The Dominion Day Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually in July at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A Grade III event currently offering a purse of CAD$150,000 +, it is open to horses aged three years and up. The race was run at a distance of miles from its inception until 1983 when it was changed to its present miles format. It was raced on dirt until 2007 when a polytrack surface was installed. In 2016, the surface was changed to Tapeta synthetic turf.

Inaugurated in 1953 at the Old Woodbine Racetrack, it remained there until the track closed in 1955.

The race celebrates Dominion Day, the birth of the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867.

Ace Marine, one of Canada's greatest runners, and its 1955 Horse of the Year, won this race in 1956. In 1972, Canada's 1973 Horse of the Year, Kennedy Road, took the Dominion. The Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old colt of 1972, Nice Dancer, won it in 1973. The 1980 Canadian Horse of the Year as well as the 1980 Champion Older Female in Canada & the USA, plus the 1981 Champion Older Female in Canada, Glorious Song, won it twice—in 1980 & 1981. In 1984, the 1984 Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old colt, Key to the Moon, won the Dominion, and in 1990, Charlie Barley (by the U.S. Triple Crown winner Affirmed) who was the 1989 Champion Grass horse in Canada, came home the winner. 1996 Canadian Horse of the Year, Mt. Sassafras has also won the Dominion Day Stakes twice: 1996 & 1999.

Among other past winners, the 1963 and 2006 editions of the Dominion Day Stakes were won by Kentucky Derby winners, Decidedly and Funny Cide respectively.

Records Time record: (at current miles distance) 2:01.15 - Phantom Light (2003)

Most wins: 2 - Bye and Near (1968, 1969) 2 - Glorious Song (1980, 1981) 2 - Candid Cameron (1991, 1993) 2 - Mt. Sassafras (1996, 1999) 2 - Melmich (2016, 2017)

Most wins by an owner: 9 - Frank Stronach/Stronach Stables (1980, 1981, 1984, 1989, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2026)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Todd Kabel (1994, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2007)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 - Roger L. Attfield (1995, 2001, 2003, 2011, 2018, 2019)

Winners of the Dominion Day Stakes since 1979 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Runaway Again4Ryan MungerSic C. AttardStronach Stables1:50.632025Funtastic Again5Victor EspinozaWesley A. WardThree Chimneys Farm1:49.282024Paramount Prince4Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseMichael J. Langlois and Gray Barber1:49.352023Tyson4Rafael Manuel HernandezJosie CarrollHill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc. (J. G. Sikura) and Stretch Run Ventures LLC1:48.322022Frosted Over4Kazushi KimuraMark E. CasseGary Barber1:49.462021Mighty Heart4Daisuke FukumotoJosie CarrollLawrence Cordes1:43.332019Are You Kidding Me9Rafael Manuel HernandezRoger L. AttfieldKirk/Bates/Riordan2:04.282018Tiz A Slam4Steven Ronald BahenRoger L. AttfieldChiefswood Stable2:03.112017Melmich6Eurico Rosa da SilvaKevin AttardChesney/Hoffman2:03.482016Melmich5Eurico Rosa da SilvaKevin AttardChesney/Hoffman2:04.062015Red Rifle5Alan GarciaTodd PletcherTwin Creeks Racing Stable2:01.932014Sky Captain4Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley2:03.322013Delegation4Luis ContrerasMark E. CasseGary Barber2:01.512012Hunter's Bay4Emma-Jayne WilsonReade BakerStronach Stables2:04.112011Don Cavallo4Luis ContrerasRoger L. AttfieldStronach Stables2:03.472010Hold Me Back4Tyler PizarroBill MottWinStar Farm2:03.652009Marchfield5Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseMelnyk Racing Stables2:03.632008Jiggs Coz4David ClarkSid C. AttardJim Dandy Stable2:04.992007True Metropolitan5Todd KabelTerry JordanBob Cheema2:04.202006 Funny Cide6Richard MiglioreBarclay TaggSackatoga Stable2:02.412005 A Bit O'Gold4Jono JonesCatherine Day PhillipsThe Two Bit Racing Stable2:07.552004Mobil4Todd KabelMike KeoghGus Schickedanz 2:03.342003Phantom Light4Todd KabelRoger AttfieldStronach Stables2:01.152002 Bonus Pack4Jesus CastanonThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm2:03.012001 A Fleet's Dancer6Richard Dos RamosRoger AttfieldCam Allard2:05.692000 The Fed5Na SomsanithDavid R. BellR. F. & J. E. Shaw 2:04.411999 Mt. Sassafras7Richard Dos Ramos Barbara J. MinshallMinshall Farms 2:01.381998 Stephanotis5Mickey WallsBarbara J. MinshallMinshall Farms 2:03.301997 Firm Dancer4Todd Kabel Mike KeoghGus Schickedanz2:01.201996 Mt. Sassafras4Mickey WallsBarbara J. MinshallMinshall Farms2:03.201995 Alybro4Dave Penna Roger AttfieldKinghaven Farms2:04.101994 Pomeroon4Todd KabelRoss ArmataV. Polsinelli & J.Malawski 2:02.401993 Candid Cameron6George HoSang Trevor Swan J. D. Cameron 2:04.001992 Rainbows For Life4Jack LauzonJim DaySam-Son Farm 2:02.201991 Candid Cameron4Dave Penna Trevor Swan J. D. Cameron 2:03.301990 Charlie Barley4Robin PlattsGrant PearceKing Caledon Farm 2:03.101989 Mi Selecto4Lloyd Duffy Gil RowntreeStronach Stables 2:02.401988 Palace March4Julie Krone William I. MottBertram R. Firestone2:03.201987Gold Alert4Pat DayAlton H. QuanbeckMrs. J. A. McDougald 2:05.201986Key to the Moon5Lloyd Duffy Gil RowntreeB. K. Y. Stable2:04.101985Let's Go Blue4Larry AttardJanet BedfordJim Dandy Stable 2:03.001984Norwick5Gary StahlbaumMichael SedlacekStronach Stables 2:04.301983Frost King5Robin Platts Bill MarkoTed Smith & Bill Marko 2:04.201982 Bejilla5Brian SwatukJerry LavignePaddockhurst Stable 1:50.101981 Glorious Song5Robin Platts Gerry BelangerF. Stronach & N.B. Hunt1:48.001980 Glorious Song4John LeBlanc Gerry BelangerF. Stronach & N.B. Hunt1:50.101979Friuli6Fernando ToroTony MattineG. Caroli1:51.20

Earlier winners

1978 - Giboulee 1977 - Coverack 1976 - Big Destiny 1975 - Double Quill 1974 - Selari Spirit 1973 - Nice Dancer 1972 - Kennedy Road 1971 - Dance Act 1970 - Amber Orbit 1969 - Bye and Near 1968 - Bye and Near 1968 - Bright Monarch 1967 - Stevie B. Good 1966 - Victorian Era 1965 - E.Day 1964 - Vindent de Paul 1963 - Decidedly 1962 - Wise Command 1961 - Mooney 1960 - Anita's Son 1959 - Biscayne 1958 - Marshal Ney 1957 - Grand Canyon 1956 - Ace Marine 1955 - Sampan 1954 - Chain Reaction 1953 - Mr. Willie

See also List of Canadian flat horse races

References

External links Woodbine's official site