The Nijinsky Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Since 2009, it has been run in late July. The Grade II race is open to horses aged three years and up and is run on Woodbine Racetrack's E. P. Taylor Turf Course at a distance of one and one eight miles. The race currently offers a purse of CAD$175,000 added.
Inaugurated as the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Stakes in 1998, it was raced during the third week of July on turf at a distance of miles. In 2002, the Chinese Cultural Centre sponsored the race and it was renamed the Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes. In 2006, the race was renamed the Nijinsky Stakes and the Chinese Cultural Centre assumed sponsorship for the Seagram Cup Stakes .
The race honors the Canadian-born Nijinsky, the 1970 English Triple Crown champion and a son of Canada's most famous horse and most important sire of the 20th century, Northern Dancer.
Records Time record: 2:24.45 @ miles : Tiz A Slam (2019) 2:12.37 @ 1 3/8 miles : Shoal Water (2004) 2:00.60 @ miles : Seaside Retreat (2008) (new course record) 1:45.28 @ 1 1/8 miles : So Long George (2013)
Most wins by a horse 2 – Up With the Birds (2014, 2016) 2 – Windwards Islands (2010, 2011) 2 – Tiz A Slam (2018, 2019)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Todd Kabel (2003, 2004, 2012)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Mark Frostad (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011)
Most wins by an owner: 8 – Sam-Son Farm (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2020Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2019Tiz a Slam5Steven BahenRoger AttfieldChiefswood Stable (Robert & Mark Krembil)12:24.45$132,930G22018Tiz a Slam4Steven BahenRoger AttfieldChiefswood Stable (Robert & Mark Krembil)12:29.06$105,000G22017Dragon Bay4Gary BoulangerStuart C. SimonMcLellan/McLellan/Simon12:02.10$105,000G22016Up With the Birds6Eurico Rosa Da SilvaMalcolm PierceSam-Son Farm11:49.18$144,000G22015Are You Kidding Me5Alan GarciaRoger L. AttfieldKirk/Bates/Riordan11:46.59$120,000G22014Up With the Birds4Eurico Rosa Da SilvaMalcolm PierceSam-Son Farm11:45.74$144,000G22013So Long George4Emma-Jayne WilsonJohn CharalambousUp Hill Stable11:45.28$120,000G22012Riding the River5Todd KabelDavid CoteyDominion Bloodstock/HGHR/Linmac Farm11:48.05$180,000G22011Windward Islands7Emma-Jayne WilsonMark FrostadSam-Son Farm11:49.82$180,000G22010Windward Islands6Chantal SutherlandMark FrostadSam-Son Farm11:53.58$180,000G22009Rahy's Attorney 5Slade CallaghanIan BlackEllie-Boje Farm, et al.12:08.42$207,000G22008Seaside Retreat5Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseWilliam S. Farish IV12:00.60$180,000G22007Last Answer7Emile RamsammyMichael KeoghGus Schickedanz12:31.25$180,000G22006Rush Bay4David ClarkTom AmossMueller Thoroughbred Stable12:33.89$180,000G22005A Bit O'Gold4Jono JonesCatherine Day PhillipsThe Two Bit Racing Stable12:15.94$205,920G22004Shoal Water4Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm12:12.37$199,980G22003Strut The Stage5Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm12:13.85$198,540G22002Strike Smartly5Laurie GulasMark FrostadSam-Son Farm12:13.16$201,780G22001Allende4Na SomsanithMacdonald BensonAugustin Stable12:16.98$164,100G22000Quiet Resolve5Robby AlbaradoMark FrostadSam-Son Farm12:13.20$169,950G21999Crown Attorney6Mickey WallsJohn MacKenzieTony & Mary Jane Lamb12:18.53$132,3601998Buck's Boy5Earlie FiresP. Noel HickeyQuarter B. Farm (George Bunn)12:15.40$131,640
See also List of Canadian flat horse races
References