Woodbine 2024 stakes schedule includes four Grade 1s; Canadian International won’t be run

Woodbine has announced a 2024 stakes schedule that includes 38 graded events, four of which are Grade 1s. The schedule does not include the Canadian International, which has been shelved for the year.

The 165th running of the $1 million King’s Plate has been moved from a Sunday to a Saturday this year, on Aug. 17, and will launch the 2024 Canadian Triple Crown. The $400,000 Prince of Wales, a 1 3/16-mile dirt route, goes Sept. 10 at Fort Erie. The $400,000 Breeders’ over 1 1/2 miles on turf concludes the series on Sept. 29 at Woodbine.

The $1 million Woodbine Mile leads a quartet of Grade 1 turf events on the popular Sept. 14 card. The important Breeders’ Cup Mile prep will be accompanied by the $750,000 E.P. Taylor, the $500,000 Natalma, and the $500,000 Summer.

The Woodbine Mile, Natalma, and Summer are traditionally part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re In program. The E.P. Taylor has been moved up three weeks from its traditional date to join the blockbuster card.

The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks will take place July 20. The Oaks is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, a series for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies that is completed by the $250,000 Bison City on Aug. 10 and $250,000 Wonder Where on Sept. 8.

The Oaks has been a successful King’s Plate prep along with another 1 1/8-mile fixture, the $150,000 Plate Trial, which also goes July 20. That card also includes the Grade 2 Connaught Cup and Grade 3 Trillium.

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Another important date is the Canada Day Racing Festival on June 29. The stakes-filled card includes the Grade 2 Highlander, the Grade 2 Nassau, the Grade 3 Dominion Day, the Grade 3 Selene, and the Grade 3 Marine.

The opening-day feature on April 27 is the $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Its male complement, the $125,000 Woodstock, is scheduled for the next day.

The meet’s first turf stakes, the $135,000 Royal North, is scheduled for June 1. The Royal North was downgraded from a Grade 2 to a Grade 3 for this year.

Five lucrative stakes for graduates of Canadian yearling sales are on tap for Aug. 25 – the $200,000 Simcoe, the $200,000 Muskoka, the $100,000 Elgin, and the $100,000 Algoma.

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The 2024 stakes schedule was finalized after consultation with the HBPA of Ontario.

“It’s exciting to have the dates locked and start working towards our major events,” said Tim Lawson, Woodbine’s vice president of Thoroughbred racing. “We are proud of our entire stakes program and really looking forward to what 2024 brings.”

The 129-day Woodbine meet goes from April 27 to Dec. 15.

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