1/ST CONTENT has expanded its Canadian horse racing offering through a long-term international distribution deal with Assiniboia Downs (ASD).

The company will provide betting content across a 50-fixture schedule which starts today, May 20. Highlights of ASD’s schedule include the Manitoba Derby, the Gold Cup, and the Winnipeg Futurity.

“The sheer distributional scope of 1/ST CONTENT’s international operator network is second to none. Therefore, it was a logical step for ASD to partner with them to distribute our upcoming calendar to a new legion of bettors outside Canada, thereby increasing returns to the core stakeholders of our domestic scene here in Winnipeg,” said ASD CEO Darren Dunn.

1/ST CONTENT has similar deals with other racetracks in Canada, including Woodbine, Fort Erie, and Hastings. It currently partners with a range of fixed-odds, spread-betting, and commingled wagering companies such as Flutter Entertainment, bet365 and Entain.

“1/ST CONTENT is delighted to have added Assiniboia Downs to our all-encompassing North American roster, optimizing our wider Canadian content and introducing a fresh cohort of global racing fans to one of the true hidden gems in North America,” added Senior Vice President at 1/ST CONTENT Simon Fraser. “We look forward to delivering more coverage of high-class Canadian racing than ever before to fans and bettors around the world.”

According to 1/ST CONTENT, this latest deal is emblematic of its commitment to ensuring North American racing’s stakeholders become the primary beneficiaries of revenues generated through international wagering.

At the beginning of the year, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) finalized the 2024 race dates for horse racing tracks across the province, following input from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and Ontario Racing.

Woodbine Mohawak Park in Campbellville will host 222 racing days throughout the year, the highest among Standardbred tracks. Clinton Raceway, Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs will host 15, 130, and 39 race days respectively.

Other tracks, such as Grand River Raceway, Hanover Raceway, and Hiawatha Horse Park & Entertainment Centre, were also allocated between 15-48 race days each.