Swynford Stakes is a discontinued Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1956 through 2016. It was first run at Greenwood Raceway as a race for horses aged three and older. In 1967 it was moved to Woodbine Racetrack where it was changed to a race for two-year-olds. It received Grade 3 status for 1999 and 2000.
Historical notes The 1958 Swynford Stakes was won by Nearctic who was a son of the great undefeated runner and one of the most influential sires in history, Nearco. Bred by E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm in Ontario, Nearctic would earn 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year honours and induction in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. However, Nearctic's most important achievement came when he sired the greatest sire of the 20th Century, the now legendary Northern Dancer.
Jockey Dave Penna won the 1982 edition of the Swynford Stakes aboard Sunny's Halo, a colt who went on to win the 1983 Kentucky Derby. In 2008, the race produced its second Kentucky Derby winner when jockey Chantal Sutherland guided Mine That Bird to a Swynford victory.
The 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold ran second to Holzmeister in the 1996 running of the Swynford.
The Swynford Stakes was run at various distances:
At Greenwood Raceway: 1956 : 6 furlongs 1957 : furlongs 1958-1960 : 7 furlongs 1961-1966 : 1 mile
At Woodbine Racetrack: 1967-1970 : 5 furlongs 1971-1972 : furlongs 1973–1975, 2016 : 6 furlongs 1976-1979 : 5 furlongs 1980-1985 : 7 furlongs 1986-1995 : furlongs 1996 to 2015 : 7 furlongs
Records Speed record: (at distance of 7 furlongs) 1:23.00 - Holzmeister (1996) (recorded in fractions of 1/5 seconds) 1:23.02 - Turf War (2007)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Robin Platts (1968, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1992)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 - Mark E. Casse (1999, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - Lanson Farm (1956, 1960) 2 - Windfields Farm (1958, 1987) 2 - Stafford Farms (1976, 1978) 2 - John C. Oxley (2011, 2012) 2 - Conquest Stables (2013, 2014)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Win$ Gr.2016Undulated2Andy GarciaCathal A. LynchM M G Stables6 F1:10.26$75,0002015Riker2Jesse M. CampbellNick GonzalezTucci Stables7 F1:23.39$75,0002014Conquest Boogaloo2Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseConquest Stables7 F1:23.97$90,0002013Conquest Titan2Eurico da SilvaMark E. CasseConquest Stables7 F1:23.64$75,0002012Uncaptured2Patrick HusbandsMark CasseJohn C. Oxley7 F1:22.49$113,4002011Indian Evening2Tyler PizarroJosie CarrollJohn C. Oxley7 F1:22.57$90,0002010Bears Future2Gerry OlguinReade BakerBear Stables7 F1:23.58$90,0002009Ghost Fleet2Todd KabelSid C. AttardJim Dandy Stable7 F 1:23.20$103,5002008Mine That Bird2Chantal SutherlandDavid CoteyDominion Bloodstock et al.7 F1:23.52$90,0002007Turf War2Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseWoodford Racing LLC7 F1:23.02$75,0002006Barilko2Constant MontpellierDavid DwyerDavid Dwyer7 F1:24.65$75,0002005Bear Character2Jim McAleneyDale GreenwoodBear Stables Ltd.7 F1:23.83$83,6322004What's Up Dude2Patrick HusbandsMike MareinaKuehne Racing7 F1:24.67$81,6002003Winter Whiskey 2Jono JonesCatherine Day PhillipsTen Goal Racing et al.7 F1:25.08$80,5502002Added Edge2Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseRobert Wilson/Valor7 F1:23.33$83,9482001Rare Friends2David ClarkRobert P. TillerF. DiGiulio, Jr. & Tiller7 F1:25.83$65,9402000 Highland Legacy2Emile RamsammySteve OwensEmpress Stable7 F1:23.64$67,0321999Exciting Story2Emile RamsammyMark E. CasseMockingbird Farm7 F1:23.05$48,6451998Riddell's Creek2James McKnightBeverly BuckClausen/Buck/Buck7 F1:25.00$40,7111997Thunder Bow2Todd KabelRita A. SchnitzlerJ. M. Stritzl Stable7 F1:25.40$39,0601996Holzmeister2Robert LandryDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach7 F1:23.00$67,7401995Hard Rock Crossing2Emile RamsammyRobert P. TillerTiller/Norseman Stable6.5 F1:17.20$49,6351994Talkin Man2Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven / Stollery6.5 F1:16.60$39,2401993Pulled Through2Larry AttardTino AttardTanya Attard / Dav Stable6.5 F1:17.20$33,7681992Reach The Gold2Robin PlattsJohn A. RossHuntington Stud Farm6.5 F1:18.60$39,9601991Frosted Spy2Mickey WallsFrank Passero, Jr.Pedigree/Sunny Acre6.5 F1:19.40$39,8881990Dark Brew2David PughJack R. WilsonRobert & Saronda Smith & Jack R. Wilson6.5 F1:17.40$39,8161989Dandy Shine2Lloyd DuffyWilliam R. MacKinnonJohn Royle6.5 F1:18.00$40,1041988Mercedes Won2Lloyd DuffyArnold FinkChris Spencer6.5 F1:17.00$34,1701987Silver Deputy2Irwin DriedgerMac BensonWindfields Farm6.5 F1:17.20$32,1001986Bell Lap2Jack LauzonRichie PapaCarravetta / Rundle6.5 F1:19.00$25,8721985Color Me Smart2Jeffrey FellJames E. DaySam-Son Farm7 F1:27.00$38,1121984Rulers Sceptre2Gary StahlbaumJoe AttardN. Dickinson7 F1:24.60$26,7361983Let's Go Blue2Sid FenechJanet BedfordJim Dandy Stable7 F1:24.20$26,7841982Sunny's Halo2Dave PennaDavid C. Cross Jr.David J. Foster7 F1:23.80$22,8901981Son of Briartic2Dave DennieJerry LavignePaddockhurst Stable7 F1:23.60$16,3951980Native Fisher2David ClarkGordon HuntleyS. Young & A. Fisher7 F1:26.20$17,4551979Classic Joker2George HoSangBrian OttawayMrs. C. McCullough5 F F0:58.60$14,5601978Port Master2Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms5 F F0:59.00$13,8801977Buck Mountain2Gary StahlbaumJim RobertsS. Brener5 F F0:58.40$14,2251976Sound Reason2Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms5 F F0:58.60$10,7101975First2Jeffrey FellYonnie StarrJean-Louis Levesque6 F1:11.60$11,0001974Greek Answer2Wayne GreenFrank Merrill Jr.W. Preston Gilbride6 F1:10.40$11,4801973-1Bedknob2Richard GrubbGordon HuntleyR. Papa6 F1:09.20$7,0121973-2Amazing Journey2Sandy HawleyJerry C. MeyerVallelonga Stable6 F1:11.40$70121972Sunny South2Sandy HawleyFrank Merrill, Jr.Mrs. C. Hardwicke5.5 F1:04.00$7,8501971Jewel Prince2Robin PlattsCarl F. ChapmanGarden City Stable5.5 F1:04.40$7,3251970Overproof2Chris RogersEarl HarbourneV. Martin, Jr.5 F F0:58.00$7,0501969Andy The Great2Lloyd DuffyWilliam F. EdmistonWilliam F. Edmiston5 F F0:59.60$8,1751968Moss Lodge2Robin PlattsCharles S. SoftleyCharles S. Softley5 F F0:59.80$7,1501967Great Cohoes2Ronnie FerraroJohn RufranoArmond J. Castellani5 F F0:58.80$7,9251966Sunstruck6Avelino GomezLou Cavalaris Jr.Hillcrest Stable8 F1:36.40$6,4501965President Jim5Avelino GomezLou Cavalaris Jr.Gardiner Farm8 F1:36.80$7,2001964Folk Dancer5Ron TurcotteJerry C. MeyerEdward B. Seedhouse8 F1:38.60$7,0251963Lord Quillo4Sam McCombEdward MannSarto Desnoyers8 F1:38.20$6,6501962Strongboy6Jim FitzsimmonsNick JuliusJ. E. F. Seagram8 F1:37.80$4,5751961Moony5Avelino GomezFrank Merrill, Jr.Roxie Gian & Fred Tosch8 F1:37.40$4,4551960Anita's Son4Pat RemillardArthur H. WarnerLanson Farm7 F1:27.20$4,3501959Kitty Girl5Roberto GonzalezYonnie StarrLarkin Maloney & Conn Smythe7 F1:25.00$4,5601958Nearctic4Ben SorensenGordon McCannWindfields Farm7 F1:25.20$5,3201957Canadian Champ4Dave StevensonJohn PasseroWilliam R. Beasley6.5 F1:24.40$3,6401956Fleet Path4H. B. WilsonArthur H. WarnerLanson Farm6 F1:11.00$3,605
*Run in two divisions in 1973.
References