The Woodbine Mile is a Grade I stakes race on turf for Thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up held annually in mid September at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. Currently sponsored by Ricoh, the Woodbine Mile offers a purse of Can$1,000,000.
Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the Woodbine Mile automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Mile.
The inaugural race in 1988 was sponsored by Molson Breweries with a purse of $750,000 and run as the Molson Export Challenge, reflecting the name of the company's flagship beer. It was changed to the Molson Export Million when the purse was increased to $1million. In 1999, under new sponsorship it was renamed and raced as the Atto Mile until 2006.
Since inception, the race has been run at three different distances: 1 mile on turf: 1997–present miles on dirt: 1991–1996 miles on dirt: 1988–1990
Originally restricted to three-year-olds on the dirt, with the modification to one mile on turf in 1997 the race was also made open to older horses. As a result of the change from dirt to turf, the race was ungraded in 1997 and 1998.
Historical notes
In 2005, the Brazilian horse, Leroidesanimaux, set the record for the largest margin of victory at seven and three-quarter lengths while carrying the highest weight of any winner in the race's history at 124 pounds.
In 2009, Ventura became the first female to win this race in 13 years. In the process, she also set the record time of 1:32.04. Wise Dan broke this record in 2013 while becoming the first two-time winner of the race.
Records
Time record: 1:31.75 – Wise Dan (2013) (at current distance)
Most wins 2 – Wise Dan (2012, 2013) 2 – Notable Speech (2025, 2026)
Most wins by an owner: 4 – Sam-Son Farm (1991, 1999, 2004, 2019) 4 – Godolphin (2022, 2023, 2025, 2026)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – John R. Velazquez (2000, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2017)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Neil D. Drysdale (1989, 1998, 2003, 2006) 4 – Charlie Appleby (2022, 2023, 2025, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Notable Speech5William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:33.862025Notable Speech4William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:35.332024Win for the Money5Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseLive Oak Plantation1:32.112023Master of The Seas5William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:33.79 2022Modern Games3William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:32.772021Town Cruise6Daisuke FukumotoBrandon GreerBrandon Greer1:35.142020Starship Jubilee7Justin SteinKevin AttardBlue Heaven Farm1:32.062019El Tormenta4Eurico Rosa da SilvaGail CoxSam-Son Farm1:32.602018Oscar Performance4José L. OrtizBrian A. LynchAmerman Racing LLC 1:33.122017World Approval5John R. VelazquezMark E. CasseLive Oak Plantation1:33.052016Tepin5Julien LeparouxMark E. CasseRobert Masterson1:34.132015Mondialiste (IRE)5Feargal LynchDavid O'MearaSandra & Geoff Turnbull1:36.662014Trade Storm (GB)6Jamie SpencerDavid SimcockQatar Racing1:36.872013Wise Dan6John R. VelazquezCharles LoPrestiMorton Fink1:31.752012Wise Dan5John R. VelazquezCharles LoPrestiMorton Fink1:34.072011Turallure4Julien LeparouxCharles LoPresti4-D Stables1:34.922010Court Vision5Robby AlbaradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables & Resolute Group Stables1:34.622009Ventura5Garrett GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:32.042008Rahy's Attorney4Slade CallaghanIan BlackEllie Boje Farm et al.1:36.142007Shakespeare6Garrett GomezKiaran McLaughlinDell Ridge Farm / W. Schettine1:33.582006 Becrux4Patrick ValenzuelaNeil D. DrysdaleTeam Valor, Gary Barber1:33.992005Leroidesanimaux5John R. VelazquezRobert J. FrankelT N T Stud1:35.082004Soaring Free5Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:32.722003 Touch of the Blues6Kent DesormeauxNeil D. DrysdaleGainsborough Farm1:33.392002Good Journey6Pat DayWallace DollaseFlaxman Holdings & M. Jarvis1:33.272001Numerous Times4Patrick HusbandsSid AttardCommittee Stable1:32.792000Riviera6John R. VelazquezRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann1:33.181999Quiet Resolve † 4Robert LandryMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:33.191998Labeeb6Kent DesormeauxNeil D. DrysdaleGainsborough Farm1:33.001997Geri5Chris AntleyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson1:36.201996Skip Away3Shane SellersSonny HineCarolyn Hine1:49.001995Peaks and Valleys3Julie KroneJim DayPin Oak Stable1:50.001994Dramatic Gold3Corey NakataniDavid HofmansGolden Eagle Farm1:49.801993Peteski3Craig PerretRoger AttfieldEarle I. Mack1:49.201992Benburb3Richard Dos RamosPhil EnglandKnob Hill Stable1:51.601991Dance Smartly3Pat DayJim DaySam-Son Farm1:49.201990Izvestia3Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms2:01.601989Prized3Ed DelahoussayeNeil D. DrysdaleTeam Valor2:02.001988Ballindaggin3José A. SantosJohn O. HertlerGeorge Layman Jr.2:04.60
† – Hawksley Hill won the 1999 race but was disqualified to 4th
See also List of Canadian flat horse races
References
The 2009 Woodbine Mile at the NTRA Woodbine Mile History at Woodbine Entertainment