Woodbine has announced the stakes schedule for its 2026 Thoroughbred meet, highlighted by the $1 million King’s Plate and the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. There are 91 stakes in total, 39 of which are graded. “We’re very proud of our stakes program at Woodbine and eagerly anticipate a season filled with outstanding competition,” said Woodbine Entertainment CEO Michael Copeland. “We look forward to welcoming our racing community and fans back to the track on April 18 for the start of another exciting racing season.” The 167th running of the historic King’s Plate headlines a spectacular Aug. 15 card that also includes five other stakes, most notably the Grade 2 Canadian, the Grade 2 King Edward, and the Grade 3 Bold Venture.   The Canadian Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds commences with the 1 1/4-mile Plate on the synthetic Tapeta surface. It will be followed by the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, a 1 3/16-mile dirt route that will be held on a new day – Monday Sept. 7 – at Fort Erie, and the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on the grass at Woodbine on Sept. 27. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. The renovation of Woodbine’s main turf course, which prompted adjustments to last year’s stakes calendar, remains on schedule for completion by September 2026. This will allow for Woodbine’s marquee turf events to once again be contested on the world-renowned surface after some of them were staged on the inner turf last year.  The $1 million Woodbine Mile, which was won by the future Breeders’ Cup Mile victor Notable Speech in 2025, goes Sept. 12. The supporting features on the blockbuster Sept. 12 card include the Grade 1 Summer, the Grade 1 Natalma, and Grade 1 E.P. Taylor. All are Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifiers.   The Grade 1, $750,000 Canadian International will be held on Oct. 3 at the traditional distance of 1 1/2 miles. The Grade 2 Nearctic, the Grade 2 Dance Smartly, and the Grade 3 Algonquin are on the Oct. 3 undercard. The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies is set for July 19. The Oaks serves as the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies, followed by the $250,000 Bison City on Aug. 8 and $250,000 Wonder Where on Sept. 6. The popular Oaks card has three other stakes: the $150,000 Plate Trial, the Grade 2 Nassau, and the Grade 2 Connaught Cup. The Canada Day Racing Festival goes June 27. The deep program will include five graded stakes, headed by the Grade 2 Nassau, the Grade 2 Highlander, and the Grade 3 Marine, a Plate prep. The $125,000 Star Shoot is the first stakes of the meet, carded for a week after opening day on April 25. Closing day has yet to be announced, but it will be in December, when the $100,000 Steady Growth is scheduled for Dec. 6. The Dec. 5 card has the $100,000 La Prevoyante and the Grade 3 Valedictory, which was the traditional closing-day feature in the past. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.