Canadian International Back in 2021 Woodbine Schedule
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Photo: Michael Burns
The Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine, won in 2018-19 by Desert Encounter (pictured in 2019), returns in 2021
Woodbine unveiled its stakes schedule Jan. 29 for the 2021 Thoroughbred racing season, featuring the return of the $600,000 Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T). The meet is scheduled to begin April 17, subject to Ontario government COVID-19 protocols.
The lucrative program will offer more than $16.5 million in purses across 87 stakes and feature a pair of $1 million classics, including the iconic Queen's Plate Aug. 22, as well as the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) Sept. 18, a Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" qualifier. The Canadian International returns after a year hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and will be featured on the Woodbine Mile card along with the $250,000 Canadian Stakes (G2T).
"We are excited to bring back the Pattison Canadian International as part of our world-class stakes schedule for the 2021 Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine Racetrack," said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment.
The Natalma Stakes (G1T) and Summer Stakes (G1T), both designated as Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" races, have each received notable purse increases to $400,000 from $250,000. Also increasing in purse to $350,000 from $300,000 is the Highlander Stakes (G1T), which like the Canadian International, returns after a year's pause. It will be featured on the Queen's Plate card.
Purses for all grade 3 stakes races at Woodbine are also receiving a 20% increase to $150,000.
As usual, the Toronto racetrack will host the first and third legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, starting with the 162nd running of the historic Queen's Plate and concluding with the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes Oct. 3. The second leg, the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, will be run at Fort Erie Sept. 14.
The Woodbine schedule also includes the $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) Oct. 17, the final leg of Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn Series, which offers $75,000 in bonuses to the top performers based on points accumulated in the designated graded turf routes for fillies and mares. Other races in the series are the $175,000 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) and $250,000 Canadian Stakes (G2T). The winner of the Ladies of the Lawn Series last year was Elizabeth Way.
The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, the first leg of the prestigious Canadian Triple Tiara, headlines another major race card July 25, which includes the $150,000 Plate Trial, a prep for the Queen's Plate.
A strong Ontario-bred stakes offering includes the reinstatement of the Sir Barton Stakes, Shady Well Stakes, and Clarendon Stakes, each carrying a $150,000 purse.
Also in 2021, listed races have increased purses to $125,000, boosted from $100,000.
"Last year was obviously a challenging year for the industry due to COVID-19," remarked Lawson. "While Woodbine Entertainment and the horse racing industry continue to be impacted, we are hopeful that the pandemic in Ontario improves in the coming months, allowing businesses and industries to safely re-open, including our ability to start our 2021 meet as planned on Saturday, April 17."
Woodbine's stakes schedule is subject to approval by The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee.
| 2021 Woodbine Stakes Schedule | ||||
| Date | Purse | Race Name | Division | Distance |
|
May 1
|
$150,000 | Whimsical Stakes (G3) | F&M, 4YO+ | Six Furlongs |
|
May 2
|
$150,000 | Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) | 4YO+ | Six Furlongs |
|
May 8
|
$125,000 | Star Shoot Stakes | 3YOF | Six Furlongs |
|
May 9
|
$125,000 | Woodstock Stakes | 3YO | Six Furlongs |
|
May 16
|
$150,000 | Trillium Stakes (G3) | F&M, 4YO+ | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
May 22
|
$175,000 | Royal North Stakes (G2T) | F&M, 4YO+ | Six Furlongs (T) |
|
May 23
|
$175,000 | Connaught Cup (G2T) | F&M, 4YO+ | Seven Furlongs (T) |
|
May 29
|
$125,000 | Fury Stakes | 3YOF (Can-Bred) | Seven Furlongs |
|
May 30
|
$125,000 | Queenston Stakes | 3YO (Can-Bred) | Seven Furlongs |
|
June 6
|
$100,000 | Ballade Stakes | F&M, 3YO+ (ONT Sired) | Six Furlongs |
|
June 12
|
$100,000 | Great Lakes Stakes | 4YO+ | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
June 12
|
$150,000 | Bold Venture Stakes (G3) | 4YO+ | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
June 13
|
$150,000 | Sir Barton Stakes | 3YO (Ont-bred) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |
|
June 19
|
$175,000 | Nassau Stakes | F&M, 4YO+ | One Mile (T) |
|
June 26
|
$150,000 | Selene Stakes (G3) | 3YOF | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
June 27
|
$150,000 | Marine Stakes (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
July 1
|
$150,000 | Dominion Day Stakes (G3) | 4YO+ | 1 1/8 Miles |
|
July 3
|
$100,000 | Sweet Briar Too Overnight Stakes | F&M, 4YO+ | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
July 10
|
$100,000 | King Corrie Overnight Stakes | 3YO | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
July 17
|
$150,000 | Ontario Matron Stakes | F&M, 4YO+ | 1 1/16 miles |
|
July 17
|
$150,000 | Vigil Stakes (G3) | 4YO+ | Six Furlongs |
|
July 18
|
$150,000 | Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) | 3YOF | One Mile (T) |
|
July 25
|
$500,000 | Woodbine Oaks Presented By Budweiser | 3YOF (Can-Bred) | 1 1/8 Miles |
|
July 25
|
$150,000 | Plate Trial Stakes | 3YO (Can-Bred) | 1 1/8 Miles |
|
July 25
|
$100,000 | Niagara Stakes | 4YO+ | 1 1/8 Miles (T) |
|
July 31
|
$125,000 | My Dear Stakes | 2YOF | 5 1/2 Furlongs |
|
July 31
|
$100,000 | Zadracarta Stakes | F&M, 4YO+ (ONT-Bred) | Five Furlongs (T) |
|
Aug 1
|
$125,000 | Victoria Stakes | 2YO | 5 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Aug 7
|
$100,000 | Ontario Jockey Club Stakes | 3YO+ | Six Furlongs |
|
Aug 14
|
$150,000 | Seaway Stakes (G3) | F&M, 4YO+ | Seven Furlongs |
|
Aug 14
|
$125,000 | Greenwood Stakes | 3YO | 7 1/2 Furlongs (T) |
|
Aug 15
|
$175,000 | Dance Smartly Stakes (G3) | F&M, 3YO+ | 1 1/4 Miles (T) |
|
Aug 15
|
$250,000 | Bison City Stakes | 3YOF (Can-Bred) | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Aug 21
|
$125,000 | Catch A Glimpse Stakes | 2YOF | 6 1/2 Furlongs (T) |
|
Aug 21
|
$125,000 | Soaring Free Stakes | 2YO | 6 1/2 Furlongs (T) |
|
Aug 22
|
$1,000,000 | The Queen's Plate | 3YO (Can-Bred) | 1 1/4 Miles |
|
Aug 22
|
$350,000 | Highlander Stakes (G1T) | 3YO+ | Six Furlongs (T) |
|
Aug 22
|
$150,000 | Singspiel Stakes (G3T) | 3YO+ | 1 1/4 Miles (T) |
|
Aug 22
|
$100,000 | Alywow Stakes | 3YOF | 6 1/2 furlongs (T) |
|
Aug 22
|
$175,000 | King Edward Stakes (G2T) | 3YO+ | One Mile (T) |
|
Aug 29
|
$200,000 | Muskoka Stakes | 2YOF (Can-Bred) | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Aug 29
|
$200,000 | Simcoe Stakes | 2YOC&G (Can-Bred) | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Aug 29
|
$100,000 | Algoma Stakes | 3YOF (Can-Bred) | Seven Furlongs |
|
Aug 29
|
$100,000 | Elgin Stakes | 3YOC&G (Can-Bred) | Seven Furlongs |
|
Sept 4
|
$150,000 | Hendrie Stakes (G3) | F&M, 4YO+ | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Sept 5
|
$100,000 | Belle Mahone Overnight Stakes | F&M, 3YO+ | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Sept 11
|
$150,000 | Seagram Cup (G3) | 4YO+ | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Sept 11
|
$150,000 | Vice Regent Stakes | 3YO+ (Ont-Bred) | Five Furlongs (T) |
|
Sept 12
|
$125,000 | Toronto Cup | 3YO | One Mile (T) |
|
Sept 17
|
$100,000 | Victorian Queen Stakes | 2YOF (Ont-Sired) | One Mile (T) |
|
Sept 17
|
$100,000 | Bull Page Stakes | 2YOC&G (Ont-Sired) | One Mile (T) |
|
Sept 18
|
$1,000,000 | Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) | 3YO+ | One Mile (T) |
|
Sept 18
|
$600,000 | Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T) | 3YO+ | 1 1/2 Miles (T) |
|
Sept 18
|
$250,000 | Canadian Stakes (G2T) | F&M, 3YO+ | 1 1/8 Miles (T) |
|
Sept 19
|
$400,000 | Natalma Stakes (G1T) | 2YOF | One Mile (T) |
|
Sept 19
|
$400,000 | Summer Stakes (G1T) | 2YO | One Mile (T) |
|
Sept 19
|
$125,000 | Ontario Racing Stakes | 2YO | Five Furlongs (T) |
|
Sept 19
|
$125,000 | Woodbine Cares Stakes | 2YOF | Five Furlongs (T) |
|
Sept 25
|
$125,000 | Duchess Stakes | 3YOF | Seven Furlongs |
|
Oct 1
|
$100,000 | Overskate Stakes | 3YO+ (Ont-Sired) | 7 1/2 Furlongs (T) |
|
Oct 2
|
$250,000 | Wonder Where Stakes | 3YOF (Can-Bred) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) |
|
Oct 3
|
$400,000 | Breeders' Stakes | 3YO (Can-Bred) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) |
|
Oct 8
|
$150,000 | Shady Well Stakes | 2YOF (Ont-Bred) | 5 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Oct 8
|
$150,000 | Clarendon Stakes | 2YO (Ont-Bred) | 5 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Oct 9
|
$100,000 | Eternal Search Stakes | F&M, 3YO+ | 7 1/2 Furlongs (T) |
|
Oct 10
|
$250,000 | Cup & Saucer Stakes | 2YO (Can-Bred) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |
|
Oct 16
|
$150,000 | Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3) | F&M, 3YO+ | Six Furlongs |
|
Oct 16
|
$150,000 | Durham Cup (G3) | 3YO+ | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Oct 17
|
$600,000 | E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) | F&M, 3YO+ | 1 1/4 Miles (T) |
|
Oct 17
|
$250,000 | Nearctic Stakes (G2T) | 3YO+ | Six Furlongs (T) |
|
Oct 23
|
$250,000 | Princess Elizabeth Stakes | 2YOF (Can-Bred) | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Oct 30
|
$125,000 | Glorious Song Stakes | 2YOF | Seven Furlongs |
|
Oct 30
|
$125,000 | Display Stakes | 2YO | Seven Furlongs |
|
Oct 30
|
$250,000 | Coronation Futurity | 2YO (Can-Bred) | 1 1/8 Miles |
|
Oct 31
|
$125,000 | Ontario Damsel Stakes | 3YOF | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Oct 31
|
$150,000 | Ontario Derby (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/8 Miles |
|
Nov 7
|
$175,000 | Bessarabian Stakes (G2) | F&M, 3YO+ | Seven Furlongs |
|
Nov 13
|
$150,000 | Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) | F&M, 3YO+ | 1 1/4 Miles |
|
Nov 14
|
$175,000 | Autumn Stakes | 3YO+ | 1 1/16 Mies |
|
Nov 21
|
$100,000 | South Ocean Stakes | 2YOF (Ont-Sired) | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Nov 21
|
$100,000 | Frost King Stakes | 2YO (Ont-Sired) | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
|
Nov 27
|
$175,000 | Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) | 3YO+ | Six Furlongs |
|
Nov 28
|
$150,000 | Mazarine Stakes (G3) | 2YOF | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Nov 28
|
$150,000 | Grey Stakes (G3) | 2YO | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Dec 4
|
$100,000 | La Prevoyante Stakes | F&M, 3YO+ (Ont-Sired) | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Dec 4
|
$100,000 | Steady Growth Stakes | 3YO+ (Ont-Sired) | 1 1/16 Miles |
|
Dec 5
|
$150,000 | Valedictory Stakes (G3) | 3YO+ | 1 1/2 Miles |