Key stakes moved closer to Breeders' Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Canadian International and the E.P. Taylor Stakes, which have been positioned in late September as Breeders' Cup preps for the past two years, have been moved back on the Woodbine stakes calendar and will be run this year on Oct. 19.

The repositioning of the $1.5 million Canadian International, a 1 1/2-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, and the $750,000 E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile race for fillies and mares, are the most significant changes on the stakes schedule for the 167-day meet which begins March 22.

Chris Evans, Woodbine's director of Thoroughbred racing, explained that the decision to move the two Grade 1 turf events was based in part on the short fields for the races last year. The International attracted eight entrants, the Taylor just six.

"Back in October, we hope we're going to get better-sized fields," Evans said. "The races are still situated where horses can go on to the Japan Cup and the Hong Kong races in December."

Evans also believes the International and Taylor will not necessarily suffer through being run just six days prior to this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.

"Who's to say who might come here rather than the Breeders' Cup?" Evans said. "Horses who have to pay a huge supplement to run in the Breeders' Cup will often take advantage of another prestigious race; we could be the beneficiary of that.

"And over the years, a number of European trainers have felt their horses are compromised when the Breeders' Cup is run in a hot climate; we could be an alternative."

The Grade 3 Highlander Handicap, a six-furlong dirt race which in recent years has become part of the Canadian International Day package, also will move to Oct. 19.

The Grade 2 Sky Classic Handicap, a 1 3/8-mile turf race which was run in late October the past two years, will move up to Sept. 28 and will serve as the major local prep for the Canadian International.

Other highlights of the 100-race stakes schedule, which will be worth a record $19.6 million with the continuing support of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's Thoroughbred Improvement Program, include the $1 million Atto Mile and the $1 million Queen's Plate.

The Atto Mile, a Grade 1 turf race for 3-year-olds and up, will be run Sept. 14 and the Queen's Plate, a 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds which is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, will be run on June 22.

In other changes on this year's schedule:

* The purses for the six yearling sales stakes races, restricted to horses who went through the local yearling sales, have been boosted from $100,000 to $125,000. The six races will be run on their usual Labor Day date.

* The only new name is the $150,000 Ontario Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds which will be run Oct. 13. The Ontario Derby replaces the Colonel R.S. McLaughlin Handicap, which was run under the same conditions but earlier on the schedule.

* The Labatt Woodbine Oaks, a $500,000 race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds which has been held on a Saturday in recent years, will be run Sunday, June 8.

2003 Woodbine stakes schedule

*includes $100,000 Breeders' Cup Fund

**includes $75,000 Breeders' Cup Fund