2025 Mohawk stakes schedule released

MILTON, January 16, 2025 – Woodbine Entertainment today released the schedule for its lucrative 2025 harness racing stakes season at Woodbine Mohawk Park, featuring three $1 million races and the return of the Breeders Crown.

The prestigious Pepsi North America Cup (June 14), Mohawk Million (September 20) and Metro Pace (September 20) are all guaranteed at a purse of $1 million, while the Breeders Crown (October 24, 25) will offer more than $7 million (USD) across 12 championship races.

These marquee events lead a stakes calendar that features races worth $20 million-plus.

The United States Trotting Association recently announced the introduction of Graded Stakes for North American harness racing in 2025. Woodbine Mohawk Park will host 12 Grade 1 races (not including the 12 Grade 1 Breeders Crown races), which is more than any other racetrack.

In total, Woodbine will offer 28 Graded Stakes events in 2025.

“We’re very proud of our stakes program and excited to bring the Breeders Crown back into the mix this season,” said Bill McLinchey, Vice-President of Standardbred Racing. “The new grading of stakes highlights the strength of our racing product and the prestige of our stakes program.

“We pride ourselves on putting on a world-class product and the 12 Grade 1 races we administrate will display that with strong fields and outstanding wagering opportunities.”

The 42^nd Pepsi North America Cup (G1) on Saturday, June 14 will bring the finest three-year-old pacers in the sport to Woodbine Mohawk Park. The $1 million event will be the crown jewel on an all-star evening that also includes the $425,000 Fan Hanover (G1) for three-year-old filly pacers, $305,000 Roses Are Red (G1) for pacing mares, $233,000 Armbro Flight (G1) for trotting mares, $225,000 Goodtimes (G2) for three-year-old trotters and $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational (G3) for open pacers.

The Mohawk Million (G1) and Metro Pace (G1) will again be held on the same evening, providing racing fans the opportunity to see two $1 million races on the same card. That lucrative race card on Saturday, September 20 will also feature the $713,000 Canadian Trotting Classic (G1) for three-year-old trotters, $532,000 Shes A Great Lady (G1) for two-year-old filly pacers and $347,000 Elegantimage (G1) for three-year-old filly trotters.

The Breeders Crown returns to Woodbine Mohawk Park on October 24 and 25. The year-end divisional series will feature 12 championship races spread over two nights with more than $7 million (USD) in purses. Woodbine last hosted the Breeders Crown in 2022 and has hosted more Crown races than any other racetrack operator in the 42-year history of the series. A total of 164 Breeders Crown finals have been held across Mohawk Park, Woodbine Racetrack and Greenwood Raceway since the series was created in 1984.

Labour Day weekend will again feature harness racing’s top open trotters and pacers competing in the $600,000 Maple Leaf Trot (G1) and $540,000 Canadian Pacing Derby (G1) on Saturday, August 30.

Young trotters will be the main attraction on Saturday, August 23 for the $575,000 William Wellwood Memorial (G1) for two-year-old trotters and $390,000 Peaceful Way (G1) for two-year-old filly trotters.

Woodbine Mohawk Park’s stakes calendar offers owners and trainers the perfect location to race their two-year-olds throughout the summer and fall. Each two-year-old division has stakes racing opportunities from June through October.

Woodbine Mohawk Park’s schedule will offer racing opportunities for four-year-olds early in the stakes season.

The Canadian Graduate Series for Canadian Sired four-year-olds returns in April, while the Graduate Series (administrated by The Meadowlands) will stop in on May 31. The live card on May 31 will also include a leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares and the Somebeachsomewhere (G3) for three-year-old pacers.

To view the full stakes schedule for 2025, click here.

Stakes Payment Information

Nominations for all 2025 major stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park closes February 15.

To view the 2025 Stakes Booklet, click here.

Woodbine continues to administrate stakes for Ontario racetracks in 2025, 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 Entertainment