Woodbine releases $21 million stakes schedule

MILTON, ON, January 14, 2022 – Woodbine Entertainment today unveiled the harness racing schedule for its lucrative 2022 Standardbred stakes events at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

More than $21 million in stakes races, [including the $6.7 million (USD) Breeders Crown, will be contested in 2022 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The 39th Pepsi North America Cup and 3rd Mohawk Million headline the stakes calendar at Woodbine Mohawk Park as million-dollar races.

After being rescheduled in 2020 and 2021, the Pepsi North America Cup for harness racing’s finest three-year-old pacers is set to return to its start of summer position on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

The stacked Pepsi North America Cup card will include the $450,000 Fan Hanover (three-year-old pacing fillies), $330,000 Roses Are Red (pacing mares), $250,000 Armbro Flight (trotting mares), $250,000 Goodtimes (three-year-old trotters) and $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational.

The third edition of the Mohawk Million is scheduled for Saturday, September 24. The $1 million race for two-year-old trotters continues to follow a “buy-in” format with nine slots available for purchase.

Each slot available for purchase in the Mohawk Million is priced at $100,000 (CAD). The tenth and final slot will be awarded to the winner of the $610,000 William Wellwood Memorial. The deadline to purchase a slot is February 15, 2022.

The Mohawk Million card is Canada’s richest night of racing in 2022 with over $3.4 million in purses up for grabs.

The $850,000 Metro Pace (two-year-old pacers) and $550,000 Shes A Great Lady (two-year-old pacing fillies) remain part of the Million card, while the $600,000 Canadian Trotting Classic (three-year-old trotters) and $400,000 Elegantimage (three-year-old trotting fillies) join the rich evening in 2022.

The end of August and month of September remain filled with major stakes action in 2022.

The William Wellwood Memorial (two-year-old trotters) and $400,000 Peaceful Way (two-year-old trotting fillies) will now take place on Saturday, August 27.

The following Saturday (September 3) will be headlined by the $525,000 Canadian Pacing Derby (three-year-old and up pacers) and $600,000 Maple Leaf Trot (three-year-old and up trotters).

All the familiar Grand Circuit events of the Champlain, Simcoe, Nassagaweya, Eternal Camnation and more return in 2022.

The following race additions and condition changes have been made for 2022 Woodbine Standardbred stakes season.
NEW EVENT:

• SBOA Stakes for Ontario Sired 3-Year-Old Colts & Geldings (Pace and Trot) to be held on Saturday, May 21. Eliminations to be held Friday, May 13. Nominations close February 15. Finals estimated at $100,000.

NEW CONDITIONS:

• Canadian Pacing Derby, Canadian Trotting Classic, Elegantimage and Maple Leaf Trot all return to eliminations and final format.
• Highest earners will not be used in any event to determine fields for a final.

To view the entire stakes schedule, click here.

Nominations for all 2022 major stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park close Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Conditions and payment details can be found in the 2022 Woodbine Standardbred Stakes Booklet.

Woodbine continues to administrate stakes for Ontario Racetracks in 2022, including Grand River Raceway, Flamboro Downs, Clinton Raceway and Hanover Raceway.

Stakes payments for all Woodbine administrated events can be made payable to Woodbine Entertainment. Payments can be made through the Race Office, by mail or online.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Communications