The 2024 racing calendar boasts an impressive lineup of 38 graded stakes races and various significant race days. Notably, the iconic Canadian International race has been omitted once again.
Woodbine Entertainment recently disclosed the lucrative stakes schedule for 2024, a move sure to captivate the global racing community. The finalized 2024 Stakes schedule came to fruition following consultations with the HBPA. The upcoming Thoroughbred season at Woodbine Racetrack will kick off on Saturday, April 27, continuing through to Sunday, December 15, encompassing a total of 129 race dates.
A standout event on the agenda is the 165th King’s Plate, scheduled for August 17, offering a staggering $1 million in prize money. This prestigious race, alongside the Woodbine Mile (G1) on September 14, forms the duo of million-dollar races on the schedule. The King’s Plate, the inaugural leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, will pave the way for the $400,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie on September 10 and the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes on September 29.
The Woodbine Mile, a key qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships held this year at Santa Anita in early November, will headline an action-packed day of racing. The Grade 1 Summer, Natalma, and E.P. Taylor races, all also serving as WAYI races, will complement the event.
Conversely, the E.P. Taylor race, valued at $750,000, has been rescheduled from late fall to enhance the overall excitement of the race day. Historically, the Taylor race coincided with the esteemed Canadian International (G1). However, the International, famous for commemorating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s triumph in the turf classic last year, has faced cancellation for the third time since 2020 due to various circumstances, including the pandemic year.
Mark your calendars for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser on Saturday, July 20, marking the commencement of the Canadian Triple Tiara. This series includes the $250,000 Bison City Stakes on August 10 and the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes on September 8.
Additionally, the Canada Day Racing Festival on Saturday, June 29, will showcase a diverse array of five graded stakes races. Notable events include the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes, Grade 2 Nassau Stakes, Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes, Grade 3 Selene Stakes, and Grade 3 Marine Stakes.
A few Grade 3 stakes races, including the Whimsical, Belle Mahone, Trillium, Seagram Cup, Mazarine, and Grey, have witnessed a reduction in their purses from $150,000 to $135,000. Similarly, the Royal North, now downgraded to a Grade 3 race, will offer $135,000 in prize money, down from $175,000.