Woodbine has announced its 2023 stakes schedule along with racing dates of April 22 to Dec. 10 for the 133-day meet.   The program will offer more than $17 million in purses, including 39 graded stakes, five Grade 1 events, and two $1 million fixtures, the King’s Plate and Woodbine Mile. The Grade 1 Canadian International returns at the shorter distance of 1 1/4 miles on Oct. 8 after not being contested in 2020 and 2022. “Highlighted by the return of the Canadian International, and the first running of The King’s Plate in 70 years, this year’s stakes program at Woodbine will be as exciting as ever,” Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson said.  The 164th running of The King’s Plate is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 20. It launches the Canadian Triple Crown and will be followed by the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on Sept. 12 at Fort Erie and the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes on Oct. 1 at Woodbine. The King’s Plate undercard will have at least three other stakes, including the Grade 2 Dance Smartly. The Grade 3 Bold Venture and Sweet Briar Too Stakes are both listed for either Aug. 19 or Aug. 20. :: Bet the races on DRF Bets! Sign up with code WINNING to get a $250 Deposit Match, $10 Free Bet, and FREE DRF Formulator.  The Woodbine Mile, won last year by Modern Games, is accompanied by two $500,000 2-year-old events, the Natalma and Summer, on Sept. 16. The trio of Grade 1 races are part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In Challenge Series and are the only stakes without Lasix at the meet.  The Grade 1 E.P. Taylor for fillies and mares also will be contested on the Canadian International undercard. Both historic stakes carry a purse of $750,000. The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on July 23 is the opening leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, a series for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies. It will be followed by the $250,000 Bison City Stakes on Aug. 13 and $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes on Sept. 10.  There will be five graded stakes on July 1, Canada Day – the Grade 2 Nassau, the Grade 2 Highlander, the Grade 3 Dominion Day, the Grade 3 Selene, and Grade 3 Marine, which is a Queen’s Plate prep.  The new $100,000 Pink Lloyd Stakes is scheduled for June 4. The Ontario-sired sprint is named after the popular five-time Canadian champion sprinter who retired in 2021 and resides at LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society.  The $250,000 Coronation Futurity for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds and the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies are both scheduled for Nov. 25.  The $125,000 Star Shoot for 3-year-old fillies is the first stakes of the meet on April 29. The $125,000 Woodstock for 3-year-olds goes the next day.  To view the entire 2023 stakes schedule, click here. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.