The Play the King Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade II sprint race, it is open to horses age three and older and is run over a distance of seven furlongs on turf. It currently offers a purse of CAN$200,000.
Inaugurated in 1987 as the Toronto Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap, it was competed at a distance of six furlongs on dirt until 1996 when it was shifted to the turf and set at its current distance of seven furlongs. At the same time, the race was renamed in honor of Kinghaven Farms' 1988 Canadian Horse of the Year, Play the King.
The race was run in two divisions in 2000.
Records Speed record: 1:19.77 - Just Rushing (2008) (at current distance of 7 furlongs) 1:09.20 - Play the King (1987) 1:09.20 - Apelia (1993)
Most wins: 2 - Play the King (1987, 1988) 2 - King Corrie (1991, 1992) 2 - Soaring Free (2003, 2004) 2 - Le Cinquieme Essai (2006, 2007)
Most wins by an owner: 4 - Sam-Son Farm (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 - Todd Kabel (1995, 2003, 2004)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Sid C. Attard (2008, 2009, 2010, 2016) 4 - Mark Frostad (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004)
Winners of the Play The King Stakes Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2020Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2019Silent Poet4Gary BoulangerNicholas GonzalezStronach Stables1:29.222018Mr Havercamp4Eurico Rosa da SilvaCatherine Day PhillipsSean & Dorothy Fitzhenry1:23.942017Conquest Panthera5Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseGary Barber1:21.202016Glenville Gardens4Gary BoulangerSid C. AttardJanice Attard1:20.822015Reporting Star5Luis ContrerasPat ParenteCopper Water Thoroughbred 1:20.662014Kaigun4Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseQuintessential Racing/Horse'n Around/Barber1:20.712013Dimension (GB) 5David MoranConor MurphyRiverside Bloodstock1:19.892012Big Band Sound5Tyler PizarroDaniel J. VellaKendel D. Standlee1:21.622011Havelock4Jermaine BridgmohanDarrin MillerSilverton Hill1:21.562010Smokey Fire5J C JonesSid AttardJim Dandy Stable1:20.832009Jungle Wave4Todd KabelSid AttardTucci Stables1:23.062008Just Rushing7James McAleneySid AttardTucci Stables1:19.772007Le Cinquieme Essai8Steve BahenPaul NielsenWilliam A. Scott1:26.282006Le Cinquieme Essai7Steve BahenPaul NielsenWilliam A. Scott1:22.792005Vanderlin6Martin DwyerAndrew BaldingJ. C. Hitchins et al.1:21.182004Soaring Free5Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:20.972003Soaring Free4Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:23.522002Zone Judge4Constant MontpellierDave DwyerWinston W. Penny1:20.422001Mr. Epperson6James McKnightScott H. FairlieR. & S. Fairlie et al.1:21.842000Solitary Dancer4Mickey WallsDavid R. BellJohn A. Franks1:22.002000Olympian3Na SomsanithJohn CardellaRexdale Stable et al.1:21.681999Dawson's Legacy4Constant MontpellierNorman McKnightJ. M. Stritzl Stable1:21.871998Skybound4Robert LandryMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:21.001997Randy Regent3Sandy HawleyMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:23.401996Jilin4David ClarkJohn MacKenzieGreenoaks Farm1:23.801995King Ruckus5Todd KabelDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach1:09.801994Premier Angel5Sandy HawleyDennis M. ErwinWilliam Sorokolit1:10.001993Apelia4Larry AttardPhil EnglandKnob Hill Stable1:09.201992King Corrie4Dave PennaSherry NoakesAubrey W. Minshall1:09.401991King Corrie3Pat DayJohn A. RossAubrey W. Minshall1:09.401990Cardel's Ruckus3Ray SabourinJoseph AttardC. & D. Arnone1:11.601989Confederate Bill4James McAleneyDavid C. BrownF. McDonnell1:10.001988Play the King5Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:10.401987Play the King4Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:09.20
See also List of Canadian flat horse races
References
The Play The King Stakes at Pedigree Query