Plate Trial Stakes

Horseraces infobox
class = Restricted
horse race = Plate Trial Stakes


caption =
location = Woodbine Racetrack
Toronto, Ontario Canada
inaugurated = 1944
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.woodbineentertainment.com www.woodbineentertainment.com]
distance = 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs)
track = Polytrack, left-handed
qualification = Three-year-olds foaled in Canada
weight = Scale Weight
purse = $150,000
bonuses = The Plate Trial Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred flat horserace for three-Year-Olds, foaled in Canada run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in early June, the 1⅛-mile race on dirt is considered one of the most important prep races for Canada's premier horse race, the Queen's Plate.

Inaugurated in 1944 at the Old Woodbine Race Course as a six furlong sprint race, it was moved to the new Woodbine Racetrack in 1957 following that track's closure. In the first forty-eight years, a total of twenty-two winners of the Plate Trial Stakes went on to win the Queen's Plate. However, in the last sixteen years, no horse has accomplished the feat.

Hall of Fame jockey Avelino Gomez won this race a record nine times including four in a row from 1964 through 1967.

In 1955, Ace Marine won two versions of the race, one at at six furlongs and another ar a mile and 70 yards.

Since inception, the Plate Trial has been contested at various distances. In 1955, it was run as two races at the Old Woodbine Race Course. The first race consisted of four divisions and contested at at 6 furlongs and the second race was made up of three divisions at 1 mile and 70 yards. In other years the distance was:
* 6 furlongs : 1944-1955 at Old Woodbine Race Course
* 7 furlongs : 1956 at Old Woodbine Race Course
* 8.5 furlongs (1¹/16 miles) : 1957-1979 Woodbine Racetrack
* 9 furlongs (1⅛ miles) : since 1980 at Woodbine Racetrack

Records

Time record: (a current distance of 1⅛ miles)
* 1:50.00 - Alydeed (1992) & Northface (1996)

Most wins by an owner:
* 12 - E. P. & Winnifred Taylor and/or Windfields Farm:
(1949, 1952 (2), 1953, 1954 (2), 1957 (2), 1960, 1963, 1979, 1988)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 9 - Avelino Gomez (1955, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 9 - Gordon J. McCann (1952 (2), 1953, 1954 (2), 1957 (2), 1960, 1963)

Winners of the Plate Trial Stakes since 1988

*In 2005 Dance with Ravens won the race but for the first time ever in the history of the Plate Trial, the winner was disqualified.
* In 1991 there was a dead heat for first.

Other winners of note include:
* Overskate (1978)
* Norcliffe (1976)
* Royal Chocolate (1973)
* Kennedy Road (1971)
* Merger (1968)
* Canebora (1963)
* Ace Marine (1955)

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=234 The Plate Trial Stakes at Pedigree Query]