# Canadian International Stakes

The Canadian International Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses from three years of age and upwards on Turf. It is held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The current purse is CA$750,000.

## History

The Canadian International Stakes was founded in 1938 as the Long Branch Championship. The first race was held at the Long Branch Racetrack in Etobicoke. The race was run on dirt and was restricted to Canadian-bred three-year-olds. The Race was renamed the Canadian International Stakes in 1939, and was restricted to Canadian-owned horses. The Race was opened to horses of all ages in 1940, though the owner still had to be a Canadian resident. The eligibility was revised to ages three and up with no residence restriction in 1954. During World War II, Long Branch Racetrack did not operate, and the Race was held at Dufferin Racetrack. Long Branch Racetrack closed in 1956, and the Race moved to Woodbine Racetrack. The Race became a turf race in 1958. The Race name changed to Canadian International Championship Stakes from 1966 to 1980. The Race name changed to Rothmans International from 1981 to 1995 for its sponsor, the Canadian subsidiary of the Rothmans International plc. The Race changed the sponsor to Pattison Outdoor Advertising.
On dirt:
* 1938–1941 : 1+1⁄16 miles at Long Branch Racetrack
* 1942–1945 : 1+1⁄16 miles at Dufferin Racetrack
* 1946–1952 : 1+1⁄16 miles at Long Branch Racetrack
* 1953–1954 : 1+1⁄8 miles at Long Branch Racetrack
* 1955 1+3⁄16 miles at Long Branch Racetrack
* 1956–1957 : 1+5⁄8 miles at Woodbine Racetrack
On turf at Woodbine Racetrack:
* 1958–1986 1+5⁄8 miles
* 1987–1993 1+1⁄2 miles (Out of Chute, inside of the main track)
* 1994–2021 1+1⁄2 miles (One complete circuit outside of the main track)
* 2023–present 1+1⁄4 miles
Winners have come from breeding farms in Canada, the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and Argentina. The Canadian International has been contested by many of the horses, jockeys, and trainers in thoroughbred racing history worldwide. Its success as a North American race drew an international field, helped inspire the creation of the Breeders' Cup races in 1984, which were held at Woodbine in 1996.
Many notable horses have won the Canadian International. The most renowned renewal was in 1973 when the Canadian International was the final race for Secretariat. His 6+1⁄2-lengths victory is the widest winning margin in the race's history. Other notable winners include Bunty Lawless, voted "Canadian Horse of the Half Century," who won in 1938 and 1941. Dahlia became the first European-based horse to win the race, becoming the first horse to win Group / Grade One stakes in England, France, Ireland, Canada, and the U.S. In 1974.
Eclipse Award voting began in 1971. Eight winners of the International were named Champion Turf Horse for that year: Secretariat (1973), Dahlia (1974), Snow Knight (1975), Youth (1976), Mac Diarmida (1978), All Along (1983), Singspiel (1996), and Chief Bearhart (1997).
In 2005, the purse for the race was increased to CA$2 million to help attract European horses who did not choose to enter the Breeders' Cup Turf. The purse was reduced to CA$1.5 million in 2011, then to CA$1 million in 2013, and to CA$800,000 in 2017.
The Canadian International was not run in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 race was also scrapped due to COVID-related logistical issues that made it difficult for overseas horses to travel to Canada at the time. The race returned in 2023 at a shorter distance of 1 1/4 miles for a purse of CA$750,000. Woodbine shelved the Canadian International again for 2024; track management stated that running the race that year was not viable in part due to difficulties with available cargo flights that would allow European horses to compete.

## Records

Time record: (Turf)
* 1+5⁄8 miles: 2:40.00 – Dahlia (1974)
* 1+1⁄2 miles: 2:25.60 – Raintrap (1994)
* 1+1⁄4 miles: 2:03.65 – Nations Pride (2023)
Most wins:
* 3 – Joshua Tree (2010, 2012, 2013)
* 2 – Bunty Lawless (1938, 1941)
* 2 – Shepperton (1942, 1943)
* 2 – George Royal (1965, 1966)
* 2 – Majesty's Prince (1982, 1984)
* 2 – Desert Encounter (2018, 2019)
Most wins by an owner:
* 4 – E. P. Taylor / Windfields Farm (1950, 1951, 1953, 1975)
* 4 - Godolphin (2000, 2004, 2021, 2023)
* 3 – Nelson Bunker Hunt (1974, 1976, 1977)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Frankie Dettori (2000, 2004, 2012, 2021)
* 3 – Bobby Watson (1942, 1943, 1944)
* 3 – Ryan Moore (2013, 2014, 2015)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – Gordon J. McCann (1941, 1951, 1953)
* 3 – Horatio Luro (1956, 1957, 1971)
* 3 – Maurice Zilber (1974, 1976, 1977)
* 3 – Michael Stoute (1996, 2014, 2015)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (m) (t) / (d) | Time | Win$ | Ref |
| 2024 | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run |
| 2023 | Nations Pride | 4 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | 11⁄4 M (t) | 2:03.65 | $750,000 | |
| 2022 | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run |
| 2021 | Walton Street | 7 | Frankie Dettori | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:29.07 | $360,000 | |
| 2020 | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run | Not run |
| 2019 | Desert Encounter | 7 | Andrea Atzeni | David Simcock | Abdulla Al Mansoori | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:28.62 | $480,000 | |
| 2018 | Desert Encounter | 6 | Andrea Atzeni | David Simcock | Abdulla Al Mansoori | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:28.88 | $480,000 | |
| 2017 | Bullards Alley | 5 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Tim Glyshaw | Wayne Spalding & Faron McCubbins | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:34.37 | $480,000 | |
| 2016 | Erupt | 4 | Stéphane Pasquier | Francis-Henri Graffard | Niarchos family | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:30.87 | $600,000 | |
| 2015 | Cannock Chase | 4 | Ryan Moore | Michael Stoute | Saeed Suhail | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:29.26 | $600,000 | |
| 2014 | Hillstar | 4 | Ryan Moore | Michael Stoute | Evelyn de Rothschild | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:29.00 | $600,000 | |
| 2013 | Joshua Tree | 6 | Ryan Moore | Ed Dunlop | K. K. Nabooda & K. Albahou | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:35.45 | $600,000 | |
| 2012 | Joshua Tree | 5 | Frankie Dettori | Marco Botti | K. K. Nabooda & K. Albahou | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:30.89 | $900,000 | |
| 2011 | Sarah Lynx | 4 | Christophe Soumillon | John Hammond | Mrs. Robert G. Ehrnooth | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:34.90 | $900,000 | |
| 2010 | Joshua Tree | 3 | Colm O'Donoghue | Aidan O'Brien | D. Smith, S. Magnier, M. Tabor | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:32.72 | $1,200,000 | |
| 2009 | Champs Elysees | 6 | Garrett Gomez | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:28.36 | $1,200,000 | |
| 2008 | Marsh Side | 5 | Javier Castellano | Neil D. Drysdale | Robert S. Evans | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:28.73 | $1,200,000 | |
| 2007 | Cloudy's Knight | 7 | Ramsey Zimmerman | Frank J. Kirby | S J Stables LLC | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:27.71 | $1,200,000 | |
| 2006 | Collier Hill | 8 | Dean McKeown | Alan Swinbank | R. Hall, D. Abell, R. Crowe | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:37.34 | $1,200,000 | |
| 2005 | Relaxed Gesture | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Christophe Clement | Moyglare Stud | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:32.64 | $1,200,000 | |
| 2004 | Sulamani | 5 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:28.64 | $900,000 | |
| 2003 | Phoenix Reach | 3 | Martin Dwyer | Andrew Balding | Winterbeck Manor Stud | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:33.62 | $900,000 | |
| 2002 | Ballingarry | 3 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien | Coolmore Stud | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:31.68 | $900,000 | |
| 2001 | Mutamam | 6 | Richard Hills | Alec Stewart | Shadwell Racing | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:28.46 | $900,000 | |
| 2000 | Mutafaweq | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:27.62 | $900,000 | |
| 1999 | Thornfield | 5 | Richard Dos Ramos | Phil England | Knob Hill Stable | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:32.39 | $936,000 | |
| 1998 | Royal Anthem | 3 | Gary Stevens | Henry Cecil | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:29.60 | $630,000 | |
| 1997 | Chief Bearhart | 4 | José A. Santos | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:29.00 | $600,000 | |
| 1996 | Singspiel | 4 | Gary Stevens | Michael Stoute | Sheikh Mohammed | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:33.20 | $600,000 | |
| 1995 | Lassigny | 4 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Prince Sultan al Kabeer | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:29.80 | $653,250 | |
| 1994 | Raintrap | 4 | Robbie Davis | André Fabre | Juddmonte Farms | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:25.60 | $606,900 | |
| 1993 | Husband | 3 | Cash Asmussen | John Fellows | Keswick Stables | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:36.40 | $623,100 | |
| 1992 | Snurge * | 5 | Richard Quinn | Paul Cole | Martyn Arbib | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:39.00 | $636,000 | |
| 1991 | Sky Classic | 4 | Pat Day | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:27.80 | $624,750 | |
| 1990 | French Glory | 4 | Pat Eddery | André Fabre | Juddmonte Farms | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:34.80 | $619,650 | |
| 1989 | Hodges Bay | 4 | Jean Cruguet | Willard C. Freeman | George E. Robb | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:33.80 | $575,400 | |
| 1988 | Infamy | 4 | Ray Cochrane | Luca Cumani | Gerald W. Leigh | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:29.00 | $508,680 | |
| 1987 | River Memories | 3 | Chris McCarron | Robert Collet | Alan Clore | 11⁄2 M (t) | 2:32.80 | $456,900 | |
| 1986 | Southjet | 3 | José A. Santos | Angel Penna Sr. | Dogwood Stable | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:54.60 | $421,500 | |
| 1985 | Nassipour | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Stephen A. DiMauro | Dogwood Stable | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:48.20 | $360,000 | |
| 1984 | Majesty's Prince | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Joseph B. Cantey | John D. Marsh | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:42.80 | $360,000 | |
| 1983 | All Along | 4 | Walter Swinburn | Patrick Biancone | Daniel Wildenstein | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:45.00 | $312,210 | |
| 1982 | Majesty's Prince | 3 | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | John D. Marsh | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:49.40 | $251,790 | |
| 1981 | Open Call | 3 | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Gaver Jr. | Greentree Stable | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:53.40 | $185,250 | |
| 1980 | Great Neck | 4 | Mike Venezia | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:42.60 | $120,000 | |
| 1979 | Golden Act | 3 | Sandy Hawley | Loren Rettele | W. Oldknow/R. W. Phipps | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:48.60 | $120,000 | |
| 1978 | Mac Diarmida | 3 | Jean Cruguet | Scotty Schulhofer | Jerome M. Torsney | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:41.20 | $111,180 | |
| 1977 | Exceller | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Maurice Zilber | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:52.40 | $116,100 | |
| 1976 | Youth | 3 | Sandy Hawley | Maurice Zilber | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:48.00 | $114,600 | |
| 1975 | Snow Knight | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Windfields Farm | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:43.20 | $113,220 | |
| 1974 | Dahlia | 4 | Lester Piggott | Maurice Zilber | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:40.00 | $91,650 | |
| 1973 | Secretariat | 3 | Eddie Maple | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:41.80 | $92,755 | |
| 1972 | Droll Role | 4 | Braulio Baeza | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:51.80 | $52,330 | |
| 1971 | One For All | 5 | Ron Turcotte | Horatio Luro | John A. Bell lll | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:45.20 | $41,550 | |
| 1970 | Drumtop | 4 | Chuck Baltazar | Roger Laurin | James B. Moseley | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:50.80 | $39,900 | |
| 1969 | Vent du Nord * | 4 | Rudy L. Turcotte | Al Scotti | Emanuel Mittman | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:47.20 | $45,000 | |
| 1968 | Frenetico | 4 | Robin Platts | Lou Cavalaris Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:49.20 | $30,900 | |
| 1967 | He's A Smoothie | 4 | Samuel McComb | Warren Beasley | William R. Beasley | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:59.60 | $34,500 | |
| 1966 | George Royal | 5 | Ismael Valenzuela | Donald Richardson | Hammond & Hall | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:42.40 | $32,700 | |
| 1965 | George Royal | 4 | Johnny Longden | Donald Richardson | Hammond & Hall | 15⁄8 M (t) | 3:05.40 | $35,800 | |
| 1964 | Will I Rule | 4 | Ron Turcotte | Joe Nash | Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:47.80 | $34,800 | |
| 1963 | The Axe II | 5 | John L. Rotz | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:41.00 | $35,600 | |
| 1962 | El Bandito | 5 | Ray Broussard | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | Edward Seltzer | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:50.80 | $35,700 | |
| 1961 | Our Jeep | 4 | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Oleg Dubassoff | John M. Schiff | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:45.80 | $32,500 | |
| 1960 | Rocky Royale | 4 | Kenneth Church | Paul L. Kelley | Spring Hill Farm | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:42.20 | $35,400 | |
| 1959 | Martini II | 5 | Charles Clark | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:56.00 | $33,000 | |
| 1958 | Jack Ketch | 4 | Johnny Sellers | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm | 15⁄8 M (t) | 2:46.60 | $34,900 | |
| 1957 | Spinney | 4 | Juan Sanchez | Horatio Luro | Louis R. Rowan | 15⁄8 M (d) | 2:46.20 | $42,300 | |
| 1956 | Eugenia II | 4 | Juan Sanchez | Horatio Luro | W. Arnold Hanger | 15⁄8 M (d) | 2:43.40 | $42,700 | |
| 1955 | Park Dandy | 5 | Bobby Ussery | Pat Brady | William J. Beattie | 13⁄16 M (d) | 2:00.80 | $34,524 | |
| 1954 | Resilient | 4 | Bennie Green | H. W. Williams | Killian Farms | 11⁄8 M (d) | 1:54.00 | $23,075 | |
| 1953 | Navy Page | 3 | Nick Shuk | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 11⁄8 M (d) | 1:53.20 | $10,875 | |
| 1952 | Beau Dandy | 7 | Anthony Licata | R. Anderson | Wilma Kennedy | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:46.00 | $5,225 | |
| 1951 | Bull Page | 4 | Jose Vina | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:49.00 | $5,090 | |
| 1950 | Nephisto | 3 | Pat Remillard | Arthur Brent | E. P. Taylor | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:46.80 | $4,810 | |
| 1949 | Arise | 3 | Douglas Dodson | James C. Bentley | Addison Stable | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:46.80 | $4,800 | |
| 1948 | Canada's Teddy | 4 | David H. Prater | Morris Fishman | Mrs. Morris Fishman | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:48.00 | $3,910 | |
| 1947 | Brown Hostess | 4 | Len Stroud | William Thurner | Charles H. Hempstead | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:46.20 | $2,550 | |
| 1946 | Kingarvie | 3 | Johnny Dewhurst | Arthur Brent | Parkwood Stable | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:51.40 | $2,770 | |
| 1945 | Tulachmore | 5 | Pat Remillard | William E. MacDonald | MacDonald Stable | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:55.40 | $2,900 | |
| 1944 | Be Brief | 4 | Robert B. Watson | Cecil Howard | Harry C. Hatch | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:47.60 | $1,768 | |
| 1943 | Shepperton | 4 | Robert B. Watson | Fred H. Schelke | Fred H. Schelke | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:51.80 | $3,326 | |
| 1942 | Shepperton | 3 | Robert B. Watson | Fred H. Schelke | Fred H. Schelke | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:52.40 | $1,876 | |
| 1941 | Bunty Lawless | 6 | Tom Aimers | Gordon J. McCann | Willie F. Morrissey | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:49.20 | $3,354 | |
| 1940 | Cerisse III | 7 | Harry Meynell | A. Bennie | Art J. Halliwell | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:46.00 | $1,400 | |
| 1939 | Sir Marlboro | 3 | Charlie McTague | Walter E. Coburn | Conn Smythe | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:48.00 | $2,450 | |
| 1938 | Bunty Lawless | 3 | Tom Aimers | Jack Anderson | Willie F. Morrissey | 11⁄16 M (d) | 1:45.80 | $2,125 | |
* In 1969, Tradesman won but was disqualified and placed last.
* In 1992, Wiorno finished first but was disqualified and placed third.