Woodbine Mile
| Grade I race | |
| Location |
Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | 2007 Woodbine Mile |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Weight-For-Age |
| Purse | $753,900 (2015) |
The Woodbine Mile is a Grade I stakes race on turf for Thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up held annually in mid September at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. Currently sponsored by Bell Canada, the Woodbine Mile currently currently offers a purse of $753,900 and is a qualifying race for the Breeders' Cup Turf Mile.
Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the 2008 Woodbine Mile automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Mile.[1]
The inaugural race in 1988 was sponsored by Molson Breweries with a purse of $750,000 and run as the Molson Export Challenge, reflecting the name of the company's flagship beer. It was changed to the Molson Export Million when the purse was increased to $1 million. In 1999, under new sponsorship it was renamed and raced as the Atto Mile until 2006.
Since inception, the race has been run at three different distances:
- 1 mile : 1997–present
- 1 1⁄8 miles : 1991-1996
- 1 1⁄4 miles : 1988-1990
Originally restricted to three-year-olds, with the modification to one mile in 1997 the race was also made open to older horses.
Historical notes
In 2009, Ventura became the first female to win this race in 13 years. In the process, she also set the record time of 1:32.04.[2]
Records
In 2005, the Brazilian horse, Leroidesanimaux, set the record for the largest margin of victory at seven and three-quarter lengths while carrying the highest weight of any winner in the race's history at 124 pounds.
Time record:
- 1:31.75 - Wise Dan (2013) (at current distance) (this is also the track record)
Most wins
- 2 - Wise Dan (2012, 2013)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Sam-Son Farm (1991, 1999, 2004)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - John R. Velazquez (2000, 2005, 2012, 2013)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 - Neil D. Drysdale (1989, 1998, 2003, 2006)
- 3 - Robert J. Frankel (2000, 2005, 2009)
- 3 - Charles Lopresti (2011, 2012, 2013)
Winners of the Woodbine Mile
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Mondialiste (IRE) | 5 | Feargal Lynch | David O'Meara | Sandra & Geoff Turnbull | 1:36.66 |
| 2014 | Trade Storm (GB) | 6 | Jamie P. Spencer | David Simcock | Qatar Racing | 1:36.87 |
| 2013 | Wise Dan | 6 | John Velazquez | Charles Lopresti | Morton Fink | 1:31.75 |
| 2012 | Wise Dan | 5 | John Velazquez | Charles Lopresti | Morton Fink | 1:34.07 |
| 2011 | Turallure | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Chuck Lopresti | 4-D Stables | 1:34.92 |
| 2010 | Court Vision | 5 | Robby Albarado | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | IEAH Stables & Resolute Group Stables | 1:34.62 |
| 2009 | Ventura | 5 | Garrett Gomez | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:32.04 |
| 2008 | Rahy's Attorney | 4 | Slade Callaghan | Ian Black | Ellie Boje Farm et al. | 1:36.14 |
| 2007 | Shakespeare | 6 | Garrett Gomez | Kiaran McLaughlin | Dell Ridge Farm / W. Schettine | 1:33.58 |
| 2006 | Becrux | 4 | Patrick Valenzuela | Neil D. Drysdale | Team Valor, Gary Barber | 1:33.99 |
| 2005 | Leroidesanimaux | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Robert J. Frankel | T N T Stud | 1:35.08 |
| 2004 | Soaring Free | 5 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:32.72 |
| 2003 | Touch of the Blues | 6 | Kent Desormeaux | Neil D. Drysdale | Gainsborough Farm | 1:33.39 |
| 2002 | Good Journey | 6 | Pat Day | Wallace Dollase | Flaxman Holdings & M. Jarvis | 1:33.27 |
| 2001 | Numerous Times | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Sid Attard | Committee Stable | 1:32.79 |
| 2000 | Riviera | 6 | John R. Velazquez | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1:33.18 |
| 1999 | Quiet Resolve † | 4 | Robert Landry | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:33.19 |
| 1998 | Labeeb | 6 | Kent Desormeaux | Neil D. Drysdale | Gainsborough Farm | 1:33.00 |
| 1997 | Geri | 5 | Chris Antley | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1:36.20 |
| 1996 | Skip Away | 3 | Shane Sellers | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine | 1:49.00 |
| 1995 | Peaks and Valleys | 3 | Julie Krone | Jim Day | Pin Oak Stable | 1:50.00 |
| 1994 | Dramatic Gold | 3 | Corey Nakatani | David Hofmans | Golden Eagle Farm | 1:49.80 |
| 1993 | Peteski | 3 | Craig Perret | Roger Attfield | Earle I. Mack | 1:49.20 |
| 1992 | Benburb | 3 | Richard Dos Ramos | Phil England | Knob Hill Stable | 1:51.60 |
| 1991 | Dance Smartly | 3 | Pat Day | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:49.20 |
| 1990 | Izvestia | 3 | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:01.60 |
| 1989 | Prized | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | Neil D. Drysdale | Team Valor | 2:02.00 |
| 1988 | Ballindaggin | 3 | Jose Santos | John O. Hertler | George Layman, Jr. | 2:04.60 |