Most recently, Woodbine Entertainment issued a press release to remind horsepeople about the looming deadline for 2023 major stakes nominations. Ontario’s largest horse racing operator urged everyone to conclude their nominations before Wednesday, February 15, 2023, for stakes events such as Pepsi North America Cup, Mohawk Million, and others at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Woodbine Entertainment’s Standardbred track is set for another exciting season as there will be millions of purses throughout the calendar year. There will be more than CA$15 million in thrilling stakes events. Horsepeople should know that stakes payments for all Woodbine-administrated events can also be made through SC Stakes Online.
Wednesday’s Deadline
In its latest statement, the horse racing operator urged that payments sent by mail, should be postmarked no later than February 15, 2023, or they will not be accepted. Also, registered mail is recommended. Further details on the group’s Standardbred stakes program and conditions and forms can be found by interested individuals online at woodbine.com/mohawk.
The nominations close this Wednesday, for the following major events: Pepsi North America Cup, Mohawk Million, Ambro Flight, Canadian Pacing Derby, Canadian Trotting Classic, Casual Breeze, Elegantimage, Eternal Camnation, Fan Hanover, Goodtimes, Maple Leaf Trot, Metro Pace, Milton, Nassagaweya, Peaceful Way, Roses Are Red, Shes A Great Lady, Somebeachsomewhere and William Wellwood Memorial.
Wednesday also marks the end of nominations for new events. This includes the Ontario Sired Graduate Series for Four-Year-Olds Pace & Trot and the recently announced New Holland Pacing & Trotting Series for Non-Winners of CA$150,000 in 2022. The latter will be contested at the Campbellville track in March and feature two CA$30,000 preliminary legs and CA$60,000 added money finals.
In addition to that, nominations will also cease for stakes at various stakes across several Ontario racetracks. It includes the Battle of Waterloo and the Battle of the Belles contested at Grand River Raceway, the Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup at Flamboro Downs, the Balanced Image and Dream of Glory at Hanover Raceway, and Kin Pace at Clinton Raceway
Full Schedule
At the start of the new year, Woodbine Entertainment published its full schedule for its 2023 stakes season. Pepsi North America Cup for three-year-old pacers will be contested on June 17, 2023. Eliminations for the event will be held a week earlier. The card will feature CA$450,000 Fan Hanover, the CA$330,000 Roses Are Red, the CA$250,000 Armbro Flight, the CA$250,000 Goodtimes and the CA$100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational.
Meanwhile, the Mohawk Million will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Again, the CA$1-million race for two-year-old trotters will come under the buy-in format with nine slots available for purchase. Each costs CA$100,000, while the tenth and final slot will be decided by the winner of the CA$665,000 Willian Wellwood Memorial.
Source: “Woodbine Stakes Nominations Due Wednesday” Standardbred Canada, February 14, 2023
