| Surface: | Turf |
| Class: | Grade II |
| Horse Race: | Highlander Stakes |
| Location: | Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario Canada |
| Inaugurated: | 1954 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website: | woodbineentertainment.com |
| Distance: | 6furlong sprint |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-years-old & up |
| Weight: | Allowance conditions |
| Purse: | $250,000 (since 2017)[1] |
The Highlander Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Run in mid to late June, the Grade II race is open to horses aged three and older. Raced over a distance of six furlongs on turf, it currently offers a purse of $250,000.
Inaugurated in 1954 as the Highlander Handicap at Toronto's Greenwood Raceway, it was moved to Woodbine Racetrack in 1957. The race was contested on dirt through 2003 when it was moved to the turf for the 2004 edition. It has been run at a distance of six furlongs except for 1957 and 1958 when it was run at seven furlongs.
The race was upgraded to Grade II status for 2010, fell to a Grade III, and restored as a Grade II event in 2014. In 2018, the Jockey Club of Canada moved it to Grade I status.[2]
The event was downgraded to Grade II in 2022.
Speed record:
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Bound For Nowhere | 8 | Pablo Morales | Wesley A. Ward | Wesley A. Ward | 1:08.01 |
| 2021 | Silent Poet | 6 | Justin Stein | Nicholas Rodriguez | Stronach Stables | 1:07.98 |
| 2020 | align=center colspan=8 | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | ||||
| 2019 | Wet Your Whistle | 4 | Alex Cintron | Michael J. Trombetta | David W. Palmer | 1:07.88 |
| 2018 | Long On Value | 7 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Steveh Laymon | 1:07.13 |
| 2017 | Green Mask | 6 | Javier Castellano | Brad H. Cox | Abdullah Saeed Almaddah | 1:07.59 |
| 2016 | Passion for Action | 4 | Eurico da Silva | Michael P. De Paulo | Benjamin Hutzel | 1:08.05 |
| 2015 | Go Blue or Go Home | 6 | Alan Garcia | Reade Baker | Susan & Jim Hill | 1:07.18 |
| 2014 | Something Extra | 6 | Eurico da Silva | Gail Cox | Menary/Cox | 1:07.78 |
| 2013 | Go Blue Or Go Home | 4 | Luis Contreras | Reade Baker | Susan & Jim Hill | 1:10.46 |
| 2012 | Smokey Fire | 7 | Eurico da Silva | Sid Attard | Jim Dandy Stable | 1:07.77 |
| 2011 | Signature Red | 5 | Luis Contreras | Sid Attard | Norseman Racing Stable | 1:09.00 |
| 2010 | Signature Red | 4 | Chantal Sutherland | Sid Attard | Norseman Racing Stable | 1:08.17 |
| 2009 | Smart Enough | 6 | Jeremy Rose | John Fisher | Edith R. Dixon | 1:08.26 |
| 2008 | Heros Reward | 6 | Rob Ry Farm/Jayne Marie Slysz | 1:08.02 | ||
| 2007 | Smart Enough | 4 | Patrick Husbands | John Fisher | Edith R. Dixon | 1:08.53 |
| 2006 | Marco Be Good | 4 | Justin Stein | John A. Ross | Terra Farm | 1:07.87 |
| 2005 | Soaring Free | 6 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:08.03 |
| 2004 | Soaring Free | 5 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:08.72 |
| 2003 | Forever Grand | 4 | Todd Kabel | Robert P. Tiller | Frank DiGiulio Jr. | 1:09.53 |
| 2002 | Wake At Noon | 5 | Emile Ramsammy | Abraham Katryan | Bruno Schickedanz | 1:09.72 |
| 2001 | Mr. Epperson | 6 | James McKnight | Scott H. Fairlie | R. & S. Fairlie et al. | 1:10.65 |
| 2000 | Wake At Noon | 3 | David Clark | Abraham Katryan | Bruno Schickedanz | 1:10.38 |
| 1999 | Vice N' Friendly | 4 | Mickey Walls | Abraham Katryan | S. Sesook & D. Yarush | 1:09.08 |
| 1998 | Cocney Lass | 3 | Neil Poznansky | Darren Glennon | Rainbow End Racing et al. | 1:09.60 |
| 1997 | Glanmire | 7 | Todd Kabel | Mike Keogh | Kenny, O'Leary et al. | 1:09.40 |
| 1996 | Love Grows | 4 | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:09.60 | |
| 1995 | Le Magister | 4 | Bernard Girault | I. Jamieson | 1:10.40 | |
| 1994 | Swamp King * | 4 | Frank Montrose | Ridge Rock Farm | 1:09.80 | |
| 1994 | End Sweep * | 3 | Chris McCarron | Kathy Patton-Casse | Harry T. Mangurian Jr. | 1:09.80 |
| 1993 | Premier Angel | 4 | Dennis M. Erwin | William A. Sorokolit Sr. | 1:10.80 | |
| 1992 | King Corrie | 4 | Dave Penna | Sherry Noakes | Aubrey W. Minshall | 1:09.60 |
| 1991 | Key Spirit | 5 | Mickey Walls | Stephen Barnes | Big Bux Stable | 1:10.80 |
| 1990 | Native Factor | 3 | Brian Swatuk | Phil England | Frank Stronach | 1:09.80 |
| 1989 | Mr. Hot Shot | 4 | Jim McAleney | William Stewart | J. Stewart / M. Upton | 1:09.20 |
| 1988 | Highland Ruckus | 3 | David Clark | Tony Mattine | Linmac Farms | 1:09.40 |
| 1987 | Play The King | 4 | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:09.20 |
| 1986 | Near The Storm | 4 | Dan Beckon | Jack Reid | Rose Hill Farms | 1:10.60 |
| 1985 | Centenarian | 4 | Brian Swatuk | Frank H. Merrill Jr. | Est. C. E. Pickering | 1:10.40 |
| 1984 | Introspective | 3 | Jack Lauzon | John Tammaro Jr. | Kinghaven Farms | 1:09.40 |
| 1983 | Fraud Squad | 4 | Dan Beckon | Bill Marko | Edward B. Seedhouse | 1:09.80 |
| 1982 | Great Gladiator | 5 | Larry Attard | Steve Attard | Tom Campbell | 1:10.60 |
| 1981 | Solo Guy | 3 | Brian Swatuk | Laurie Silvera | Gordon F. Hall | 1:08.80 |
| 1980 | Stutz Bearcat | 5 | George HoSang | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:09.20 |
| 1979 | Stutz Bearcat | 4 | George HoSang | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:09.60 |
| 1978 | Casanova Kid | 5 | Richard Grubb | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:09.80 |
| 1977 | One Pound Sterling | 5 | Jeffrey Fell | Lou Cavalaris Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:10.00 |
| 1976 | Gurkhas Band | 4 | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 1:10.00 |
| 1975 | Island Fling | 4 | Sandy Hawley | Jerry G. Lavigne | Parkview Stable | 1:10.20 |
| 1974 | Pocket Measure | 4 | James Kelly | Samuel G. Dixon | J. O. Pallett | 1:11.20 |
| 1973 | Don't Ask Me That | 3 | Gary Stahlbaum | Arthur H. Warner | Sam-Son Farm | 1:10.00 |
| 1972 | Briartic | 4 | James Kelly | Andrew Smithers | Bennett Farms | 1:09.40 |
| 1971 | Coup Landing | 6 | James Kelly | Andrew Smithers | Calvin H. Sturrock | 1:10.00 |
| 1970 | Muzledick | 5 | Richard Grubb | J. Mort Hardy | Prime Acres Stable | 1:10.40 |
| 1969 | James Bay | 5 | Johnny Sellers | Lou Cavalaris Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:10.80 |
| 1968 | No Reasoning | 5 | Wayne Chambers | Jerry G. Lavigne | Parkview Stable | 1:11.00 |
| 1967 | Chillicoot | 5 | Ronnie Ferraro | Stan U. Ross | Blue-C-Stable | 1:09.60 |
| 1966 | E. Day | 6 | Noel Turcotte | Hume E. M. Pollock | Hume E. M. Pollock | 1:10.80 |
| 1965 | Royal Tara | 4 | John LeBlanc | Glenn Magnusson | Stafford Farms | 1:10.40 |
| 1964 | Vindent de Paul | 6 | P. Maxwell | Lou Cavalaris Jr. | Hillcrest Stable | 1:10.60 |
| 1963 | Kisco Kid | 5 | Harlon Dalton | George C. Frostad | George C. Frostad | 1:10.40 |
| 1962 | Its Ann | 6 | Harrel Bolin | W. Moorhead | G. R. Woodrow | 1:10.60 |
| 1961 | Anita's Son | 5 | Hugo Dittfach | Arthur H. Warner | Lanson Farm | 1:09.20 |
| 1960 | Tyhawk | 5 | W. Marsh | Les Lear | Singer & Lear | 1:10.20 |
| 1959 | War Eagle | 5 | Clifford Potts | Lou Cavalaris Jr. | P. Del Greco | 1:10.60 |
| 1958 | Mister Jive | 4 | Johnny Longden | George M. Carter | J. L. Applebaum | 1:22.00 |
| 1957 | Nirdar | 4 | Al Coy | John J. Thorpe | J. E. Frowde Seagram | 1:23.40 |
| 1956 | Jimminy Baxter | 6 | Pat Remillard | James C. Bentley | B. R. Steen | 1:10.60 |
| 1955 | Canadiana | 5 | T. Johnson | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 1:11.20 |
| 1954 | Kentario | 6 | A. Nash | John Calhoun | Green Valley Stable | 1:10.20 |