Woodbine Mile

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

Notes

References

• The 2009 Woodbine Mile at the NTRA