Woodbine Entertainment unveiled the stakes schedule Feb. 11 for the 2022 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.
The lucrative 2022 Thoroughbred stakes program offers more than CA$16.9 million in stakes events, including 37 graded stakes and two $1 million classics, The Queen’s Plate and Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T).
After delayed starts in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, Woodbine is eyeing its first full racing season since 2019, with 133 race dates scheduled for the upcoming campaign.
“We are feeling very optimistic that 2022 will be a strong season for our entire team and racing community at Woodbine,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “We’re heading in the right direction for a return to normal and our racing team has done a great job lining up a stakes calendar that provides excitement all season.
“All horseplayers, fans, and participants will immediately take note of several significant days on the calendar that will shine a tremendous light on our world-class racing product at Woodbine.”
As announced in December, the 163rd running of The Queen’s Plate is slated for Sunday, Aug. 21, joined on that date by the Canadian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) and King Edward Stakes (G2T), for Canada’s biggest racing party of the year. The “Path to the Plate” includes the Woodstock (May 1), Queenston (June 12), Marine (G3, July 2), and Plate Trial (July 24).
The Queen’s Plate kicks off the 2022 Canadian Triple Crown, which is completed by the $400,000 Prince of Wales on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Fort Erie and the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes on Sunday, Oct. 2 at Woodbine.
The Canadian Triple Tiara for 3-year-old fillies launches on Sunday, July 24 with the prestigious $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser. The series also consists of the $250,000 Bison City (Aug. 14) and $250,000 Wonder Where (Sept. 11).
The $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile is again part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series ‘Win and You’re In.’ The marquee turf event of the season is joined by the Pattison Summer Stakes (G1T) and Natalma Stakes (G1T) for 2-year-olds on Saturday, Sept. 17. The 2-year-old events remain part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and have received purse increases to $500,000 for 2022.
The E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) has also received a purse increase, vaulting from $600,000 to $750,000 for the 2022 edition. The mile and quarter grade 1 for fillies and mares will be run on Saturday, Oct. 8 along with the Nearctic Stakes (G2T) and Durham Cup (G3).
The E.P. Taylor is also the final leg of the returning Ladies of the Lawn Series. The three-race event consists of the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T, July 24), Canadian Stakes (Aug. 21), and the E.P. Taylor.
Another highlight of the season is a group of five graded stakes to be run over Canada Day weekend. The Dominion Day Stakes (G3) holds its traditional slot on Friday, July 1, followed by the Highlander Stakes (G1T), Nassau Stakes (G2T), Selene Stakes (G3), and Marine on Saturday, July 2.
Other notes from the 2022 stakes schedule include the return of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series and a pair of overnight stakes added to opening weekend.
The 2022 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine opens Saturday, April 16 and runs through Sunday, Dec.11. A total of 133 race dates are scheduled for 2022.
| Woodbine 2022 Stakes Schedule | ||||||
| Date | Purse | Race | Grade | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| April 16 | $100,000 | Long Branch | 4&UP, F&M | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| April 17 | $100,000 | Thorncliffe | 4&UP | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| April 30 | $125,000 | Star Shoot | 3YO F | 6 F | Synth | |
| May 1 | $125,000 | Woodstock | 3YO | 6 F | Synth | |
| May 8 | $150,000 | Whimsical | 3 | 4&UP, F&M | 6 F | Synth |
| May 15 | $150,000 | Jacques Cartier | 3 | 4&UP | 6 F | Synth |
| May 21 | $100,000 | Ruling Angel | 3YO F | 7 F | Synth | |
| May 22 | $100,000 | King Corrie | 3YO | 7 F | Synth | |
| May 29 | $175,000 | Eclipse | 3 | 4&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| June 4 | $175,000 | Royal North | 4&UP, F&M | 6 1/2 F | Turf | |
| June 5 | $100,000 | Belle Mahone | 4&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| June 11 | $125,000 | Fury | 3YO F (CAN) | 7 F | Synth | |
| June 12 | $125,000 | Queenston | 3YO (CAN) | 7 F | Synth | |
| June 19 | $100,000 | Ontario Jockey Club | 4&UP (ONT Sired) | 6 F | Synth | |
| June 26 | $100,000 | Ballade | 4&UP, F&M (ONT Sired) | 6F | Synth | |
| July 1 | $150,000 | Dominion Day | 3 | 4&UP | 1 1/8 M | Synth |
| July 2 | $200,000 | Highlander | 2 | 4&UP | 6 F | Turf |
| July 2 | $175,000 | Nassau | 2 | 4&UP, F&M | 1 M | Turf |
| July 2 | $150,000 | Selene | 3 | 3YO F | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| July 2 | $150,000 | Marine | 3 | 3YO | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| July 9 | $100,000 | Alywow | 3YO F | 6 1/2 F | Turf | |
| July 16 | $125,000 | My Dear | 2YO F | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| July 17 | $125,000 | Victoria | 2YO | 5 1/2 F | Synth | |
| July 23 | $100,000 | Hamilton | 3YO | 7 1/2 F | Turf | |
| July 23 | $175,000 | Connaught Cup | 2 | 3&UP | 7 F | Turf |
| July 24 | $150,000 | Hendrie | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 6 1/2 F | Synth |
| July 24 | $200,000 | Dance Smartly | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| July 24 | $500,000 | Woodbine Oaks | 3YO F (CAN) | 1 1/8 M | Synth | |
| July 24 | $150,000 | Plate Trial | 3YO (CAN) | 1 1/8 M | Synth | |
| July 30 | $100,000 | Niagara | 3&UP | 1 1/4 M | Turf | |
| Aug. 6 | $150,000 | Ontario Colleen | 3 | 3YO F | 1 M | Turf |
| Aug. 7 | $80,000 | Lake Huron | 3YO C&G (ONT Sired) | 5 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 7 | $80,000 | Georgian Bay | 3YO F | 5 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 13 | $150,000 | Bold Venture | 3 | 3&UP | 6 1/2 F | Synth |
| Aug. 13 | $150,000 | Trillium | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Aug. 14 | $250,000 | Bison City | 3YO F (CAN) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Aug. 14 | $150,000 | Seagram Cup | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Aug. 20 | $125,000 | Catch A Glimpse | 2YO F | 6 1/2F | Turf | |
| Aug. 20 | $125,000 | Soaring Free | 2YO | 6 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Aug. 21 | $1,000,000 | Queen’s Plate | 3YO (CAN) | 1 1/4 M | Synth | |
| Aug. 21 | $200,000 | Canadian | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Aug. 21 | $200,000 | King Edward | 2 | 3&UP | 1 M | Turf |
| Aug. 21 | $125,000 | Sweet Briar Too | 3&UP, F&M | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Aug. 26 | $200,000 | Muskoka | 2YO F (CAN) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Aug. 26 | $200,000 | Simcoe | 2YO C&G (CAN) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Aug. 26 | $100,000 | Algoma | 3YO F (CAN) | 7 F | Synth | |
| Aug. 26 | $100,000 | Elgin | 3YO C&G (CAN) | 7 F | Synth | |
| Sept. 3 | $150,000 | Vice Regent | 3&UP (ONT) | 5 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 4 | $100,000 | Zadracarta | 3&UP, F&M (ONT) | 5 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 10 | $125,000 | Toronto Cup | 3YO | 1 M | Turf | |
| Sept. 11 | $250,000 | Wonder Where | 3YO F (CAN) | 1 1/4 M | Turf | |
| Sept. 17 | $1,000,000 | Woodbine Mile | 1 | 3&UP | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 17 | $500,000 | Natalma | 1 | 2YO F | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 17 | $500,000 | Summer | 1 | 2YO | 1 M | Turf |
| Sept. 17 | $150,000 | Seaway | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 7 F | Turf |
| Sept. 18 | $150,000 | Singspiel | 3 | 3&UP | 1 3/8 M | Turf |
| Sept. 24 | $100,000 | Victorian Queen | 2YO F (ONT Sired) | 7 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 24 | $100,000 | Bull Page | 2YO C&G (ONT Sired) | 7 F | Turf | |
| Sept. 25 | $150,000 | Vigil | 3 | 3&UP | 6 F | Synth |
| Oct. 1 | $125,000 | Duchess | 3YO F | 7 F | Synth | |
| Oct. 2 | $400,000 | Breeders | 3YO (CAN) | 1 1/2 M | Turf | |
| Oct. 8 | $750,000 | E.P. Taylor | 1 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/4 M | Turf |
| Oct. 8 | $250,000 | Nearactic | 2 | 3&UP | 6 F | Turf |
| Oct. 8 | $150,000 | Durham Cup | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Oct. 8 | $150,000 | Woodbine Cares | 2YO F | 5 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 8 | $150,000 | Ontario Racing | 2YO | 5 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 9 | $100,000 | Eternal Search | 3&UP, F&M (ONT Sired) | 7 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 9 | $100,000 | Overskate | 3&UP (ONT Sired) | 7 1/2 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 9 | $250,000 | Cup & Saucer | 2YO (CAN) | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| Oct. 14 | $100,000 | South Ocean | 2YO F (ONT Sired) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Oct. 14 | $100,000 | Frost King | 2YO (ONT Sired) | 6 1/2 F | Synth | |
| Oct. 15 | $150,000 | Ontario Fashion | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 6 F | Synth |
| Oct. 16 | $250,000 | Princess Elizabeth | 2YO F (CAN) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Oct. 21 | $80,000 | Thunder Bay | 3YO F (ONT Sired) | 7 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 21 | $80,000 | Lake Superior | 3YO C&G (ONT Sired) | 7 F | Turf | |
| Oct. 22 | $150,000 | Ontario Matron | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Oct. 23 | $125,000 | Ontario Damsel | 3YO F | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Oct. 23 | $150,000 | Ontario Derby | 3 | 3YO | 1 1/8 M | Synth |
| Nov. 5 | $125,000 | Glorious Song | 2YO F | 7 F | Synth | |
| Nov. 5 | $125,000 | Display | 2YO | 7 F | Synth | |
| Nov. 6 | $250,000 | Coronation Futurity | 2YO (CAN) | 1 1/8 M | Synth | |
| Nov. 6 | $175,000 | Autumn | 2 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Nov. 12 | $175,000 | Bessarabian | 2 | 3&UP, F&M | 7 F | Synth |
| Nov. 12 | $150,000 | Maple Leaf | 3 | 3&UP, F&M | 1 1/4 M | Synth |
| Nov. 18 | $100,000 | Ashbridges Bay | 3YO F (ONT Sired) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Nov. 18 | $100,000 | Lake Ontario | 3YO C&G (ONT Sired) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Nov. 20 | $175,000 | Kennedy Road | 2 | 3&UP | 6 F | Synth |
| Nov. 26 | $150,000 | Mazarine | 3 | 2YO F | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Nov. 26 | $150,000 | Grey | 3 | 2YO | 1 1/16 M | Synth |
| Dec. 3 | $150,000 | Shady Well | 2YO F (ONT or ONT Sired) | 6 F | Synth | |
| Dec. 3 | $150,000 | Clarendon | 2YO (ONT or ONT Sired) | 6 F | Synth | |
| Dec. 4 | $150,000 | Valedictory | 3 | 3&UP | 1 1/2 M | Synth |
| Dec. 10 | $100,000 | La Prevoyante | 3&UP, F&M (ONT Sired) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
| Dec. 11 | $100,000 | Steady Growth | 3&UP (ONT Sired) | 1 1/16 M | Synth | |
