Woodbine Entertainment unveiled the stakes schedule Monday for the 2023 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.
The program will offer more than $17 million in purses, including 39 graded stakes, five Grade I events and two $1 million classics, The King's Plate and Ricoh Woodbine Mile.
“Highlighted by the return of the Canadian International, and the first running of The King's Plate in 70 years, this year's stakes program at Woodbine will be as exciting as ever,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment.
The 164th running of The King's Plate is schedule for Sunday, August 20 to launch the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The $400,000 Prince of Wales will be run Tuesday, September 12 at Fort Erie Race Track, while the $400,000 Breeders' S. will be contested Sunday, October 1.
The GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile is accompanied by the $500,000 GI Johnnie Walker Natalma S. and $500,000 GI Summer S. Saturday, September 16. The trio of Grade I events are all part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series.
The biggest addition to the 2023 stakes schedule is the return of the Grade I Canadian International. The race will have its 84th running Sunday, October 8 at a new distance of a mile and a quarter over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The GI E.P. Taylor will also be contested on October 8.
The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser will launch the Canadian Triple Tiara Sunday, July 23. To view the entire 2023 Thoroughbred stakes schedule, click here.
The 2023 season at Woodbine Racetrack opens Saturday, April 22 and runs through Sunday, December 10.
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