One hundred and two stakes races, worth nearly $22-million in purses, will highlight Woodbine’s 167-day Thoroughbred meet in 2011.
The Woodbine stakes schedule, unveiled today by the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), is highlighted by the 152nd running of the Queen’s Plate. The 1 1/4-mile classic, which carries a $1 million purse, is set for Sunday, June 26.
The Plate, North America’s oldest continuously-run stakes event and first jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown of Racing, will be complemented by two turf stakes events, the Grade 2, $200,000 Highlander Stakes and the Grade 3, $150,000 Singspiel Stakes.
Woodbine’s richest race, the Grade 1, $1.5 million Pattison Canadian International, is set for Sunday, October 16. The 1 1/2-mile grass event headlines an outstanding card in which the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course is spotlighted. The Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes, for fillies and mares, and the Grade 1, $500,000 Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong turf sprint, are also slated for International day.
All three added-money events continue to be key events in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series which features a lucrative “Win and You’re In” incentive. A score in the International, the E.P. Taylor or the Nearctic guarantees the victor a berth in the corresponding championship event, three weeks later, at the Breeders’ Cup (November 4 & 5) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
“Last year was our strongest one to date in terms of European and American horses competing at Woodbine,” said Steve Lym, Woodbine’s Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. “Their presence at Woodbine and their results on our highly-regarded turf course further reiterate how our races are regarded by the worldwide racing community.”
The Woodbine stakes calendar also features three other “Win and You’re In” events, all turf contests carded on the same September weekend.
On Saturday, September 17, the spotlight shines on the sport’s freshmen turf talents, with the running of the $250,000 Summer Stakes, a Grade 3 grass test for two-year-olds, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Natalma Stakes, for two-year-old fillies.
The weekend’s third Breeders’ Cup Challenge race is the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile, the highlight of a lucrative $2 million-plus day of racing on September 18. The Grade 1, $500,000 Northern Dancer Turf, presented by VTech and the Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian Stakes, for turf fillies and mares, will also be contested on Mile day.
Sunday, June 5 will be another big day at the Toronto oval. The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, the first leg in Canada’s Triple Tiara of Racing, is scheduled for that day. Also slated is the $150,000 Plate Trial, the country’s top prep race for the Queen’s Plate.
“We have moved the Queen’s Plate back to its’ traditional June date after it was run in July in 2010,” said Lym. “Once again, we have placed the Oaks three weeks prior to the Plate. The decision to do so was extremely well-received last year. It also enables the connections of a filly that runs in the Oaks more time to prepare for the Plate, should they wish to compete in both events.”
The Breeders’ Stakes, third and turf gem of racing’s Triple Crown, is set for Sunday, August 7 at Woodbine. The 1 1/2-mile turf race carries a purse of $500,000.
Purses were cut on two stakes. The Pattison Canadian International is now worth $1.5 million, while the Northern Dancer is worth $500,000.
The Woodbine meet launches Saturday, April 2, with a first-race post of 1:00 p.m.
The entire 2011 Woodbine stakes schedule follows.
2011 Stakes Schedule
April
$150,000 STAR SHOOT STAKES – Saturday, April 9
$150,000 WOODSTOCK STAKES – Saturday, April 16
$150,000 JACQUES CARTIER STAKES – Sunday, April 17
$150,000 WHIMSICAL STAKES – Saturday, April 23 (Gr.3)
$150,000 FURY STAKES* – Saturday, April 30
May
$150,000 QUEENSTON STAKES* – Saturday, May 7
$150,000 VIGIL STAKES – Sunday, May 8 (Gr. 3)
$15$150,000 LA LORGNETTE STAKES – Sunday, May 15
$150,000 MARINE STAKES – Saturday, May 21
$125,000 NEW PROVIDENCE STAKES** – Sunday, May 22
$125,000 LADY ANGELA STAKES** – Monday, May 23
$150,000 ECLIPSE STAKES – Saturday, May 28 (Gr.3)
$150,000 CONNAUGHT CUP STAKES – Sunday, May 29 (Gr.3, Turf)
June
$125,000 BALLADE STAKES** – Wednesday, June 1
$300,000 NASSAU STAKES – Saturday, June 4 (Gr.2, Turf)
$500,000 WOODBINE OAKS STAKES, presented by Budweiser*** – Sunday, June 5
$150,000 PLATE TRIAL STAKES*** – Sunday, June 5
$125,000 BOLD RUCKUS STAKES** – Saturday, June 11 (Turf)
$150,000 VICTORIA PARK STAKES – Sunday, June 12
$150,000 VICTORIA STAKES – Saturday, June 18
$125,000 STEADY GROWTH STAKES** – Sunday, June 19
$150,000 MY DEAR STAKES – Saturday, June 25
$250,000 KING EDWARD STAKES – Saturday, June 25 (Gr.2, Turf)
$1,000,000 QUEEN’S PLATE STAKES*** – Sunday, June 26
$200,000 HIGHLANDER STAKES – Sunday, June 26 (Gr.2, Turf)
$150,000 SINGSPIEL STAKES, Sunday, June 26 (Gr.3, Turf)
July
$200,000 DOMINION DAY STAKES – Friday, July 1 (Gr.3)
$150,000 ACHIEVEMENT STAKES* – Saturday, July 2
$150,000 CLARENDON STAKES* – Sunday, July 3
$250,000 BISON CITY STAKES*** – Sunday, July 3
$150,000 ONTARIO DAMSEL STAKES* – Saturday, July 9 (Turf)
$300,000 DANCE SMARTLY STAKES – Sunday, July 10 (Gr.2, Turf)
$150,000 COLIN STAKES – Saturday, July 16
$150,000 TORONTO CUP STAKES – Saturday, July 16 (Turf)
$150,000 SHADY WELL STAKES* – Sunday, July 17
$150,000 BOLD VENTURE STAKES – Wednesday, July 20
$125,000 PASSING MOOD STAKES** – Saturday, July 23 (Turf)
$150,000 ONTARIO MATRON STAKES – Sunday, July 24 (Gr.3)
$300,000 NIJINSKY STAKES – Sunday, July 24 (Gr.2, Turf)
$125,000 DEPUTY MINISTER STAKES** – Wednesday, July 27
$150,000 DUCHESS STAKES – Saturday, July 30
$150,000 VANDAL STAKES* – Sunday, July 31
$250,000 WONDER WHERE STAKES*** – Sunday, July 31 (Turf)
August
$150,000 ROYAL NORTH STAKES – Monday, August 1 (Gr.3, Turf)
$150,000 SEAGRAM CUP STAKES – Saturday, August 6 (Gr.3)
$125,000 NANDI STAKES** – Sunday, August 7
$500,000 BREEDERS’ STAKES*** – Sunday, August 7 (Turf)
$125,000 SHEPPERTON STAKES** – Wednesday, August 10
$150,000 ONTARIO DEBUTANTE STAKES – Saturday, August 13
$125,000 VICTORIANA STAKES** – Sunday, August 14 (Turf)
$125,000 ETERNAL SEARCH STAKES** – Saturday, August 20
$250,000 SKY CLASSIC STAKES – Sunday, August 21 (Gr.2, Turf)
$150,000 ONTARIO COLLEEN STAKES – Saturday, August 27 (Gr.3, Turf)
$200,000 PLAY THE KING STAKES – Sunday, August 28 (Gr. 2, Turf)
September
$150,000 SEAWAY STAKES – Saturday, September 3 (Gr. 3)
$125,000 VICE REGENT STAKES** – Sunday, September 4 (Turf)
$200,000 MUSKOKA STAKES*** – Monday, September 5
$200,000 SIMCOE STAKES*** – Monday, September 5
$125,000 KENORA STAKES*** – Monday, September 5
$125,000 ELGIN STAKES*** – Monday, September 5
$125,000 ALGOMA STAKES*** – Monday, September 5
$125,000 HALTON STAKES*** – Monday, September 5 (Turf)
$125,000 LA PREVOYANTE STAKES** – Saturday, September 10 (Turf)
$150,000 SWYNFORD STAKES – Sunday, September 11
$200,000 NATALMA STAKES -Saturday, September 17 (Gr.3, Turf)
$250,000 SUMMER STAKES – Saturday, September 17 (Gr.3, Turf)
$1,000,000 RICOH WOODBINE MILE – Sunday, September 18 (Gr.1, Turf) WAYI
$500,000 NORTHERN DANCER TURF-Presented by Vtech – Sunday, September 18 (Gr.1, Turf)
$300,000 CANADIAN STAKES – Sunday, September 18 (Gr.2, Turf)
$150,000 ONTARIO DERBY – Saturday, September 24
$250,000 SELENE STAKES – Sunday, September 25(Gr.3)
$125,000 OVERSKATE STAKES** – Wednesday, September 28
October
$125,000 VICTORIAN QUEEN STAKES** – Saturday, October 1
$150,000 CAROTENE STAKES* – Sunday, October 2 (Turf)
$150,000 DURHAM CUP STAKES – Sunday, October 2 (Gr.3)
$125,000 CLASSY’N SMART STAKES** – Wednesday, October 5
$200,000 MAZARINE STAKES – Saturday, October 8
$200,000 GREY STAKES – Sunday, October 9 (Gr.3)
$125,000 BULL PAGE STAKES** – Monday, October 10
$250,000 CUP & SAUCER STAKES* – Sunday, October 15(Turf)
$1,500,0$1,000,000 E.P.TAYLOR STAKES-Presented by Fly Emirates -Sunday, October 16 (Gr.1, Turf) WAYI
$500,000 NEARCTIC STAKES – Sunday, October 16 (Gr.1, Turf) WAYI
$125,000 BUNTY LAWLESS STAKES** – Saturday, October 22 (Turf)
$150,000 FANFRELUCHE STAKES* – Sunday, October 23
$250,000 PRINCESS ELIZABETH STAKES*** – Saturday, October 29
$150,000 ONTARIO FASHION STAKES – Sunday, October 30
November
$125,000 FROST KING STAKES** – Wednesday, November 2
$175,000 MAPLE LEAF STAKES – Saturday, November 5
$250,000 CORONATION FUTURITY*** – Sunday, November 6
$125,000 SOUTH OCEAN STAKES** – Wednesday, November 9
$150,000 AUTUMN STAKES – Saturday, November 12 (Gr.2)
$150,000 GLORIOUS SONG STAKES – Sunday, November 13
$150,000 JAMMED LOVELY STAKES* – Wednesday, November 16
$150,000 KENNEDY ROAD STAKES – Saturday, November 19 (Gr.3)
$150,000 BESSARABIAN STAKES – Sunday, November 20 (Gr.3)
$125,000 KINGARVIE STAKES** – Saturday, November 26
$150,000 DISPLAY STAKES – Sunday, November 27
$125,000 SIR BARTON STAKES** – Wednesday, November 30
December
$150,000 ONTARIO LASSIE STAKES* – Saturday, December 3
$150,000 VALEDICTORY STAKES – Sunday, December 4 (Gr.3)
*starters must be foaled in Ontario
**starters must be sired by Ontario-based stallions ***starters must be foaled in Canada WAYI – Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In”
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