Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf
Encyclopedia
The Northern Dancer Turf Stakes is a Canadian
Thoroughbred horse race
held annually at Woodbine Racetrack
in Toronto
, Ontario
. A Grade I
event with a current purse of $750,000 ($650,000 plus $100,000 from the Breeders Cup Fund), it is held in the third week of July and run at a distance of 1½ miles on Woodbine's E. P. Taylor
turf course
.
Inaugurated as the Niagara Handicap, it was first raced on dirt at the Fort Erie Racetrack. In 1957 the race was changed to run on turf and was moved to the Woodbine Racetrack in 1985 where for 1986 only, it was run on dirt. The race became part of the Breeders' Cup
program and the name was amended to the Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap. In 2006, the event was renamed to honor Canada's most famous racehorse, Northern Dancer
.
Over the years, the race has been run at various distances:
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey
:
Most wins by a Trainer
:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
held annually at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. A Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
event with a current purse of $750,000 ($650,000 plus $100,000 from the Breeders Cup Fund), it is held in the third week of July and run at a distance of 1½ miles on Woodbine's E. P. Taylor
E. P. Taylor
Edward Plunket Taylor was a Canadian business tycoon and famous breeder of thoroughbred race horses. Known to his friends as "Eddie", he is universally recorded as "E. P...
turf course
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
.
Inaugurated as the Niagara Handicap, it was first raced on dirt at the Fort Erie Racetrack. In 1957 the race was changed to run on turf and was moved to the Woodbine Racetrack in 1985 where for 1986 only, it was run on dirt. The race became part of the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
program and the name was amended to the Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap. In 2006, the event was renamed to honor Canada's most famous racehorse, Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
.
Over the years, the race has been run at various distances:
- 11/16 miles : 1953-1956
- 1⅛ miles : 1957-1975
- 1¼ miles : 1990-1994
- 1½ miles : 1976-1989, 1995 to present
Records
Speed Record:- 2:26.18 - Full of Wonder (2002) at the current distance of 1½ miles
Most wins:
- 2 - Marshall Ney II (1957, 1958), Strut the Stage (2003, 2004)
Most wins by an owner:
- 7 - Sam-Son FarmSam-Son FarmSam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses...
(1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004) - 5 - Gardiner FarmGeorge R. GardinerGeorge Ryerson Gardiner, was a Toronto businessman, philanthropist and co-founder of the Gardiner Museum, the only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to ceramic art.-Biography:...
(1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)
Most wins by a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
:
- 4 - Todd KabelTodd KabelTodd K. Kabel is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began his career riding at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in 1987 started competing at tracks in Ontario, moving to Toronto permanently in 1991.Riding out of Woodbine Racetrack, Todd Kabel won the Sovereign Award for...
(2002, 2003, 2004, 2006) - 3 - Sandy HawleySandy HawleyDesmond Sanford "Sandy" Hawley, CM is a Hall of Fame jockey.Sandy Hawley started out as a plumber then later decided to be a jockey. He started his career as a jockey when he was a 17-year-old boy, hotwalking horses at a Toronto racetrack...
(1970, 1996, 1997)
Most wins by a Trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
:
- 6 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)
- 6 - Mark FrostadMark FrostadMark R. Frostad is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He grew up with a father who owned a stud farm but before becoming involved in thoroughbred horse racing, Frostad obtained a BA degree in literature from Princeton University then in 1976 an MBA degree from the University of Western Ontario...
(1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Winners since 1986
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
2011 | Wigmore Hall | 4 | Jamie Spencer Jamie Spencer Jamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a... |
Michael Bell | Mark B. Hawtin | 2:30.67 |
2010 | Redwood | 4 | Michael Hills | Barry Hills Barry Hills Barry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more... |
Juddmonte Farm | 2:28.97 |
2009 | Marsh Side† | 6 | Javier Castellano Javier Castellano Javier Castellano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Castellano began his riding career in his native Venezuela in 1996 and in June 1997 moved to the United States where rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001 when he moved to race on the New York State racing circuit.In... |
Neil Drysdale Neil Drysdale Neil D. Drysdale is an American based thoroughbred race horse trainer.Based in Playa Del Rey, California, he has won two Triple Crown races - the Belmont Stakes with A.P. Indy in 1992 and the Kentucky Derby with Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000... |
Robert S. Evans | 2:26.68 |
2008 | Champs Elysees Champs Elysees (horse) Champs Elysees is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who has competed successfully in Europe and North America.... |
5 | Garrett Gomez Garrett K. Gomez Garrett Keith Gomez is an American thoroughbred jockey.-Early career:Gomez learned to ride by watching his father, Louie, who was a jockey at many tracks in the Southwest United States... |
Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms Juddmonte Farms Juddmonte Farms is a famous and award-winning horse breeding farm, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. A member of the Saudi Arabian royal family the successful businessman presides over the massive conglomerate Mawared... |
2:32.02 |
2007 | Sky Conqueror Sky Conqueror Sky Conqueror is an Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. Out of the mare, Heavenly Ballerina, a daughter of 1982 United States Horse of the Year, Conquistador Cielo, he was sired by Sky Classic, a son of the 1971 British Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky.Trained by Darwin Banach, Sky Conqueror was sent... |
5 | Edgar Prado | Darwin D. Banach | William A. Sorokolit, Sr. | 2:27.45 |
2006 | Sky Conqueror Sky Conqueror Sky Conqueror is an Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. Out of the mare, Heavenly Ballerina, a daughter of 1982 United States Horse of the Year, Conquistador Cielo, he was sired by Sky Classic, a son of the 1971 British Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky.Trained by Darwin Banach, Sky Conqueror was sent... |
4 | Todd Kabel Todd Kabel Todd K. Kabel is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began his career riding at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in 1987 started competing at tracks in Ontario, moving to Toronto permanently in 1991.Riding out of Woodbine Racetrack, Todd Kabel won the Sovereign Award for... |
Darwin D. Banach | William A. Sorokolit, Sr. | 2:34.36 |
2005 | Revved Up | 7 | Brice Blanc Brice Blanc Brice Blanc is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Blanc attended a jockey's apprentice school in his native France then, encouraged by trainer Ben Cecil, in October 1993 emigrated to the United States where he settled in Southern California and began racing at area tracks... |
Christophe Clement Christophe Clement Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head... |
Live Oak Plantation | 2:27.13 |
2004 | Strut the Stage | 6 | Todd Kabel Todd Kabel Todd K. Kabel is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began his career riding at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in 1987 started competing at tracks in Ontario, moving to Toronto permanently in 1991.Riding out of Woodbine Racetrack, Todd Kabel won the Sovereign Award for... |
Mark Frostad Mark Frostad Mark R. Frostad is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He grew up with a father who owned a stud farm but before becoming involved in thoroughbred horse racing, Frostad obtained a BA degree in literature from Princeton University then in 1976 an MBA degree from the University of Western Ontario... |
Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses... |
2:25.87 |
2003 | Strut the Stage | 5 | Todd Kabel Todd Kabel Todd K. Kabel is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began his career riding at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in 1987 started competing at tracks in Ontario, moving to Toronto permanently in 1991.Riding out of Woodbine Racetrack, Todd Kabel won the Sovereign Award for... |
Mark Frostad Mark Frostad Mark R. Frostad is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He grew up with a father who owned a stud farm but before becoming involved in thoroughbred horse racing, Frostad obtained a BA degree in literature from Princeton University then in 1976 an MBA degree from the University of Western Ontario... |
Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses... |
2:27.13 |
2002 | Full of Wonder | 4 | Todd Kabel Todd Kabel Todd K. Kabel is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began his career riding at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in 1987 started competing at tracks in Ontario, moving to Toronto permanently in 1991.Riding out of Woodbine Racetrack, Todd Kabel won the Sovereign Award for... |
Mark Frostad Mark Frostad Mark R. Frostad is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He grew up with a father who owned a stud farm but before becoming involved in thoroughbred horse racing, Frostad obtained a BA degree in literature from Princeton University then in 1976 an MBA degree from the University of Western Ontario... |
Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses... |
2:26.18 |
2001 | Honor Glide Honor Glide Honor Glide is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Honor Grades, whose grandsire was Northern Dancer and whose damsire was Secretariat, Honor Glide was bred by Bonnie Heath Farm. He was purchased for $31,000 at the 1995 Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale by Robert G... |
7 | Robbie Davis Robbie Davis Robbie Glen Davis is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life.... |
Christophe Clement Christophe Clement Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head... |
Robert Schaedle III et al. | 2:26.52 |
2000 | River Boat | 7 | Gary Boulanger Gary Boulanger Gary Dale Boulanger is a former jockey who competed in Canada and the United States and who is currently a trainer in Florida. He began his career in 1987 at Tampa Bay Downs then went to the Pacific Northwest where he was the leading jockey for three straight years from 1989 through 1991 at... |
Frank Huarte | Frank Huarte | 2:32.16 |
1999 | Thornfield | 5 | Richard Dos Ramos Richard Dos Ramos Richard Anthony Dos Ramos is a Canadian jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He grew up in Malton, Ontario where his family emigrated when he was young... |
Phil England | Knob Hill Stable Knob Hill Stable Knob Hill Stable was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation established by Toronto businessman, Steve Stavro.The stable bred and raced a number of champions such as Canadian Horse of the Year honourees, Benburb and Thornfield. In 1992, Steve Stavro was voted a Sovereign Award... |
2:29.32 |
1998 | Chief Bearhart Chief Bearhart Chief Bearhart is a retired Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. A turf specialist, he won six Sovereign Awards and was voted American Champion Male Turf Horse for 1997.-Background:... |
5 | Jose Santos José Santos Jose Abon Santos is a retired Chilean thoroughbred jockey who has been honored by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the United States.-Career:... |
Mark Frostad Mark Frostad Mark R. Frostad is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He grew up with a father who owned a stud farm but before becoming involved in thoroughbred horse racing, Frostad obtained a BA degree in literature from Princeton University then in 1976 an MBA degree from the University of Western Ontario... |
Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses... |
2:30.00 |
1997 | Desert Waves | 7 | Sandy Hawley Sandy Hawley Desmond Sanford "Sandy" Hawley, CM is a Hall of Fame jockey.Sandy Hawley started out as a plumber then later decided to be a jockey. He started his career as a jockey when he was a 17-year-old boy, hotwalking horses at a Toronto racetrack... |
Mark Frostad Mark Frostad Mark R. Frostad is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He grew up with a father who owned a stud farm but before becoming involved in thoroughbred horse racing, Frostad obtained a BA degree in literature from Princeton University then in 1976 an MBA degree from the University of Western Ontario... |
Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses... |
2:30.40 |
1996 | Desert Waves | 6 | Sandy Hawley Sandy Hawley Desmond Sanford "Sandy" Hawley, CM is a Hall of Fame jockey.Sandy Hawley started out as a plumber then later decided to be a jockey. He started his career as a jockey when he was a 17-year-old boy, hotwalking horses at a Toronto racetrack... |
Mark Frostad Mark Frostad Mark R. Frostad is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He grew up with a father who owned a stud farm but before becoming involved in thoroughbred horse racing, Frostad obtained a BA degree in literature from Princeton University then in 1976 an MBA degree from the University of Western Ontario... |
Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses... |
2:27.00 |
1995 | Lindon Lime | 5 | Craig Perret Craig Perret Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races... |
W. Elliott Walden W. Elliott Walden W. Elliott Walden is the President and CEO of racing operations for WinStar Farm near Versailles, Kentucky and a former Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.From a racing family, Walden grew up in the industry... |
Frank Mansell | 2:27.00 |
1994 | River Majesty | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Christophe Clement Christophe Clement Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head... |
W. Gretzky Wayne Gretzky Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,... / S. Port |
2:03.20 |
1993 | Shiny Key | 5 | Mark Larsen | Alton H. Quanbeck | D. Morgan Firestone | 2:01.60 |
1992 | Beau Fasa | 6 | Stanley Bethley | Gordon Colbourne | Box Arrow Farm | 2:02.20 |
1991 | Tot of Rum | 5 | Daniel David | Jim Day Jim Day James E. "Jim" Day is a Canadian Olympic equestrian show jumping champion and thoroughbred horse trainer.... |
Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms locations in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for hunter/jumper horses... |
2:04.80 |
1990 | Hodges Bay | 5 | Jean Cruguet Jean Cruguet Jean Cruguet is an French-American thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.... |
Willard C. Freeman | Plandome Stable | 2:05.20 |
1989 | Turfah | 6 | Dave Penna Dave Penna David "Dave" Penna was an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who competed in the United States but had his gretest successes in Canada. Born in Auburn, New York, he began his career as a professional rider in 1978 and three years later went to compete at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto... |
Thomas Skiffington, Jr. | Shadwell Stable Shadwell Racing Shadwell Racing is the Thoroughbred horse racing operations of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.Introduced to Thoroughbred flat racing while a student in the United Kingdom, Sheikh Hamdan established his first racing stable there in 1981... |
2:28.00 |
1988 | Master Treaty | 4 | Dave Penna Dave Penna David "Dave" Penna was an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who competed in the United States but had his gretest successes in Canada. Born in Auburn, New York, he began his career as a professional rider in 1978 and three years later went to compete at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto... |
Trevor Swan | Anderson/Taylor Stables | 2:34.40 |
1987 | Southjet | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center... |
Stephen L. DiMauro | Dogwood Stable Dogwood Stable Dogwood Stable is an American Thoroughbred racehorse partnership founded in 1969 by W. Cothran "Cot" Campbell of Aiken, South Carolina.The pioneers of thoroughbred partnerships, the operation's stated policy is to acquire moderately priced, young horses... |
2:32.80 |
1986 | Golden Choice Golden Choice Golden Choice is a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning Canada's most prestigious horse race, the Queen's Plate. Sired by Val de l'Orne, the 1975 Prix du Jockey Club winner, his damsire was Barachois, a son of Northern Dancer... |
3 | David Clark David K. Clark David K. Clark is a Champion jockey in Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally at Ontario racetracks in 1973 and went on to become one of Canada's most successful jockeys of all-time.Clark won the 1998 Sovereign Award as Canadian Champion Jockey and on July 17 of that... |
Michael A. Tammaro | Sanderson / Belanger | 2:32.40 |
Earlier winners
- † In 2009, Marsh Side finished first but was disqualified and set back to fourth. On appeal, the original order of finish was restored on May 26, 2010.
- ‡ In 1967, Carteret finished first but was disqualified and set back to last.