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 Tuesday by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, is highlighted by the 152nd running of the Queen's Plate. The 1 1/4-mile classic, which carries a C$1 million purse, is set for 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 $200,000 Highlander S. (Can-G2) and the $150,000 Singspiel S. (Can-G3).
Woodbine's richest race, the C$1.5 million Canadian International (Can-G1), will be held on 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 C$1 million E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), for fillies and mares, and the C$500,000 Nearctic S. (Can-G1), 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 September 17, the spotlight shines on the sport's freshmen turf talents, with the running of the C$250,000 Summer S. (Can-G3) for males and the C$200,000 Natalma S. (Can-G3) for fillies.
The weekend's third Breeders' Cup Challenge race is the C$1 million Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), the highlight of a lucrative $2 million-plus day of racing on September 18. The C$500,000 Northern Dancer Turf (Can-G1) and the C$300,000 Canadian S. (Can-G2), for turf fillies and mares, will also be contested on Mile day.
June 5 will be another big day at the Toronto oval. The C$500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the first leg in Canada's Triple Tiara of Racing, is scheduled for that day. Also slated is the C$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," Lym said. "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 August 7 at Woodbine. The 1 1/2-mile turf race carries a purse of C$500,000.
Purses were cut on two stakes. The Canadian International was reduced C$500,000 from its $2 million purse in 2010, while the Northern Dancer goes from C$750,000 to $500,000.
The Woodbine meet begins April 2, 2011.
The Woodbine stakes schedule, unveiled Tuesday by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, is highlighted by the 152nd running of the Queen's Plate. The 1 1/4-mile classic, which carries a C$1 million purse, is set for 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 $200,000 Highlander S. (Can-G2) and the $150,000 Singspiel S. (Can-G3).
Woodbine's richest race, the C$1.5 million Canadian International (Can-G1), will be held on 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 C$1 million E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), for fillies and mares, and the C$500,000 Nearctic S. (Can-G1), 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 September 17, the spotlight shines on the sport's freshmen turf talents, with the running of the C$250,000 Summer S. (Can-G3) for males and the C$200,000 Natalma S. (Can-G3) for fillies.
The weekend's third Breeders' Cup Challenge race is the C$1 million Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), the highlight of a lucrative $2 million-plus day of racing on September 18. The C$500,000 Northern Dancer Turf (Can-G1) and the C$300,000 Canadian S. (Can-G2), for turf fillies and mares, will also be contested on Mile day.
June 5 will be another big day at the Toronto oval. The C$500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the first leg in Canada's Triple Tiara of Racing, is scheduled for that day. Also slated is the C$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," Lym said. "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 August 7 at Woodbine. The 1 1/2-mile turf race carries a purse of C$500,000.
Purses were cut on two stakes. The Canadian International was reduced C$500,000 from its $2 million purse in 2010, while the Northern Dancer goes from C$750,000 to $500,000.
The Woodbine meet begins April 2, 2011.