Grey Stakes

Grey Stakes
Grade III race
LocationWoodbine Racetrack
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Inaugurated1906
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.woodbineentertainment.com/qct/default.asp
Race information
Distance1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
(Polytrack since 2006)
Trackleft-handed
QualificationTwo-year-olds
WeightAllowances
Purse$114,045 (approx) (2015)

The Grey Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. A Grade III, it is open to two-year-old horses and is raced on dirt at a distance of 1+116 miles. Since 2006, the dirt racing surface at Woodbine Racetrack has been the synthetic Polytrack.

Inaugurated as the Grey Stakes at the Old Woodbine Racetrack in 1906, it was named in honor of the then Governor General of Canada, Earl Grey. Over the years it has been run at various distances:

  • 1 mile : 1906-1929 (Old Woodbine Racetrack)
  • 1 mile 70 yards : 1930-1955 (Old Woodbine Racetrack)
  • 1+116 miles : 1956 to present at Woodbine Racetrack

J. K. L. Ross, owner of the first United States Triple Crown Champion, Sir Barton, won this race five years in a row with future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer, Henry McDaniel. In 1926 Henry McDaniel added another win, making him the leader among all winning trainers.

Notable horses who have won the race includes future Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductees Horometer (1933), Kennedy Road (1970), Sunny's Halo (1982), and Sky Classic (1989). Dancer's Image won the 1967 race and went on to capture the following year's Kentucky Derby, as did Mine That Bird in 2009. Since the creation of the Breeder's Cup races in 1984, Macho Uno is the only horse to have won the Grey Stakes then gone on to win that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Famous horses who did not win the Grey Stakes include Display who ran second in 1925 but was the ensuing year's Preakness Stakes winner. As well, the 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold finished third in the 1996 running of the Grey Stakes.

Records

Time record: (at current 1+116 miles distance)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners of the Grey Stakes since 1956

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2022 Bluebirds Over Edgard J. Zayas Saffie A. Joseph Jr. Edward Seltzer & Beverly Anderson 1:45.32
2021 God of Love Rafael M. Hernandez Mark E. Casse Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber 1:44.20
2019 Chapalu Patrick Husbands Arnaud Delacour EA Seltzer & BS Anderson 1:44.50
2018 Solidify Emma-Jayne Wilson Reade Baker Paul Braverman & Timothy Pinch 1:43.90
2017 Archaggelos Rafael M. Hernandez Michael W. Dickinson Monticule LLC 1:44.56
2016 Golden Hawk Patrick Husbands Mark E. Casse Live Oak Plantation 1:43.38
2015 Riker Jesse M. Campbell Nicholas Gonzalez Tucci Stables 1:44.31
2014 International Star Rafael M. Hernandez Michael J. Maker Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey 1:45.15
2013 Ami's Holiday Luis Contreras Josie Carroll Ivan Dalos 1:44.80
2012 River Seven Eurico Rosa Da Silva Nicolas Gonzalez Tucci Stables 1:43.98
2011 Prospective Luis Contreras Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1:44.55
2010 Blue Laser Corey Fraser Mark E. Casse WinStar Farm 1:45.78
2009 Bear Tough Guy Eurico Rosa da Silva Reade Baker Bear Stables 1:45.34
2008 Mine That Bird Chantal Sutherland David Cotey David Cotey, D. Ball & HGHR Inc. 1:44.45
2007 Globetrotter Jeremy Rose H. Graham Motion Earle I. Mack 1:46.59
2006 Skip Code Patrick Husbands Mark E. Casse Charles Laloggia 1:45.56
2005 Unification Robert Landry Eoin G. Harty Darley Stable 1:46.50
2004 Dance with Ravens Todd Kabel Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 1:47.79
2003 Smoocher Jim McAleney David R. Bell John A. Franks 1:46.74
2002 Wando Richard Migliore Michael Keogh Gus Schickedanz 1:45.10
2001 Changeintheweather Mickey Walls David R. Bell Pin Oak Stable 1:47.03
2000 Macho Uno Jerry D. Bailey Joe Orseno Stronach Stable 1:44.13
1999 Four On The Floor Patrick Husbands Alexander McPherson Lor Stables 1:45.12
1998 Certainly Classic Constant Montpellier Alexander McPherson Dominion Bloodstock et al. 1:46.20
1997 Black Cash Robert Landry Daniel J. Vella Frank Stronach 1:43.20
1996 Cash Deposit Todd Kabel Daniel J. Vella Frank Stronach 1:45.00
1995 Gomtuu Dave Penna Dominic J. Polsinelli Tri-Colour Racing Stable 1:46.60
1994 Talkin Man Robert Landry Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms & Helen G.Stollery 1:46.60
1993 Road Rush Robert Landry Daniel J. Vella Frank Stronach 1:46.00
1992 Truth Of It All Dave Penna Sheldon Wolfe A. Schmidt 1:46.20
1991 Steady Rise Mickey Walls Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms 1:47.40
1990 Wildy Special Art Madrid, Jr. Stephen L. DiMauro Robert J. Sullivan 1:46.20
1989 Sky Classic Sandy Hawley James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1:46.00
1988 Mercedes Won Lloyd Duffy Arnold Fink Chris Spencer 1:45.60
1987 Regal Classic Dave Penna James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1:45.00
1986 Blue Finn Dave Penna James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1:47.40
1985 Bishop Bob David Clark Arthur H. Warner Victura Farm 1:47.80
1984 Dauphin Fabuleux Jeffrey Fell James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1:45.40
1983 Ten Gold Pots Gary Stahlbaum Gil Rowntree B. K. Y. Stable 1:45.00
1982 Sunny's Halo Dave Penna David C. Cross Jr. David J. Foster 1:45.40
1981 Tampa Bay Buck Dan Beckon Arnold Fink John Spencer 1:46.00
1980 Bayford Robin Platts John J. Tammaro, Jr. Kinghaven Farms 1:44.20
1979 Sunny Premier Gary Stahlbaum Frank H. Merrill, Jr. Meadowview Stable 1:46.20
1978 Port Ebony George HoSang M. Clapperton S. C. S. Stable 1:44.40
1977 Cash the Ticket W. Woods J. Kelly M. Martin 1:52.80
1976 Do Lishus Chris Rogers Sheldon Wolfe Krever Farm 1:47.20
1975 Bay Streak David Clark Gordon M. Huntley Whittaker Stable 1:47.40
1974 Silverbatim Jeffrey Fell Gordon M. Huntley Mutual Enterprises 1:44.80
1973 Trojan Bronze Robin Platts Glenn Magnusson A. B. Roks 1:46.40
1972 Impecunious J. Moseley George Handy Mrs. R. L. Feinberg 1:44.00
1971 Spirit Rock Brian Swatuk Gil Rowntree Stafford Farms 1:44.40
1970 Kennedy Road Sandy Hawley James C. Bentley Helen G. Stollery 1:47.20
1969 Dance to Market Chris Rogers Earl Harbourne V. Martin Jr. 1:52.60
1968 Jumpin Joseph Brian Swatuk Robert S. Bateman Warren Beasley 1:46.80
1967 Dancer's Image Avelino Gomez Lou Cavalaris, Jr. Peter D. Fuller 1:48.20
1966 Pine Point Avelino Gomez Jerry C. Meyer Willow Downs Farm 1:45.20
1965 Titled Hero Avelino Gomez Patrick MacMurchy Peter K. Marshall 1:47.20
1964 Des Erables John LeBlanc Duncan R. Campbell Mrs. S. Thomas 1:48.40
1963 Ramblin Road Pat Remillard Gordon M. Huntley Gordon F. Hall 1:45.00
1962 Sound Stage George Gubbins John Passero Stafford Farms 1:44.20
1961 Admiral Gano Pat Remillard Alfred I. Taylor Don G. Ross 1:45.20
1960 Belle O McClure John R. Adams Harry Trotsek Hasty House Farm 1:45.20
1959 Eltoro The Great George Gubbins John Passero William R. Beasley 1:50.40
1958 Anita's Son C. M. Clark Arthur H. Warner Lanson Farm 1:48.80
1957 Salon Billie Fisk J. Brown I. Tenney 1:47.40
1956 Roman Artist Eegene A. Rodriguez John Passero William R. Beasley 1:45.00
  • In 1963 Bimini Bill finished first but was disqualified and set back to second.
  • In 1999 Exciting Story won but was disqualified and placed fifth.

Earlier winners

  • 1955 - Compactor
  • 1954 - Senator Jim
  • 1953 - King Maple
  • 1952 - Avella
  • 1951 - I'm Sandy
  • 1950 - Argyle
  • 1949 - Mighty Nice
  • 1948 - Avona
  • 1947 - Dymoke
  • 1946 - Watch Wrack
  • 1945 - Hyperhelio
  • 1944 - Dune
  • 1943 - Green Bush
  • 1942 - Gallant Foe
  • 1941 - Air Sure
  • 1940 - Jascarf
  • 1939 - Second Helping
  • 1938 - Peterhof
  • 1937 - Poona
  • 1936 - Aldwych
  • 1935 - Abbatoro
  • 1934 - Brannon
  • 1933 - Horometer
  • 1932 - Tractable
  • 1931 - Dark Mission
  • 1930 - Irish Maiden
  • 1929 - Sweet Sentiment
  • 1928 - Butter John
  • 1927 - Solace
  • 1926 - Willie K.
  • 1925 - Penstick
  • 1924 - Caduceus
  • 1923 - Turnberry
  • 1922 - Prismar
  • 1921 - Marble
  • 1920 - Our Flag
  • 1919 - No race (World War I)
  • 1918 - No race (World War I)
  • 1917 - No race (World War I)
  • 1916 - Arravan
  • 1915 - Candle
  • 1914 - Lady Curzon
  • 1913 - Hodge
  • 1912 - Leochares
  • 1911 - Aldebaran
  • 1910 - Picolata
  • 1909 - Penn
  • 1908 - Arondack
  • 1907 - Dredger
  • 1906 - Glimmer

See also