Woodbine lands Citytv, Sportsnet and CBC broadcast deal for 2026 races

Woodbine has lined up Citytv, Sportsnet and CBC for a new television and streaming distribution plan that will carry its marquee races throughout the 2026 season. The move gives Canada’s premier Toronto track a broader home on network television and digital platforms, making its biggest cards easier to find for casual sports viewers and regular horseplayers alike.

The shift matters because racing still lives on visibility as much as betting handle. A major card that lands on mainstream channels can reach fans who would never tune to a niche racing service, and it gives the sport a clearer path into homes that already follow summer sports on Citytv, Sportsnet and CBC. For Woodbine, the benefit is not just exposure on big days. A wider broadcast footprint also helps its everyday product by keeping the track in front of viewers between the headline events.

The setup also changes how fans watch. Network television brings the credibility and reach that comes with established sports brands, while streaming adds portability, replay value and a better fit for viewers who follow racing on phones and tablets. That combination is especially useful for horseplayers who want to move between live coverage and wagering platforms, and for out-of-market fans who have followed Woodbine from outside Toronto without relying on specialty racing channels.

Woodbine has been building toward this. On July 3, 2024, Woodbine Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media announced a multi-year media rights agreement that put the King’s Plate on Sportsnet and Citytv, a sign that the track’s signature race was moving deeper into mainstream Canadian sports distribution. Woodbine has also described Sportsnet and Citytv as the new home for the King’s Plate, reinforcing that its biggest races are no longer being treated as standalone racing properties.

CBC’s involvement pushes that reach even further. With Citytv, Sportsnet and CBC all carrying Woodbine racing content, the track’s major events are set to live in places Canadian sports fans already know, rather than behind channels or subscriptions built only for horse racing. For horsemen, that should mean more eyes on the horses, the trainers and the jockeys who shape the meet. For bettors, it means the races that matter most will be easier to access, follow and keep on the calendar.