Victoria Stakes

Horseraces infobox
class = Ungraded Stakes
horse race = Victoria Stakes


caption =
location = Woodbine Racetrack
Toronto, Ontario flagicon|Canada
inaugurated = 1903
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/qct/default.asp Woodbine Entertainment Grp]
distance = Furlong|5 furlongs]
track = Dirt, left-handed
qualification = Two-year-olds
weight = Assigned
purse = $125,000
bonuses = The Victoria Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Held in mid June, it has been raced on Polytrack since 2006 over a distance of five furlongs. Open to two-year-old horses, it currently offers a purse of $125,000.

Named in honor of Queen Victoria who had died in 1901, the Victoria Stakes was first run in 1903 at the Old Woodbine Racetrack. Following that facility's closure, the race was moved in 1956 to the new Woodbine race track. For 1979 only, it was raced on turf.

Since inception, the Victoria Stakes has been competed over various distances:
* 5 furlongs : 1903-1955
* 5½ furlongs : 1956-1978
* About 5 furlongs : 1979
* 1980 to present : 5 furlongs

A number of notable North American horses have won this race including Belair Stud's colt Faireno in 1931 who was the first horse to break the one minute barrier and who went on to win the 1932 Belmont Stakes. Notable Canadian-bred winners include Windfields (1945), Nearctic, (1956), Viceregal (1968), and Deputy Minister who in 1981 set a new race record for five furlongs that still stands. In 1982, Sunny's Halo finished second but the following year became only the second Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby.

Records

Time record: (at the present distance of 5 furlongs)
* 0:57.20 - Deputy Minister (1981)

Most wins by an owner:
* 5 - Stafford Farms (1960, 1961, 1974, 1975, 1976)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 - Avelino Gomez (1956, 1960, 1966, 1967)
* 4 - David Clark (1982, 1988, 2003, 2005)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 - Gil Rowntree (1974, 1975, 1976, 1985)

Winners of the Victoria Stakes

*In 2003, Gemini Dream won but was disqualified and placed last for interference.
*Run in two divisions in 1995.

Earlier winners

*1978 - Highland Ridge
*1977 - Lucky Colonel S.
*1976 - Sound Reason
*1975 - Proud Tobin
*1974 - Royal Selari
*1973 - Backstretch
*1972 - Down North
*1971 - Gentleman Conn
*1970 - Briartic
*1969 - Artic Feather
*1968 - Viceregal
*1967 - Real Sensible
*1966 - Ring Francis
*1965 - Stevie B. Good
*1964 - Bright Object
*1963 - Ramblin Road
*1962 - Hail Dipper
*1961 - Royal Spirit
*1960 - Fair Charger
*1959 - Bulpamiru
*1958 - Le Grand Rouge
*1957 - Silver Ship
*1956 - Nearctic
*1955 - Bunty's Flight
*1954 - Benroman
*1953 – Collisteo

*1952 - War General
*1951 - French Lace
*1950 - Acceptable
*1949 - Petrolas
*1948 - Avona
*1947 - Tonado
*1946 - Imperator
*1945 - Windfields
*1944 - Transbest
*1943 - Airpan
*1942 - Sweepnack
*1941 - Air Sure
*1940 - Ariel Trip
*1939 - King's Colors
*1938 - Hope Diamond
*1937 - No race
*1936 - Miss Dolphin
*1935 - Santan
*1934 - Ouragan
*1933 - Polly Egret
*1932 - Miss Puray
*1931 - Faireno
*1930 - Totem
*1929 - Snowy
*1928 - Rapid Transit

*1927 - Reprove
*1926 - Jopagan
*1925 - Gaffsman
*1924 - Gymkhana
*1923 - Idle Thoughts
*1922 - Bucado
*1921 - Second Thoughts
*1920 - Baby Grand
*1918 - No race
*1919 - No race
*1917 - Charlie Leydecker
*1916 - Manokin
*1915 - George Smith
*1914 - Sid Edgar
*1913 - Southern Maid
*1912 - Monocacy
*1911 - Moisant
*1910 - Moncrief
*1909 - Turf Star
*1908 - Simcoe
*1907 - Johnny Blake
*1906 - Arimo
*1905 - St. Joseph
*1904 - Shannonside
*1903 - Spring

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=423 The Victoria Stakes at Pedigree Query]