Newly appointed director of the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC), Edward Plunket Taylor embarked on a bold plan to bring horse racing in the Toronto area up to the same standards as leading racetracks in North America. His plan centered on acquiring local racetracks (Hamilton, Thorncliffe, Long Branch, Dufferin and Stamford) and consolidating their racing charters into three racetracks: Fort Erie, Greenwood and a to-be-built Woodbine.