The Canadian Turf Stakes is a
Grade III American
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred racing is a 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 jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...
, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the
turf track, held annually in late February or early March at
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group, is a Thoroughbred race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Thoroughbred horse racing occurs year-round, defined by three distinct race meet ...
,
Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.
History
The race was first run in 1967 and was named in recognition of the
Canadian Centennial
The Canadian Centennial was a yearlong celebration held in 1967 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Celebrations in Canada occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1, 1967. Commemorative coins w ...
that was being celebrated that year by many Canadian racing fans who vacation in
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, a ...
during the winter months.
The 1990
Canadian Triple Crown champion and
Horse of the Year,
Izvestia
''Izvestia'' ( rus, Известия, p=ɪzˈvʲesʲtʲɪjə, "The News") is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Russia. Founded in 1917, it was a newspaper of record in the Soviet Union until the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, and describes ...
, wintered in Florida and made his 1991 racing debut with a win in this race.
The race was downgraded to a listed race for 2005 and 2006 when it was restored to its Grade III status.
In 2005, Old Forester set a new Gulfstream Park turf course record for miles in winning the Canadian Turf Handicap in a time of 1:38.20.
In 2009, the race was raced at a distance of one mile. It was run in two divisions in 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987.
Records
Time record:
*1 mile: 1:31.58 – Courageous Cat (2010)
* miles: 1:38.20 – Old Forester (2005)
* miles: 1:38.20 – Devil's Cup (1997)
Margins:
*6 lengths – Jungle Cove (1970), Super Sunrise (1983), The Vid (1995)
Most wins:
* 2 – Equalize (1988, 1989)
* 2 – The Vid (1995, 1996)
* 2 - Heart To Heart (2016, 2017)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Maribel G. Blum (1971, 1977)
* 2 –
Dogwood Stable
Dogwood Stable was an American Thoroughbred racehorse partnership. Founded by W. Cothran "Cot" Campbell in 1969, Dogwood was widely viewed to have introduced the concept of group thoroughbred ownership in the United States by offering shares in a ...
(1978, 1981)
* 2 –
Harbor View Farm (1975, 1985)
* 2 – A. J. Menditeguy Stable (1988, 1989)
* 2 – Joseph J. Sullivan (1995, 1996)
* 2 – Buckram Oak (1979, 2000)
* 2 – Terry Hamilton (2016, 2017)
Most wins by a
jockey:
* 6 –
Jerry Bailey (1977, 1985, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1998)
Most wins by a
trainer:
* 6 –
William I. Mott (1993, 1994, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019)
Winners
''Legend:''
''Notes:''
§ Ran as an
entry
Entry may refer to:
*Entry, West Virginia, an unincorporated community in the United States
*Entry (cards), a term used in trick-taking card-games
* Entry (economics), a term in connection with markets
* ''Entry'' (film), a 2013 Indian Malayalam fi ...
See also
*
List of American and Canadian Graded races
References
{{Reflist, 2
Graded stakes races in the United States
Grade 3 stakes races in the United States
Open mile category horse races
Horse races in Florida
Turf races in the United States
Gulfstream Park
Recurring sporting events established in 1967
1967 establishments in Florida