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Woodbine releases complete 2013 stakes schedule Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) on Thursday announced Woodbine's entire 2013 Thoroughbred stakes calendar. A total of 107 stakes races, worth more than $20.25 million, are scheduled. The first portion of the stakes calendar, which features 37 added-money races through July 7 including the date of the 154th Queen's Plate, was announced in March. Key features in the "second half" of the schedule include traditional late season spotlight events like the Woodbine Mile and Canadian International, both Canadian Grade 1 contests. The C$1 million Woodbine Mile, set for September 15, is once again a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event for the Turf Mile, as is its filly and mare companion on the same date, the Grade 2, C$300,000 Canadian Stakes, for the Filly & Mare Turf. Also on that power-packed card is the Grade 1, C$300,000 Northern Dancer and the Grade 3, C$150,000 Ontario Derby. Last year, Wise Dan captured the Woodbine Mile en route to victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile and three Eclipse Awards, including the one for Horse of the Year. "The Ricoh Woodbine Mile is a premier event in the Thoroughbred racing world," said Steve Koch, WEG's vice-president of Thoroughbred racing, "Wise Dan obviously reinforces that distinction. We anticipate offering another brilliant field of world-class horses for the Mile, as well as the Northern Dancer, the Canadian and Ontario Derby that day." The C$1 million Canadian International and its filly and mare complement, the Grade 1, C$500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes have found a later spot on the calendar. The pair is now set for October 27. "The later date allows every opportunity for runners coming out of major U.S. and European races to take advantage of Woodbine's turf course," Koch explained. "Those that run well here usually move on to other races besides the Breeders' Cup later in the year, such as Hong Kong or Japan." Three other "Win and You're In" races are set for Woodbine. The Grade 1, C$300,000 Nearctic Stakes (Turf Sprint) returns on October 13 while a pair of Grade 2 two-year-old turf events, the C$200,000 Natalma Stakes (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and C$200,000 Summer Stakes (Juvenile Turf), are scheduled for September 14. The third and turf jewel of Canada's Triple Crown, the C$500,000 Breeders' Stakes, is set for August 18 at Woodbine. The Prince of Wales, the middle gem, is scheduled for July 30 over Fort Erie's dirt track. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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