| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1953 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Woodbine racetrack |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1½ miles (12 furlongs) |
| Track | Grass, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | $750,000 |
The Northern Dancer Turf Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade I event with a current purse of $750,000 ($650,000 plus $100,000 from the Breeders Cup Fund), it is held in the third week of July and run at a distance of 1½ miles on Woodbine's E. P. Taylor turf course.
Inaugurated as the Niagara Handicap, it was first raced on dirt at the Fort Erie Racetrack. In 1957 the race was changed to run on turf and was moved to the Woodbine Racetrack in 1985 where for 1986 only, it was run on dirt. The race became part of the Breeders' Cup program and the name was amended to the Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap. In 2006, the event was renamed to honor Canada's most famous racehorse, Northern Dancer.
Over the years, the race has been run at various distances:
Contents |
Speed Record:
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a Trainer:
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2011 | Wigmore Hall | 4 | Jamie Spencer | Michael Bell | Mark B. Hawtin | 2:30.67 |
| 2010 | Redwood | 4 | Michael Hills | Barry Hills | Juddmonte Farm | 2:28.97 |
| 2009 | Marsh Side†[1] | 6 | Javier Castellano | Neil Drysdale | Robert S. Evans | 2:26.68 |
| 2008 | Champs Elysees | 5 | Garrett Gomez | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 2:32.02 |
| 2007 | Sky Conqueror | 5 | Edgar Prado | Darwin D. Banach | William A. Sorokolit, Sr. | 2:27.45 |
| 2006 | Sky Conqueror | 4 | Todd Kabel | Darwin D. Banach | William A. Sorokolit, Sr. | 2:34.36 |
| 2005 | Revved Up | 7 | Brice Blanc | Christophe Clement | Live Oak Plantation | 2:27.13 |
| 2004 | Strut the Stage | 6 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:25.87 |
| 2003 | Strut the Stage | 5 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:27.13 |
| 2002 | Full of Wonder | 4 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:26.18 |
| 2001 | Honor Glide | 7 | Robbie Davis | Christophe Clement | Robert Schaedle III et al. | 2:26.52 |
| 2000 | River Boat | 7 | Gary Boulanger | Frank Huarte | Frank Huarte | 2:32.16 |
| 1999 | Thornfield | 5 | Richard Dos Ramos | Phil England | Knob Hill Stable | 2:29.32 |
| 1998 | Chief Bearhart | 5 | Jose Santos | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:30.00 |
| 1997 | Desert Waves | 7 | Sandy Hawley | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:30.40 |
| 1996 | Desert Waves | 6 | Sandy Hawley | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:27.00 |
| 1995 | Lindon Lime | 5 | Craig Perret | W. Elliott Walden | Frank Mansell | 2:27.00 |
| 1994 | River Majesty | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Christophe Clement | W. Gretzky / S. Port | 2:03.20 |
| 1993 | Shiny Key | 5 | Mark Larsen | Alton H. Quanbeck | D. Morgan Firestone | 2:01.60 |
| 1992 | Beau Fasa | 6 | Stanley Bethley | Gordon Colbourne | Box Arrow Farm | 2:02.20 |
| 1991 | Tot of Rum | 5 | Daniel David | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 2:04.80 |
| 1990 | Hodges Bay | 5 | Jean Cruguet | Willard C. Freeman | Plandome Stable | 2:05.20 |
| 1989 | Turfah | 6 | Dave Penna | Thomas Skiffington, Jr. | Shadwell Stable | 2:28.00 |
| 1988 | Master Treaty | 4 | Dave Penna | Trevor Swan | Anderson/Taylor Stables | 2:34.40 |
| 1987 | Southjet | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Stephen L. DiMauro | Dogwood Stable | 2:32.80 |
| 1986 | Golden Choice | 3 | David Clark | Michael A. Tammaro | Sanderson / Belanger | 2:32.40 |