The Connaught Cup Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Run in late May, the Grade II race is open to horses aged four and older. Raced over a distance of seven furlongs on turf, it currently offers a purse of $196,750.
The Connaught Cup was first run in 1912 on dirt at Toronto's Old Woodbine Race Course. As a result of World War I, there was no race held in 1918 and 1919 and it was not run in 1930. The Great Depression saw much consolidation in the horse racing industry with track owners reducing the number of races run and the amount of the purses being offered. The Connaught Cup was suspended after the 1932 running and was not revived until 1952. In 1956 it was moved to the newly built Woodbine Racetrack where in 1958 it was converted to a turf race.
It was run in two divisions in 1984.
Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances: On dirt: miles : 1912 through 1955 at Old Woodbine Race Course, 1956-1957 at Woodbine Racecourse
On turf: 7 furlongs : 2010-2025 at Woodbine Racetrack furlongs: beginning in 2026 at Woodbine Racetrack 1 mile : 1994 at Fort Erie Racetrack miles : 1958-1963, 1980–93, 1995-2009 at Woodbine Racetrack miles : 1964-1966, 1979 at Woodbine Racetrack, 1967-1978 at Fort Erie Racetrack
Records Speed record: 1:19.40 - Tower of Texas (2017) (7 furlongs) 1:28.64 - G T Five Hundred (2026) ( furlongs)
Most wins: 2 - Plate Glass (1912, 1913) 2 - King Maple (1955, 1956) 2 - E. Day (1964, 1965) 2 - James Bay (1968, 1969) 2 - Bridle Path (1981, 1984) 2 - Kiridashi (1997, 1998) 2 - Something Extra (2012, 2013) 2 - Cruden Bay (2024, 2025)
Most wins by an owner: 5 - J. K. L. Ross (1916, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1927) 5 - Stafford Farms (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Most wins by a jockey: 8 - Robin Platts (1968, 1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1988, 1992)
Most wins by a trainer: 5 - Gil Rowntree (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026G T Five Hundred6Jose Luis CamposDale A. DesruisseauxCentennial Farms (Niagara)1:28.642025Cruden Bay7Fraser AeblyDonald C. MacRaeMichael Lay1:21.982024Cruden Bay6Sofia VivesDonald C. MacRaeMichael Lay1:21.272023Dream Shake5Rafael HernandezMichael StidhamExline-Border Racing LLC, Eurton, Hausman & Stonestreet Stables LLC1:20.332022Filo Di Arianna6Luis ContrerasMark CasseGary Barber, Wachtel Stable & Peter Deutsch1:20.362021Avie's Flatter5Luis ContrerasJosie CarrollIvan Dalos1:20.992020Silent Poet5Justin SteinNicholas GonzalezStronach Stables1:23.622019El Tormenta4Luis ContrerasGail CoxSam-Son Farm1:20.292018Caribou Club4Gary BoulangerThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm1:20.222017Tower of Texas6Eurico Rosa Da SilvaRoger AttfieldThomas F. Van Meter II & Scott Dilworth1:19.402016Dimension (GB)8David MoranConor MurphyRiverside Bloodstock1:21.842015Lockout6Gary BoulangerMark CasseJohn Oxley1:22.64 2014Excaper5Justin SteinIan BlackRichard S. Kaster & Frederick C. Wieting1:19.532013Something Extra5Eurico Rosa Da SilvaGail CoxJohn Menary & Gail Cox1:20.542012Something Extra4Eurico Rosa Da SilvaGail CoxJohn Menary & Gail Cox1:20.692011Stormy Lord4Jim McAleneyIan BlackHat Trick Stable/Kinghaven Farms1:25.722010Grand Adventure4Patrick HusbandsMark FrostadSam-Son Farms1:19.832009Sterwins3Patrick HusbandsMalcolm PierceMelnyk Racing Stables1:38.992008Rahy's Attorney4Slade CallaghanIan BlackEllie-Boje Farm 1:39.532007Eccentric6David ClarkRoger AttfieldGary A. Tanaka1:45.052006Remarkable News4Javier CastellanoAngel Penna, Jr.Holly Rincon1:39.672005Le Cinquieme Essai6Steven BahenPaul NielsenWilliam J. Scott1:40.792004Slew Valley7Jim McAleneyReade BakerRich Meadow Farm (W. James Hindman)1:40.242002Quiet Resolve7Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:40.882001Red Sea5Emile RamsammyRoger AttfieldPrince Fahd Salman1:47.492001Del Mar Show4Robbie DavisWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson Trust1:48.172000Super Red4Emile RamsammyMalcolm PierceStronach Stables1:43.781999Incitatus6Slade CallaghanRonald BurkeJohn Kom-Tong1:40.571998Kiridashi6Todd KabelBarbara J. MinshallMinshall Farms1:39.801997Kiridashi5Mickey WallsBarbara J. MinshallMinshall Farms1:40.001996Lahint5Todd KabelKathy Patton-CasseHarry T. Mangurian, Jr.1:40.201995Jet Freighter4Todd KabelTony MattineFishman/Peter/Yu1:39.201994Shiny Key6Mark LarsenAlton QuanbeckD. Morgan Firestone1:35.001993Rainbows For Life5Jack LauzonJames E. DayPin Oak/Sam-Son1:43.401992Cozzene's Prince5Robin PlattsTino AttardKirby Canada Farm1:42.601991Sky Classic4Pat DayJames E. DaySam-Son Farm1:41.201990With Approval4Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:41.601989Granacus4Kent DesormeauxPat CollinsKnob Hill Stable1:46.201988Grey Classic5Robin PlattsJames E. DaySam-Son Farm1:44.001987Boulder Run4Lloyd DuffyJerry G. LavigneR. Doe & B. Hutzel1:45.201986Corseque5Robert King, Jr.David MacLeanNorcliffe Stables1:43.401985Mascot4Dave PennaAlton QuanbeckMaud McDougald1:44.401984George Dinkle4George HoSangLaurie SilveraSilverbrook Stable1:44.201984Bridle Path8David ClarkMacdonald BensonWindfields Farm1:43.401983Fiddle Dancer Boy5David ClarkJames C. BentleyJohn B. W. Carmichael1:46.001982Frost King4Lloyd DuffyBill MarkoTed Smith/Bill Marko1:48.001981Bridle Path5J. Paul SouterMacdonald BensonWindfields Farm1:42.601980Great State4Jim FazioGil RowntreeStafford Farms1:42.001979Bruce South4Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms1:49.401978Sound Reason *4Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms1:50.801977Reasonable Win5John LeBlancFred H. LoschkeHammer Kopf Farm1:51.401976Royal Chocolate6Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms1:50.401975Amber Herod4Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms1:50.201974Fabe Count6Sandy HawleyJerry G. LavigneParkview Stable1:48.801973Suffix4Lloyd DuffyGlenn MagnussonAubrey W. Minshall1:50.201972Briartic4Brian SwatukAndrew G. SmithersBennett Farms1:48.601971Yukon Eric5Sandy HawleyLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:49.001970Son Costume5R. ArmstrongW. H. MoorheadPaison Stable1:50.001969James Bay5Robin PlattsLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:51.001968James Bay4Robin PlattsLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:49.001967Stevie B. Good4Richard GrubbB. PucciniE. C. Pasquale1:48.401966Victorian Era4Avelino GomezLou Cavalaris, Jr.A. Case 1:50.801965E. Day5Pat RemillardHume E. M. PollockHume E. M. Pollock1:50.801964 E. Day4Pat RemillardHume E. M. PollockHume E. M. Pollock1:51.001963Roman Banquet3George GubbinsS. U. RossE. C. Pasquale1:44.601962Axeman4Hugo DittfachRichard TownrowLanson Farms1:48.801961Hidden Treasure4Pat RemillardRobert S. BatemanWilliam R. Beasley1:43.201960Winning Shot4Avelino GomezWillie ThurnerJ. S. Evans1:43.801959White Apache4Don HaleF. RussellFour L's Stable1:43.801958West Four4Al CoyS. CaplanC. Bordonaro1:47.601957Censor4Avelino GomezGordon J. McCannWinnifred Taylor1:45.001956King Maple5C. BrownJohn HornsbyMcMacken Stable1:44.801955King Maple4Herb LindbergJohn HornsbyMcMacken Stable1:44.401954Chain Reaction4William ZakoorRichard TownrowElodie S. Tomlinson1:45.001953Visible4Emile RoyF. RobinsonE. Elman1:47.001933 - 1952 Race not held1932Khorasan4Eddie LegereWilliam H. BringloeSeagram Stables1:46.401931Marine5Frankie MannHarry Giddings, Jr.Mount Royal Stable (Kenneth T. Dawes et al)1:45.801930 Race not held1929Young Kitty4John MaibenWilliam H. BringloeSeagram Stables1:49.201928Clear Sky4T. BurnsG. AlexandraJ. E. Smallman1:49.601927Lactarius4R. FisherFred H. SchelkeJ. K. L. Ross1:49.801926Goldbeater4John MaibenJames BodenDonat Raymond1:47.201925King's Court6B. KennedyWilliam H. BringloeSeagram Stables1:49.201924Deep Thought3Edward ScobieHenry McDanielJ. K. L. Ross1:46.401923James F. O'Hara5Whitey AbelJack D. AdkinsKirkfield Stable1:45.401922Baby Grand4Clarence TurnerHenry McDanielJ. K. L. Ross1:49.601921Lucky B.6Harold ThurberG. HennessyG. Macfarlane1:47.601920Boniface5Earl SandeFred H. SchelkeJ. K. L. Ross1:48.601918 - 1919 Race not held1917Smart Money3Lee MinkE. TrotteR. E. Millett1:48.601916Uncle Bryn4Linus McAteeW. Fred PresgraveJ. K. L. Ross1:47.201915Privet Petal4James SmythEd WhyteJohn S. Hendrie1:47.401914Calgary4Albert ClaverHenry McDanielRobert T. Davies1:47.201913Plate Glass7Willie KnappJohn NixonRobert T. Davies1:47.001912Plate Glass6E. MartinC. PattersonRobert T. Davies1:48.40
*In 1978, Hopeful Answer finished first but was disqualified and set back to second.
See also List of Canadian flat horse races
References