Ontario Derby

The Ontario Derby is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of September/early October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade III stakes since 2006, it is open to three-year-old horses. Raced over a distance of 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) on Polytrack synthetic dirt, the Ontario Derby offers a purse of $150,000.

Inaugurated in 1972 as the Colonel R. S. McLaughlin Handicap, the race was renamed the Ontario Derby for the 2003 running. Originally contested at 1³/16 miles, it was changed to its current 1⅛ miles distance in 1992.

Records

Speed record: (Through 1998, times were recorded in fifths of a second. Since 1999 they are in hundredths of a second)

• 1:49.38 - Sand Cove (2008) (at current distance of 1⅛ miles on Polytrack)
• 1:49.45 - Kiss A Native (2000) (at current distance of 1⅛ miles on natural dirt)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Sam-Son Farm (1974, 1987)
• 2 - Frank Stronach (1983, 1994)
• 2 - Frank DiGiulio, Jr. (1989, 2001)
• 2 - Minshall Farms (1995, 1996)
• 2 - Gus Schickedanz (1999, 2003)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 - Sandy Hawley (1972, 1975, 1977, 1989, 1991)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - Roger Attfield (1976, 1986, 2005, 2008)

Winners of the Ontario Derby

* In 1996 Steady Climb finished first but was disqualified and set back to second place.

References

• The Ontario Derby at Pedigree Query
• 2007 Ontario Derby at the NTRA