Valedictory Stakes Explained

Class:	Grade III stakes
Horse Race:	Valedictory Stakes
Location:	Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Inaugurated:	1952
Race Type:	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance:	miles (12 furlongs)
Surface:	Synthetic "all weather" dirt
Track:	left-handed
Qualification:	Three-years-old & up
Weight:	Three-Year-Olds: 122 lbs. Older horses: 124 lbs. Allowances
Purse:	Can$150,000^[1]
Bonuses:	$30,000 for eligible Ontario-breds

The Valedictory Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late November or early December at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Open to horses age three and older, the Grade III stakes is contested on a synthetic "all weather" surface over a distance of miles (12 furlongs).

History

Inaugurated as the Valedictory Handicap in 1952 at the Dufferin Park Racetrack, it was moved to the new Woodbine Racetrack for the 1956 running where it remained through 1960. From 1961 through 1993, the race was hosted by Greenwood Raceway; thereafter, the race returned to Woodine where it remains.

The Valedictory was originally run on dirt but in 2006 Woodbine switched to a synthetic "all weather" surface (originally Polytrack and then Tapeta starting in 2016). Always a longer distance race, over the years it has been contested at a variety of distances:

• 1952: miles
• 1954–1955: miles
• 1956–2019: miles
• 2021-Present: miles

The Valedictory was not run in 1953. The 2008 Valedictory was canceled due to extreme cold weather, while the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Valedictory was upgraded to grade III status in 2011. It is the final stakes event of the year at Woodbine racetrack, which is closed to Thoroughbred racing during the winter.^[2]

Records

Speed record:

• 2:31.10 - Who's The Star, Wentru (2022 - Dead heat) (At current distance of miles)

Most wins:

• 2 - Bernfield (1957, 1958)
• 2 - Whiteborough (1962, 1963)
• 2 - Caesar B. Good (1967, 1968)
• 2 - Knight's Turn (1979, 1980)
• 2 - Pumpkin Rumble (2018, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Hugo Dittfach (1959, 1966, 1967, 1975)
• 4 - Patrick Husbands (2005, 2010, 2011, 2013)
• 4 - Emma-Jayne Wilson (2006, 2012, 2014, 2016)
• 4 - Eurico Rosa da Silva (2007, 2015, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 5 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1964, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1994)
• 5 - Mark E. Casse (2003, 2010, 2017, 2021, 2022)

Most wins by an owner:

• 7 - George R. Gardiner (1961, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1994)
• 7 - Gardiner Farms (1961, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1994)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time
2022	Who's the StarWentru (DH)	4 4	Emma-Jayne Wilson Rafael M. Hernandez	Mark E. Casse Martin Drexler	M Racing Group TEC Racing	miles	2:31.10
2021	Sir Winston	5	Patrick Husbands	Mark E. Casse	Tracy Farmer	miles	2:31.51
2020	Race Not Ran
2019	Pumpkin Rumble	8	Eurico Rosa da Silva	Kevin Attard	Al & Bill Ulwelling	miles	2:57.67
2018	Pumpkin Rumble	7	Eurico Rosa da Silva	Kevin Attard	Al & Bill Ulwelling	miles	2:56.16
2017	Leavem in Malibu	4	Patrick Husbands	Mark E. Casse	Gary Barber & Conrad Farms	miles	2:58.92
2016	Bangkok	5	Emma-Jayne Wilson	W. Phillip Gracey	Gail Wood & Ruth Barbour	miles	2:59.88
2015	Melmich	4	Eurico Rosa Da Silva	Kevin Attard	Stephen Chesney & Cory S. Hoffman	miles	2:55.81
2014	Turkish	5	Emma-Jayne Wilson	Tino Attard	Lawrence Cordes	miles	3:02.09
2013	Quaesitor	7	Patrick Husbands	H. Graham Motion	Riverdee Stable	miles	2:59.42
2012	Heathcote	4	Emma-Jayne Wilson	Paul Attard	Chiefswood Stables	miles	2:59.42
2011	Eagle Poise	5	Patrick Husbands	Graham Motion	Riverdee Stable	miles	2:57.62
2010	Pool Play	5	Patrick Husbands	Mark E. Casse	William S. Farish, Jr.	miles	3:01.42
2009	Cloudy's Knight	9	Rosemary Homeister, Jr.	Jonathan E. Sheppard	S J Stables LLC	miles	2:59.32
2008	Race Not Ran
2007	Torquay	5	Eurico Rosa Da Silva	Nickolas DeToro	Nickolas DeToro	miles	3:01.08
2006	Marsh Side	3	Emma-Jayne Wilson	Michael Dickinson	Robert S. Evans	miles	2:58.27
2005	Seattlespectacular	5	Patrick Husbands	Sid C. Attard	RWP Corp. Inc.	miles	3:01.81
2004	Daddy Cool	6	James McAleney	Sean Smullen	Stronach Stable	miles	3:03.52
2003	Hydrogen	4	Emile Ramsammy	Mark E. Casse	Earle I. Mack	miles	3:00.28
2002	Lucky Molar	7	Chantal Sutherland	Michael Wright Jr.	Richard A. Englander	miles	3:03.83
2001	Queensgate	5		Tino Attard	Carmen Attard	miles	2:57.37
2000	A Fleets Dancer	5			Cam Allard	miles	3:05.49
1999	Salty Note	4	David Clark	Alec Fehr	Bruno Schickedanz	miles	2:58.57
1998	Sunshine Journey	4	Richard Dos Ramos	John P. MacKenzie	Rudy Singh	miles	2:58.00
1997	Cimarron Secret	6	Emile Ramsammy	Jim Hartley	Francis C. McDonnell	miles	2:59.00
1996	Whomsoever Proud	6	Brian Bochinski	Ronald G. Burke	Bruno Schickedanz	miles	3:00.00
1995	Stellarina	4	Todd Kabel	Daniel J. Vella	Frank Stronach	miles	2:55.80
1994	Major Pots	5	Dino Luciani	Lou Cavalaris, Jr.	Gardiner Farms	miles	2:52.60
1993	All Canadian	4		Robert P. Tiller	Frank Stronach	miles	3:00.80
1992	Stage Actor	4	Todd Kabel	Ross Armata	Sais Singh	miles	2:55.40
1991	Cozzene's Prince	4	Robin Platts	Tino Attard	Kirby Canada Farm	miles	2:55.00
1990	Most Valiant	4	Brian Swatuk	James E. Day	Sam-Son Farm	miles	2:57.00
1989	Take Account	3	Don Seymour		Kinghaven Farms	miles	2:56.40
1988	Steady Power	4	Don Seymour	Roger Attfield	Kinghaven Farms	miles	3:02.60
1987	Bodmin Moor	3	Don Seymour		Kinghaven Farms	miles	3:02.20
1986	Royal Treasurer	3	Don Seymour	James E. Day	Sam-Son Farm	miles	3:02.80
1985	Old Gun Powder	3	Lloyd Duffy	Jerry G. Lavigne	Paddockhurst Stable	miles	3:09.00
1984	Roman Strategy	3	Irwin Driedger		D. Mann	miles	3:04.60
1983	Creigneish	4	Richard Dos Ramos	Martin Velden	Hamilton & S. G. S. Stable	miles	2:59.80
1982	Turnablade	5	George HoSang	Emile M. Allain	John Sikura, Jr.	miles	2:57.60
1981	Jadosa Toker	4	Gary Stahlbaum	L. Nacht	Knightsbridge et al.	miles	3:03.80
1980	Knight's Turn	5	John Bell	Emile M. Allain	Mrs. C. Tefloth	miles	2:57.40
1979	Knight's Turn	4	John Bell	Emile M. Allain	Mrs. C. Tefloth	miles	3:00.80
1978	Party Surprise	3		Peter DiPasquale	Berketa/Buchanan	miles	3:02.80
1977	Gore Park	5	B. Smythe	Jerry G. Lavigne	Parkview Stable	miles	3:02.00
1976	Double Quill	7	Lloyd Duffy	Lou Cavalaris, Jr.	Gardiner Farms	miles	3:03.00
1975	George of Canada	6	Hugo Dittfach	W. H. Moorhead	S. V. Lima & M. Rose	miles	3:07.20
1974	Carney's Point	5	Robin Platts	Lou Cavalaris, Jr.	Gardiner Farms	miles	2:55.40
1973	Fabe Count	5		Jerry G. Lavigne	Parkview Stable	miles	3:01.80
1972	Monte Christo	5		Jerry G. Lavigne	Gardiner Farms	miles	2:54.40
1971	Cool Moon	3		Frank Merrill, Jr.	W. P. Gilbride	miles	2:59.20
1970	Frenetico	6	C. Billingsley	Lou Cavalaris, Jr.	Gardiner Farms	miles	3:02.60
1969	Mr. Amber	3	R. Pion	Samuel Dixon	P. M. P. Stable	miles	3:00.00
1968	Caesar B. Good	5	Richard Armstrong	B. Puccini	E. C. Pasquale	miles	3:02.60
1967	Caesar B. Good	4	Hugo Dittfach	B. Puccini	E. C. Pasquale	miles	3:09.20
1966	He's A Smoothie	3	Hugo Dittfach	Warren Beasley	William R. Beasley	miles	3:00.60
1965	Albion Star	5	M. Ferro	Carl F. Chapman	D. Knight	miles	3:12.80
1964	Latin Artist	4	G. Gordon	Lou Cavalaris, Jr.	Gardiner Farms	miles	3:04.20
1963	Whiteborough	6	Richard Armstrong	W. F. Edmiston	C. Softley	miles	3:09.00
1962	Whiteborough	5	Richard Armstrong	W. H. Moorhead	C. Softley	miles	2:58.80
1961	Ramsay	3	Sam McComb		George R. Gardiner	miles	3:00.60
1960	Calais	5	James Fitzsimmons	Arthur H. Warner	Lanson Farm	miles	2:57.20
1959	Calais	4		Arthur H. Warner	Lanson Farm	miles	2:59.40
1958	Bernfield	5	Sam Cosentino	Frank Merrill, Jr.	Roxie Gian	miles	3:03.40
1957	Bernfield	4	Norm Leid	J. Hunter	Roxie Gian	miles	3:05.20
1956	Dark Armor	3	Juan Sanchez	Horatio Luro	Horatio Luro	miles	2:57.00
1955	Captor	3	L. Richards	Gordon J. McCann	E. P. Taylor	miles	2:26.60
1954	Teddy's Sister	6	F. Higgins	R. Buisson	J. J. Fleming	miles	2:25.20
1953	Race Not Ran
1952	Try On	3	Alf Bavington	John Passero	William R. Beasley	miles	2:57.80

Other North American Marathon races

On dirt:

• Brooklyn Handicap
• Fort Harrod Stakes
• Gallant Man Handicap
• Tokyo City Cup
• Las Vegas Marathon Stakes (formerly the Breeders' Cup Marathon)

On turf:

• San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap
• Carleton F. Burke Handicap
• Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes

See also

• List of Canadian flat horse races

References

• Race details and entrants for the 2008 Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack
• The 2007 Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine Entertainment

Notes and References

1. Web site: Valedictory Stakes Profile. equibase.com. 5 December 2022.
2. Web site: Pender Harbour Looks to Close Meet on High. BloodHorse.com. 5 December 2016.