Northern Dancer Turf Stakes
{{short description|Turf horse race in Canada}}
{{Infobox horseraces
| surface = Turf
| class = Grade I
| horse race = Northern Dancer Turf Stakes
| image = File:NorthernDancerBCTurfLogo.png
| caption =
| location = Woodbine Racetrack
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| inaugurated = 1953
| race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
| website = [http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/woodbine/ Woodbine racetrack]
| distance = {{frac|1|1|2}} miles (12 furlongs)
| track = Left-handed
| qualification = Three-year-olds & up
| weight = Handicap
| purse = Can$227,040 (2016){{cite web|title=Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Profile|url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Stakes&stkid=204|website=www.equibase.com|accessdate=17 September 2016}}
| bonuses =
}}
The Northern Dancer Turf Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario in mid-September. A Grade I event with a current purse of Can$300,000, it is run at a distance of {{frac|1|1|2}} miles on Woodbine's E. P. Taylor turf course.
Inaugurated as the Niagara Handicap, it was first raced on dirt at the Fort Erie Racetrack. In 1957 the race was changed to run on turf and was moved to the Woodbine Racetrack in 1985 where for 1986 only, it was run on dirt. The race became part of the Breeders' Cup program and the name was amended to the Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap. In 2006, the event was renamed to honour Canada's most famous racehorse, Northern Dancer.
Over the years, the race has been run at various distances:
- {{frac|1|1|16}} miles : 1953-1956
- {{frac|1|1|8}} miles : 1957-1975
- {{frac|1|1|4}} miles : 1990-1994
- {{frac|1|1|2}} miles : 1976-1989, 1995 to present
Records
Speed Record:
- 2:25.87 - Strut the Stage (2004) at the current distance of {{frac|1|1|2}} miles
Most wins:
- 2 - Marshall Ney II (1957, 1958)
- 2 - Strut the Stage (2003, 2004)
- 2 - Wigmore Hall (2011, 2012)
- 2 - Johnny Bear (2017, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
- 8 - Sam-Son Farm (1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2020)
- 5 - Gardiner Farm (1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - Todd Kabel (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
- 3 - Sandy Hawley (1970, 1996, 1997)
Most wins by a Trainer:
- 6 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)
- 6 - Mark Frostad (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Winners since 1986
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%" |
| width="36px" | Year ! width="120px" | Winner ! Age ! width="140px" | Jockey ! width="160px" | Trainer ! width=| Owner ! Time |
|---|
| align=center|2021
|align=center colspan=6|Not held [https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/246145/canada-to-run-41-graded-stakes-in-2021 Canada to Run 41 Graded Stakes in 2021] |
| align=center|2020
|Say The Word |align=center|5 |Gail Cox |2:29.87 |
| align=center|2019
|align=center|4 |2:27.78 |
| align=center|2018
|Johnny Bear |align=center|7 |Colebrook Farms & Bear Stables, Ltd. |2:25.74 |
| align=center|2017
|Johnny Bear |align=center|6 |Luis Contreras |Ashlee Brnjas |Colebrook Farms & Bear Stables, Ltd. |2:27.30 |
| align=center|2016
|align=center|7 |Roger A. Brueggemann |Midwest Thoroughbreds |2:31.75 |
| align=center|2015
|align=center|4 |2:33.56 |
| align=center|2014
|align=center|5 |Rabbah Bloodstock |2:32.37 |
| align=center|2013
|align=center|7 |Stella Perdomo |2:28.46 |
| align=center|2012
|align=center|5 |Mark B. Hawtin |2:28.28 |
| align=center|2011
|align=center|4 |Mark B. Hawtin |2:30.67 |
| align=center|2010
|align=center|4 |2:28.97 |
| align=center|2009
|Marsh Side†[http://www.drf.com/news/woodbine-northern-dancer-turf-2009-now-official Woodbine: Northern Dancer Turf of 2009 now official]Daily Racing Form, May 6, 2011 |align=center|6 |2:26.68 |
| align=center|2008
|align=center|5 |2:32.02 |
| align=center|2007
|align=center|5 |William A. Sorokolit, Sr. |2:27.45 |
| align=center|2006
|align=center|4 |William A. Sorokolit, Sr. |2:34.36 |
| align=center|2005
|align=center|7 |2:27.13 |
| align=center|2004
|align=center|6 |2:25.87 |
| align=center|2003
|align=center|5 |2:27.13 |
| align=center|2002
|align=center|4 |2:26.18 |
| align=center|2001
|align=center|7 |Robert Schaedle III et al. |2:26.52 |
| align=center|2000
|align=center|7 |Frank Huarte |2:32.16 |
| align=center|1999
|align=center|5 |2:29.32 |
| align=center|1998
|align=center|5 |2:30.00 |
| align=center|1997
|align=center|7 |2:30.40 |
| align=center|1996
|align=center|6 |2:27.00 |
| align=center|1995
|align=center|5 |Frank Mansell |2:27.00 |
| align=center|1994
|align=center|5 |2:03.20 |
| align=center|1993
|align=center|5 |2:01.60 |
| align=center|1992
|align=center|6 |Box Arrow Farm |2:02.20 |
| align=center|1991
|align=center|5 |2:04.80 |
| align=center|1990
|align=center|5 |Plandome Stable |2:05.20 |
| align=center|1989
|align=center|6 |2:28.00 |
| align=center|1988
|align=center|4 | Anderson/Taylor Stables |2:34.40 |
| align=center|1987
|align=center|4 |2:32.80 |
| align=center|1986
|align=center|3 |2:32.40 |
Earlier winners
{{refbegin|14em}}
- 1985 - Sondrio
- 1984 - Cost Control
- 1983 - Norwick
- 1982 - Lord Elgin
- 1981 - Bridle Path
- 1980 - Morold
- 1979 - Dom Alaric
- 1978 - Tuxedo Mac
- 1977 - Momigi
- 1976 - Don Lorenzo
- 1975 - Yvetot
- 1974 - Carney's Point
- 1973 - Fun Co K
- 1972 - Belle Geste
- 1971 - One For All
- 1970 - Panpiper
- 1969 - Hammer Kopf
- 1968 - The Knack ll
- 1967 - Canadel‡
- 1966 - Orbiter
- 1965 - Quick Pitch
- 1964 - Will I Rule
- 1963 - Puss n Boots
- 1962 - Our Jeep
- 1961 - Harmonizing
- 1960 - Moony
- 1959 - Grey Monarch
- 1958 - Marshall Ney II
- 1957 - Marshall Ney II
- 1956 - Captor
- 1955 - Jimminy Baxter
- 1954 - Pheasant Boy
- 1953 - Scene One
{{refend}}
{{refbegin}}
- † In 2009, Marsh Side finished first but was disqualified and set back to fourth. On appeal, the original order of finish was restored on May 26, 2010.
- ‡ In 1967, Carteret finished first but was disqualified and set back to last.
{{refend}}