Woodbine Releases Updated Stakes Schedule
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Photo: Michael Burns
Mighty Heart leads the way turning for home in the 2020 Queen's Plate at Woodbine
Woodbine announced May 28 its revised stakes schedule for the 2021 Thoroughbred racing season.
The commencement of the 2021 Thoroughbred season, originally scheduled for April 17, has been delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions in the province of Ontario. Based on recent government announcements, Woodbine is targeting June 18 for the meet's beginning, with the possibility of the start date occurring earlier.
The delayed start of the 2021 Thoroughbred season has forced Woodbine Entertainment to restructure the dates for the majority of its stakes races. Despite the delay, Woodbine was able to maintain the original dates for most of its marquee races.
The lucrative 2021 Thoroughbred stakes program offers more than $16.5 million in stakes purses and two $1 million classics, The Queen's Plate and Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T).
"We are pleased that we were able to avoid major changes to our stakes schedule, setting up for an exciting 2021 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine," said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. "As a result of the delayed start, we expect our season to start strong and build momentum as it heads into the summer with The Queen's Plate and its prep races, followed by a really exciting stakes schedule in the fall, including an unprecedented Ricoh Woodbine Mile weekend that includes two other Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' races, and the return of the Pattison Canadian International."
The Queen's Plate remains on its original date of Aug. 22, with this year's running marking the 162nd edition of the iconic race. The Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race, returning $600,000 Pattison Canadian International (G1T), and $250,000 Canadian Stakes (G2T) will be contested on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Natalma Stakes (G1T) and Summer Stakes (G1T), each with boosted purses of $400,000 and part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, will run Sept. 19. The $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) and $250,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) remain slated for Oct. 17 and will be contested on the world-renowned mile and a half E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
With most marquee events remaining untouched on the schedule, the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and $150,000 Plate Trial, a key prep race for the Queen's Plate, have been moved back a week from July 25 to Aug.1.
The dates for the Canadian Triple Crown legs remain intact, with the $1 million The Queen's Plate Aug. 22, $400,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie Sept. 14, and the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes Oct. 3.
Throughout the recent shutdown of racing in Ontario, Woodbine Entertainment has remained committed to offering as much of its 2021 stakes program as possible through rescheduling and strategic planning. The majority of Woodbine's original stakes schedule has received a facelift to accommodate the new starting date and racing opportunities.
Earlier this year, Woodbine Entertainment announced all grade 3 stakes would receive a purse increase of 20%, while listed races would be boosted from $100,000 to $125,000. This announcement was made in conjunction with news of the returning Pattison Canadian International and purse increases for the $400,000 Natalma, $400,000 Summer, and $350,000 Highlander Stakes (G1T).
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Revised Woodbine 2021 Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule
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| Date | Purse | Race | Grade | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| June 19 | $125,000 | Star Shoot | 3YO F | 6 F | Synth | |
| June 19 | $150,000 | Whimsical | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 6 F | Synth |
| June 20 | $125,000 | Woodstock | 3YO | 6 F | Synth | |
| June 20 | $150,000 | Jacques Cartier | 3 | 4&UP | 6 F | Synth |
| June 26 | $150,000 | Trillium | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| July 1 | $150,000 | Dominion Day | 3 | 4&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| July 10 | $125,000 | Fury Stakes | 3YO F (CAN) | 7 F | Synth | |
| July 10 | $150,000 | Selene | 3 | 3YO F | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| July 11 | $125,000 | Queenston | 3YO (CAN) | 7 F | Synth | |
| July 11 | $150,000 | Marine | 3 | 3YO | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| July 17 | $100,000 | Ballade | 3&UP, F&M (ONT SIRED) | 6 F | Synth | |
| July 18 | $175,000 | Connaught Cup | 2 | 4&UP | 7 F | Turf |
| July 24 | $175,000 | Nassau | 2 | 4&UP, F&M | 8 F | Turf |
| July 25 | $100,000 | Niagara | 4&UP | 1 1/8 M | Turf | |
| July 31 | $125,000 | My Dear | 2YO F | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| July 31 | $125,000 | Victoria | 2YO | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| July 31 | $100,000 | Alywow | 3YO F | 6 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 1 | $500,000 | Woodbine Oaks | 3YO F (CAN) | 1 1/8 M | Synth | |
| Aug. 1 | $150,000 | Plate Trial | 3YO (CAN) | 1 1/8 M | Synth | |
| Aug. 1 | $175,000 | Royal North | 2 | 4&UP, F&M | 6 F | Turf |
| Aug. 1 | $150,000 | Vigil | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 6 F | Synth |
| Aug. 7 | $80,000 | Georgian Bay | 3YO F (ONT SIRED) | 5 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 7 | $80,000 | Lake Huron | 3YO, C&G (ONT SIRED) | 5 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 14 | $125,000 | Greenwood | 3YO | 7 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 15 | $175,000 | King Edward | 2 | 3&UP | 1 M | Turf |
| Aug. 21 | $150,000 | Singspiel | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/4 M | Turf |
| Aug. 21 | $125,000 | Catch A Glimpse | 2YO F | 6 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 21 | $125,000 | Soaring Free | 2YO | 6 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 21 | $150,000 | Seaway | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 7 F | Synth |
| Aug. 22 | $1,000,000 | The Queen's Plate | 3YO (CAN) | 1 1/4 M | Synth | |
| Aug. 22 | $350,000 | Highlander | 1 | 3&UP | 6 F | Turf |
| Aug. 22 | $175,000 | Dance Smartly | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/4 M | Turf |
| Aug. 22 | $150,000 | Ontario Colleen | 3 | 3YO F | 1 M | Turf |
| Aug. 28 | $250,000 | Bison City | 3YO F (CAN) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Aug. 29 | $200,000 | Muskoka (Sales Stakes) | 2YO F (CAN) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Aug. 29 | $200,000 | Simcoe (Sales Stakes) | 2YO, C&G (CAN) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Aug. 29 | $100,000 | Algoma (Sales Stakes) | 3YO F (CAN) | 7 F | Synth | |
| Aug. 29 | $100,000 | Elgin (Sales Stakes) | 3YO, C&G (ONT SIRED) | 7 F | Synth | |
| Sept. 10 | $100,000 | Zadracarta | 3&UP, F&M (ONT) | 5 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 11 | $150,000 | Seagram Cup | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Sept. 11 | $150,000 | Vice Regent | 3&UP (ONT) | 5 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 12 | $125,000 | Toronto Cup | 3YO | 1 M | Turf | |
| Sept. 12 | $100,000 | Belle Mahone | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Sept. 17 | $100,000 | Victorian Queen | 2YO F (ONT SIRED) | 1 M | Turf | |
| Sept. 17 | $100,000 | Bull Page | 2YO, C&G (ONT SIRED) | 1 M | Turf | |
| Sept. 18 | $1,000,000 | Woodbine Mile | 1 | 3&UP | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 18 | $600,000 | Canadian International | 1 | 3&UP | 1 1/2 M | Turf |
| Sept. 18 | $250,000 | Canadian | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Sept. 19 | $400,000 | Natalma | 1 | 2YO F | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 19 | $400,000 | Summer | 1 | 2YO | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 19 | $125,000 | Woodbine Cares | 2YO F | 5 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 19 | $125,000 | Ontario Racing | 2YO | 5 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 25 | $125,000 | Duchess | 3YO F | 7 F | Synth | |
| Sept. 25 | $150,000 | Bold Venture | 3 | 3&UP | 6 1/2 F | Synth |
| Oct. 2 | $250,000 | Wonder Where | 3YO F (CAN) | 1 1/4 M | Turf | |
| Oct. 3 | $400,000 | Breeders' | 3YO (CAN) | 1 1/2 M | Turf | |
| Oct. 3 | $150,000 | Ontario Fashion | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 6 F | Synth |
| Oct. 8 | $150,000 | Shady Well | 2YO F (ONT) | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Oct. 8 | $150,000 | Clarendon | 2YO (ONT) | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Oct. 9 | $100,000 | Overskake | 3&UP | 7 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 10 | $250,000 | Cup & Saucer | 2YO (CAN) | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| Oct. 10 | $150,000 | Ontario Matron | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Oct. 10 | $150,000 | Durham Cup | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Oct. 17 | $600,000 | E. P. Taylor | 1 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/4 M | Turf |
| Oct. 17 | $250,000 | Nearctic | 2 | 3&UP | 6 F | Turf |
| Oct. 22 | $80,000 | Thunder Bay | 3YO F (ONT SIRED) | 7 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 22 | $80,000 | Lake Superior | 3YO, C&G (ONT SIRED) | 7 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 23 | $250,000 | Princess Elizabeth | 2YO F (CAN) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Oct. 23 | $150,000 | Hendrie | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 6 1/2 F | Synth |
| Oct. 29 | $100,000 | Eternal Search | 3&UP, F&M (ONT SIRED) | 7 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 30 | $125,000 | Glorious Song | 2YO F | 7 F | Synth | |
| Oct. 30 | $125,000 | Display Stakes | 2YO | 7 F | Synth | |
| Oct. 30 | $250,000 | Coronation Futurity | 2YO (CAN) | 1 1/8 M | Synth | |
| Oct. 31 | $125,000 | Ontario Damsel | 3YO F | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Oct. 31 | $150,000 | Ontario Derby | 3 | 3YO | 1 1/8 M | Synth |
| Nov. 7 | $100,000 | Ontario Jockey Club | 3&UP (ONT SIRED) | 6 F | Synth | |
| Nov. 13 | $175,000 | Bessarabian | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 7 F | Synth |
| Nov. 13 | $150,000 | Maple Leaf | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/4 M | Synth |
| Nov. 14 | $175,000 | Autumn | 2 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Nov. 19 | $100,000 | Ashbridges Bay | 3YO F (ONT SIRED) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Nov. 19 | $100,000 | Lake Ontario | 3YO, C&G (ONT SIRED) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Nov. 21 | $100,000 | South Ocean | 2YO F (ONT SIRED) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Nov. 21 | $100,000 | Frost King | 2YO (ONT SIRED) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Nov. 27 | $175,000 | Kennedy Road | 2 | 3&UP | 6 F | Synth |
| Nov. 28 | $150,000 | Mazarine | 3 | 2YO F | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Nov. 28 | $150,000 | Grey | 3 | 2YO | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Dec. 4 | $100,000 | La Prevoyante | 3&UP, F/M (ONT SIRED) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Dec. 4 | $100,000 | Steady Growth | 3&UP (ONT SIRED) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Dec. 5 | $150,000 | Valedictory | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/2 M | Synth |