Northern Dancer Turf Stakes

Northern Dancer Turf Stakes

Grade I race
Location	Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Inaugurated	1953
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Woodbine racetrack
Race information
Distance	1 1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds & up
Weight	Handicap
Purse	$300,000 Canadian (2014)

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 $Cdn300,000. It is usually held in the third week of July and run at a distance of 1 ¹⁄₂ 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 honour Canada's most famous racehorse, Northern Dancer.

Over the years, the race has been run at various distances:

• 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles : 1953-1956
• 1 ¹⁄₈ miles : 1957-1975
• 1 ¹⁄₄ miles : 1990-1994
• 1 ¹⁄₂ miles : 1976-1989, 1995 to present

Records

Speed Record:

• 2:26.18 - Full of Wonder (2002) at the current distance of 1 ¹⁄₂ miles

Most wins:

• 2 - Marshall Ney II (1957, 1958)
• 2 - Strut the Stage (2003, 2004)
• 2 - Wigmore Hall (2011, 2012)

Most wins by an owner:

• 7 - Sam-Son Farm (1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004)
• 5 - Gardiner Farm (1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Todd Kabel (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
• 3 - Sandy Hawley (1970, 1996, 1997)

Most wins by a Trainer:

• 6 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)
• 6 - Mark Frostad (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004)

Winners since 1986

Earlier winners

References