Press Releases

<< Back to Press Release Listing

Press Release
February 28, 2006

2006 Canadian Graded Races

The Canadian Graded Stakes Committee met in January 2006, to review 142 open races carrying purses of $40,000 or more.  Once again this year graded status was assigned to 37 Canadian stakes.

To qualify for graded status in Canada in 2006, races must carry a minimum purses; $250,000 - G1, $150,000 - G2 and $100,000 - G3. 

The following are the highlighted changes to this year’s schedule. The Bessarabian, the Maple Leaf and the Duchess Stakes have all lost their G3 status and are now listed races. The Summer Stakes was downgraded to a G3 and the Whimsical Stakes, the Ontario Derby and the B.C. Premier’s were elevated to G3 races. The Dance Smartly Stakes was made a G2 race.

Woodbine Racetrack has announced that there will be some sponsorship changes in 2006 for some key races. The Atto Mile G1 has been renamed the Bell Woodbine Mile G1.  The Bell Canadian Stakes G2 will be known as the Canadian Stakes G2. The Chinese Cultural Centre will sponsor the Seagram Cup Stakes G3 and the race will be called the Chinese Cultural Centre Seagram Cup Stakes G3 to be run on July 30, 2006.

The Niagara Breeders’ Cup Stakes has been renamed the Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup Turf G2 and the Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes has been renamed the Nijinsky Stakes G2 and will be a 12 furlong race on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine on August 27, 2006 with a guaranteed purse of $300,000.

The following is a listing of all graded races in Canada in 2006.

Race by Grade	Grade	Dist	Track	Date	Purse	Age/Sex
Bell Woodbine Mile	G1	8T	WO	17-Sep-06	$1,000,000	3up
Pattison Canadian International	G1	12T	WO	22-Oct-06	$2,000,000	3up
E.P. Taylor Stakes	G1	10T	WO	22-Oct-06	$1,000,000	3up f/m
Nassau Stakes	G2	8.5T	WO	03-Jun-06	$300,000	3up f/m
King Edward Breeders' Cup	G2	9T	WO	03-Jul-06	$300,000	3up
Dance Smartly Stakes	G2	9T	WO	15-Jul-06	$300,000	3up f/m
Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf	G2	12T	WO	23-Jul-06	$700,000	3up
Play The King Stakes	G2	7T	WO	26-Aug-06	$200,000	3up
Nijinsky Stakes	G2	12T	WO	27-Aug-06	$300,000	3up
Canadian Stakes	G2	9T	WO	17-Sep-06	$300,000	3up f/m
Sky Classic Stakes	G2	11T	WO	24-Sep-06	$300,000	3up
Nearctic Stakes	G2	6T	WO	22-Oct-06	$500,000	3up
Whimsical Stakes	G3	6	WO	16-Apr-06	$125,000	4up f/m
Vigil Stakes	G3	7	WO	29-Apr-06	$150,000	4up
Hendrie Stakes	G3	6.5	WO	14-May-06	$150,000	4up f/m
Marine Stakes	G3	8.5	WO	20-May-06	$150,000	3yo
Selene Stakes	G3	8.5	WO	21-May-06	$250,000	3yof
Eclipse Stakes	G3	8.5	WO	22-May-06	$150,000	4up
Connaught Cup Stakes	G3	8.5T	WO	28-May-06	$150,000	4up
Scotts Highlander Stakes	G3	6T	WO	25-Jun-06	$200,000	3up
Dominion Day Stakes	G3	10	WO	01-Jul-06	$200,000	3up
Lt. Governors' Stakes	G3	9	HST	01-Jul-06	$125,000	3up
Chinese Cultural Centre Seagram Cup Stakes	G3	8.5	WO	30-Jul-06	$150,000	3up
Royal North Stakes	G3	6T	WO	07-Aug-06	$150,000	3up f/m
Canadian Derby	G3	11	NP	26-Aug-06	$300,000	3yo
Seaway Stakes	G3	7	WO	09-Sep-06	$150,000	3up f/m
Natalma Stakes	G3	8T	WO	10-Sep-06	$150,000	2yof
Summer Stakes	G3	8T	WO	17-Sep-06	$250,000	2yo
British Columbia Breeders' Cup Oaks	G3	9	HST	23-Sep-06	$150,000	3yof
British Columbia Derby	G3	9	HST	24-Sep-06	$250,000	3yo
Mazarine Breeders' Cup Stakes	G3	8.5	WO	30-Sep-06	$250,000	2yof
Ontario Derby	G3	9	WO	01-Oct-06	$200,000	3yo
Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes	G3	8.5	WO	09-Oct-06	$250,000	2yo
Durham Cup Stakes	G3	9	WO	14-Oct-06	$150,000	3up
Ballerina Breeders' Cup	G3	9	HST	14-Oct-06	$150,000	3up f/m
BC Premiers H.	G3	11	HST	15-Oct-06	$125,000	3up
Woodbine Slots Cup	G3	8.5	WO	18-Nov-06	$150,000	3up

-30-

For further information please contact:

Bridget Bimm
The Jockey Club of Canada
Telephone: (416) 675-7756
Fax: (416) 675-6378

<< Back to Press Release Listing

 

Contact Us: (416) 675-7756 | Email: jockeyclub@bellnet.ca
© 2005. Sovereign Awards is copyright to The Jockey Club of Canada. All rights reserved.