Woodbine Release 2020 Stakes Schedule

[Wandering Eyes]

Woodbine Entertainment unveiled its stakes schedule for the 2020 Thoroughbred racing season with 87 stakes offering over $16.5 million in purse and runs from Apr. 18 to Dec. 13 at Woodbine. The schedule is highlighted by the Queen’s Plate June 27, the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile Sept. 19 and the GI Pattison Canadian International S. Oct. 18, all of which are worth $1 million this year.

“Announcing our stakes schedule this early was important so we can provide our horsepeople with as much information as possible as they head into the Woodbine off-season,” said Jonathan Zammit, Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing Operations for Woodbine Entertainment. “The 2020 stakes schedule has plenty to be excited about including increasing the Pattison Canadian International to a $1 million purse and other changes that we believe will help drive quality of racing, horse supply, and ultimately, wagering on our product.”

Also on tap are the GI Summer S. and GI Natalma S. Sept. 20, both of which are Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events. The Woodbine Cares and Ontario Racing Stakes, new juvenile inner turf stakes that launched in 2019, will be contested on the same Sunday with purses increased to $135,000 each.

In addition to increasing the purses and the number of Ontario-Bred stakes races from six to eight, Woodbine will offer 11 Ontario Sired Stakes with purses of $100,000 each. Half of these events are scheduled toward the end of the year, when Woodbine will hostan Appreciation Week for Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred horses. To further support Ontario sired horses, Woodbine will also be expanding its overnight bonus program which will create more earning opportunities for horsepeople. Full details will be announced in early 2020.

 

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