhancing purses and breeders’ awards, which should, in turn, help stabilize and grow the horse population. We continue to work with Ontario Racing and the government to make this happen.

We are also encouraging Woodbine to explore more innovation within the condition book to better support competitive racing. At Fort Erie, with a reduced number of race days, we are hopeful that field size will improve, leading to stronger wagering opportunities and a more compelling product overall.

Additionally, we continue to advocate for improvements to the guest and horsepeople experience at Woodbine, including the return of a buffet-style dining option in the Woodbine Club in place of the current table-service model.

3. The surfaces at Woodbine have been one of the top topics of the last year and remains a top one coming into 2026. What changes have been made to both the Tapeta and Dirt training track for a successful 2026 training and racing season and is the E.P. Taylor Turf Course going to be ready to go? We saw some delays as much of the turf wasn’t laid down in time. Will that affect the opening?

The Tapeta surface has shown improvement, but it remains a challenge despite being under intense and ongoing scrutiny. The involvement of Tapeta Footings is costly, but to Woodbine’s credit, they continue to engage their expertise on a regular basis. It is also appreciated that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario remains attentive and involved.

Regrettably, the dirt training track was a significant disappointment this season, as consistent conditions could not be achieved. As a result, many horses will face delays in reaching full readiness.

On a positive note, the track at Fort Erie Race Track continues to be maintained in excellent condition across the board.

With respect to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Woodbine currently expects it to be ready for use by September 1. We are hopeful that this timeline will be met.

4. I know the HBPA was reaching out to the government for more funding. How is that coming and is it something that will come in 2026? The first condition book has shown no change in purses for 2026 and there have been lots of talk that there are funds coming soon. Can you tell us where things are at with that?

As mentioned earlier, we are anticipating a substantial increase in funding from the Ontario Government. At this stage, we are awaiting consensus from the Ontario Racing Board to formally accept and approve the proposed offer.

There are still some outstanding discussions, as Woodbine Entertainment Group has expressed concerns regarding the distribution model and is advocating for adjustments with the government.

Once finalized, this additional funding is expected to provide meaningful improvements to purses and breeders’ awards. While the first condition book for 2026 does not yet reflect these increases, there is optimism that updates will follow once an agreement is reached.

This support represents a very positive step forward for the industry, and we are extremely grateful for the Ontario Government’s consideration. Premier Ford has continued to show support for Ontario horsepeople, breeders, and the rural community. In fact, his involvement was instrumental in ensuring that Fort Erie Race Track remained operational this year. The HBPA who sits on the Ontario Racing Board has-been exerting as much pressure and influence as we can. I remain hopeful that Woodbine will soon sign on before this becomes a public feud.

 5. In 2026 the new HBPA website was launched, and your social media channels were revamped. How have they been received by your members?

One of the most exciting developments in 2025 was the launch of the newly designed HBPA website, along with a significant revamp of our social media presence. Engagement has grown substantially, with our social media channels reaching well over one million viewers throughout the year.

As a Board, we are very pleased with this progress, as it has greatly enhanced our ability to communicate and connect with our members, while also attracting new interest from prospective owners and job applicants.

This initiative was led by Steve Lym and Santino DiPaola, who have done an outstanding job executing and advancing this vision.

In addition, we introduced a new HBPA video, “This Is Who We Are,” which has been extremely well received. We plan to continue building on that momentum and further expand our outreach efforts in 2026.

6. Is there anything further you would like to say to your membership?

At HBPA we have a very dedicated and diverse Board of Directors that compliment each other. Our staff is top notch and are very committed and dedicated to helping our members and their staff. Our membership should be very confident and appreciative of all the work they do.

We manage a comprehensive medical plan, pension plan,owners award program, educational assistance program, trainerstesting, social events and so much more, in addition to the daily challenges of everyday horsepeople.

The HBPA will continue to work hard and remain committed to help all horsepeople, big and small, in every way we can. Webelieve in horses and all of you who touch them everyday. Take a moment the next time you give them a pat and look them in the eye and be thankful for that moment.

Try to ignore all the talk of doom and gloom. We are so very lucky to participate with one of the worlds greatest creatures, the HORSE. Focus on them and the joy and serenity they bring us and let those of elected to represent you do the worrying and hard lifting.  Horseracing can have a grand future if we can work through our challenges together and keep engaging so that we, the public, and Government value our contribution to society in so many ways.

I wish all of you involved in racing and breeding a happy, healthy and successful racing season.