Woodbine Releases 2011 Stakes Schedule

Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) unveiled their 2011 stakes schedule earlier today, featuring a total of 122 stakes races and nearly $22 million in purses up for grabs. The highlight of the meet, the 152nd running of the Queen's Plate, will carry a $1 million purse and will be run on Sunday, June 26. Queen's Plate day will also feature two graded stakes turf races in the Grade II $200,000 Highlander Stakes and the Grade III $150,000 Singspiel Stakes.

Woodbine's richest race, the Grade I Pattison Canadian International, had its purse cut from $2 million to $1.5 million and is scheduled to be run on Sunday, October 16th. Also on the October 16th card includes the Grade I $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares, and the Grade I $500,000 Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong turf sprint. All three races are part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series of races.

"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 schedule also features three more "Win and You're In" turf events, scheduled for the same weekend in Septmeber.

On Saturday, September 17, two-year olds will try their hand on the turf for a spot in the Breeders' Cup. The day features the running of the $250,000 Summer Stakes, a Grade III turf test for two-year-olds, and the Grade III $200,000 Natalma Stakes, for two-year-old fillies. Then on Sunday, September 18, the Grade I $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile will punch the final Breeders' Cup ticket of the weekend. The day will also feature the Grade I $500,000 Northern Dancer Turf presented by VTech and the Grade II $300,000 Canadian Stakes, for turf fillies and mares.

Sunday, June 5 will be another big day at Woodbine. 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 one and one half mile turf race carries a purse of $500,000.

Despite the speculation of stakes purse cuts that I wrote about yesterday, Woodbine says that only the Canadian International purse and the purse for the Northern Dancer Turf were cut, which is excellent news. Since these races are normally dominated by European invaders, the cuts may keep some of them away, allowing more locally based horses to compete for this large amount of money.

Here's the entire stakes schedule below:

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* - Saturday, October 15(Turf)
$1,500,000 PATTISON CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL - Sunday, October 16 (Gr.1, Turf) WAYI
$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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