Toronto, ON – One hundred and two stakes races, worth nearly $20 million in purses, will highlight Woodbine’s 133-day Thoroughbred meet in 2014.
The Woodbine stakes schedule, unveiled today by the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), is highlighted by the 155th running of the Queen’s Plate. The 1 1/4-mile classic, which carries a $1 million purse, is set for Sunday, July 6.
The Plate, North America’s oldest continuously-run stakes event and first jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown of Racing, will be complemented by three turf stakes events, the Grade 2, $200,000 Highlander Stakes, Presented by Pizzaville, the Grade 2 $200,000 Dance Smartly Stakes and the Grade 3, $150,000 Singspiel Stakes.
The Ricoh Woodbine Mile, which will be televised across North America, as part of the ‘Jockey Club Tour on FOX’ series, is slated for Sunday, September 14. The Jockey Club/Fox Tour series of races will feature several of North America’s most prestigious races for older horses.
The Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a $1 million event won in consecutive years by reigning U.S. Horse of the Year Wise Dan, caps a lucrative weekend on the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, which kicks off on Saturday, September 13 with the Grade 2, $200,000 Natalma Stakes, for juvenile fillies and the Grade 2, $200,000 Summer Stakes, for two-year-olds.
In addition to the Woodbine Mile, Sunday’s card features the Grade 1, $300,000 Northern Dancer Stakes, for three-year-olds and upwards, and the Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian Stakes, for fillies and mares three-year-olds and upwards.
The iconic Grade 1, $1 million Pattison Canadian International, is set for Sunday, October 19. The 1 1/2-mile grass event headlines an outstanding card that includes the Grade 1, $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, for fillies and mares, and the Grade 2, $300,000 Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong turf sprint.
Woodbine will again be a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series which features a lucrative “Win and You’re In” incentive. A score in the Natalma, Summer, Ricoh Woodbine Mile or Canadian guarantees the victor a berth in the corresponding championship event at the Breeders’ Cup (October 31 & November 1) at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
“The Win & You’re In series continues to showcase Woodbine as the racetrack where champions race,” said Steve Lym, Woodbine’s Director of Racing. “Each year, the best of the best come to Woodbine to compete on our world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course. We are proud to continue that tradition and celebrate recent victories from rising stars such as My Conquestadory, fan favourite Joshua Tree, a three-time Canadian International winner, and reigning U.S. Horse of the Year, Wise Dan.”
Sunday, June 15 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.
The victor, of the Plate Trial, and the Oaks, if an exceptional filly once again steps forward, will have three weeks to prepare for the Queen’s Plate.
“In recent history a number of prominent fillies, led by 2011 Oaks and Queen’s Plate champion Inglorious, have made the leap from the Oaks to the Plate adding drama and excitement to an already storied day,” said Lym.
The Breeders’ Stakes, third and turf gem of racing’s Triple Crown, is set for Sunday, August 17 at Woodbine. The 1 1/2-mile turf race carries a purse of $500,000.
The Woodbine meet launches Saturday, April 12, with a first-race post of 1:00 p.m. and concludes on Sunday, December 7.
2014 Stakes Schedule
April
$125,000 JACQUES CARTIER STAKES – Sunday, April 13
$125,000 STAR SHOOT STAKES – Saturday, April 19
$125,000 WOODSTOCK STAKES – Sunday, April 20
$150,000 WHIMSICAL STAKES – Saturday, April 26 (Gr.3)
May
$125,000 BALLADE STAKES** – Saturday, May 3
$150,000 FURY STAKES*** – Saturday, May 10
$150,000 VIGIL STAKES – Sunday, May 11 (Gr. 3)
$150,000 QUEENSTON STAKES*** – Saturday, May 17
$150,000 SELENE STAKES – Sunday, May 18 (Gr.3)
$125,000 NEW PROVIDENCE STAKES** – Monday, May 19
$150,000 HENDRIE STAKES – Saturday, May 24 (Gr.3)
$200,000 NASSAU STAKES – Sunday, May 25 (Gr.2, Turf)
$125,000 MARINE STAKES – Sunday, May 25
$200,000 CONNAUGHT CUP STAKES – Saturday, May 31 (Gr.2, Turf)
June
$200,000 ECLIPSE STAKES – Sunday, June 1 (Gr.2)
$125,000 LADY ANGELA STAKES** – Saturday, June 7
$125,000 STEADY GROWTH STAKES** – Sunday, June 8
$125,000 BOLD RUCKUS STAKES** – Saturday, June 14 (Turf)
$500,000 WOODBINE OAKS STAKES, presented by Budweiser*** – Sunday, June 15
$150,000 PLATE TRIAL STAKES*** – Sunday, June 15
$125,000 VICTORIA STAKES – Saturday, June 21
$125,000 VICTORIA PARK STAKES – Sunday, June 22
$200,000 KING EDWARD STAKES – Sunday, June 22 (Gr.2, Turf)
$125,000 MY DEAR STAKES – Saturday, June 28
July
$150,000 DOMINION DAY STAKES – Tuesday, July 1 (Gr.3)
$150,000 ACHIEVEMENT STAKES* – Saturday, July 5
$1,000,000 THE QUEEN’S PLATE STAKES*** – Sunday, July 6
$200,000 HIGHLANDER STAKES, presented by Pizzaville – Sunday, July 6 (Gr.2, Turf)
$200,000 DANCE SMARTLY STAKES – Sunday, July 6 (Gr.2, Turf)
$150,000 SINGSPIEL STAKES Sunday, July 6 (Gr.3, Turf)
$150,000 CLARENDON STAKES* – Saturday, July 12
$125,000 PASSING MOOD STAKES** – Saturday, July 12(Turf)
$250,000 BISON CITY STAKES*** – Sunday, July 13
$150,000 SHADY WELL STAKES* – Sunday, July 13
$200,000 NIJINSKY STAKES – Saturday, July 19 (Gr.2, Turf)
$150,000 ONTARIO DAMSEL STAKES* – Saturday, July 19 (Turf)
$125,000 DUCHESS STAKES – Sunday, July 20
$125,000 TORONTO CUP STAKES – Sunday, July 20 (Turf)
$125,000 DEPUTY MINISTER STAKES** – Wednesday, July 23
$125,000 COLIN STAKES – Saturday, July 26
$150,000 ONTARIO MATRON STAKES – Saturday, July 26 (Gr.3)
$150,000 ROYAL NORTH STAKES – Sunday, July 27 (Gr.3, Turf)
$500,000 PRINCE OF WALES STAKES *** – Tuesday, July 29 – Run at Fort Erie
$125,000 VICTORIANA STAKES** – Wednesday, July 30 (Turf)
August
$125,000 ETERNAL SEARCH STAKES** – Saturday, August 2
$150,000 SEAGRAM CUP STAKES – Sunday, August 3 (Gr.3)
$125,000 NANDI STAKES** – Sunday, August 3
$125,000 SHEPPERTON STAKES** – Monday, August 4
$125,000 ONTARIO DEBUTANTE STAKES – Saturday, August 9
$250,000 WONDER WHERE STAKES*** – Sunday, August 10 (Turf)
$200,000 PLAY THE KING STAKES – Sunday, August 10 (Gr. 2, Turf)
$150,000 VANDAL STAKES* – Saturday, August 16
$200,000 SKY CLASSIC STAKES – Saturday, August 16 (Gr.2, Turf)
$500,000 BREEDERS’ STAKES*** – Sunday, August 17 (Turf)
$150,000 ONTARIO COLLEEN STAKES – Saturday, August 23 (Gr.3, Turf)
$150,000 SEAWAY STAKES – Sunday, August 24 (Gr. 3)
$200,000 MUSKOKA STAKES*** – Wednesday, August 27
$200,000 SIMCOE STAKES*** – Wednesday, August 27
$125,000 KENORA STAKES*** – Wednesday, August 27
$125,000 ELGIN STAKES*** – Wednesday, August 27
$125,000 ALGOMA STAKES*** – Wednesday, August 27
$125,000 HALTON STAKES*** – Wednesday, August 27 (Turf)
$125,000 VICE REGENT STAKES** – Saturday, August 30 (Turf)
September
$125,000 SWYNFORD STAKES – Sunday, September 7
$200,000 NATALMA STAKES -Saturday, September 13 (Gr.2, Turf) WAYI
$200,000 SUMMER STAKES – Saturday, September 13 (Gr.2, Turf) WAYI
$150,000 BOLD VENTURE STAKES – Saturday, September 13 (Gr.3)
$1,000,000 RICOH WOODBINE MILE – Sunday, September 14 (Gr.1, Turf) WAYI
$300,000 NORTHERN DANCER TURF – Sunday, September 14 (Gr.1, Turf)
$300,000 CANADIAN STAKES – Sunday, September 14 (Gr.2, Turf) WAYI
$125,000 OVERSKATE STAKES** – Saturday, September 20
$150,000 ONTARIO DERBY – Sunday, September 21 (Gr.3)
$125,000 LA LORGNETTE STAKES – Sunday, September 21
$125,000 LA PREVOYANTE STAKES** – Saturday, September 27 (Turf)
$125,000 BULL PAGE STAKES** – Saturday, September 27
$125,000 CLASSY’N SMART STAKES** – Sunday, September 28
October
$150,000 DURHAM CUP STAKES – Saturday, October 4 (Gr.3)
$150,000 MAZARINE STAKES – Sunday, October 5 (Gr.3)
$150,000 GREY STAKES – Sunday, October 5 (Gr.3)
$125,000 VICTORIAN QUEEN STAKES** – Saturday, October 11
$250,000 CUP & SAUCER STAKES*** – Sunday, October 12 (Turf)
$125,000 BUNTY LAWLESS STAKES** – Sunday, October 12 (Turf)
$150,000 CAROTENE STAKES* – Monday, October 13 (Turf)
$1,000,000 PATTISON CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL – Sunday, October 19 (Gr.1, Turf)
$500,000 E.P.TAYLOR STAKES- -Sunday, October 19 (Gr.1, Turf)
$300,000 NEARCTIC STAKES – Sunday, October 19 (Gr.2, Turf)
$150,000 ONTARIO FASHION STAKES – Sunday, October 19 (Gr.3)
$150,000 FANFRELUCHE STAKES* – Sunday, October 26
November
$150,000 MAPLE LEAF STAKES – Saturday, November 1 (Gr.3)
$125,000 DISPLAY STAKES – Saturday, November 1
$250,000 PRINCESS ELIZABETH STAKES*** – Sunday, November 2
$150,000 JAMMED LOVELY STAKES* – Saturday, November 8
$125,000 FROST KING STAKES** – Saturday, November 8
$200,000 AUTUMN STAKES – Sunday, November 9 (Gr.2)
$125,000 SOUTH OCEAN STAKES** – Saturday, November 15
$200,000 BESSARABIAN STAKES – Sunday, November 16 (Gr.2)
$125,000 GLORIOUS SONG STAKES – Saturday, November 22
$200,000 KENNEDY ROAD STAKES – Sunday, November 23 (Gr.2)
$250,000 CORONATION FUTURITY*** – Saturday, November 29
$150,000 ONTARIO LASSIE STAKES* – Sunday, November 30
$125,000 SIR BARTON STAKES** – Sunday, November 30
December
$125,000 KINGARVIE STAKES** – Saturday, December 6
$150,000 VALEDICTORY STAKES – Sunday, December 7 (Gr.3)
*Registered Ontario Bred
**starters must be sired by Ontario-based stallions
***starters must be foaled in Canada
WAYI “Win and You’re In”
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