# Swynford Stakes

Swynford Stakes is a discontinued Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1956 through 2016. It was first run at Greenwood Raceway as a race for horses aged three and older. In 1967 it was moved to Woodbine Racetrack where it was changed to a race for two-year-olds. It received Grade 3 status for 1999 and 2000.

## Historical notes

The 1958 Swynford Stakes was won by Nearctic who was a son of the great undefeated runner and one of the most influential sires in history, Nearco. Bred by E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm in Ontario, Nearctic would earn 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year honours and induction in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. However, Nearctic's most important achievement came when he sired the greatest sire of the 20th Century, the now legendary Northern Dancer.
Jockey Dave Penna won the 1982 edition of the Swynford Stakes aboard Sunny's Halo, a colt who went on to win the 1983 Kentucky Derby. In 2008, the race produced its second Kentucky Derby winner when jockey Chantal Sutherland guided Mine That Bird to a Swynford victory.
The 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold ran second to Holzmeister in the 1996 running of the Swynford.
The Swynford Stakes was run at various distances:
At Greenwood Raceway:
* 1956 : 6 furlongs
* 1957 : 6+1⁄2 furlongs
* 1958-1960 : 7 furlongs
* 1961-1966 : 1 mile
At Woodbine Racetrack:
* 1967-1970 : 5 furlongs
* 1971-1972 : 5+1⁄2 furlongs
* 1973–1975, 2016 : 6 furlongs
* 1976-1979 : 5 furlongs
* 1980-1985 : 7 furlongs
1986-1995 : 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1996 to 2015 : 7 furlongs

## Records

Speed record: (at distance of 7 furlongs)
* 1:23.00 - Holzmeister (1996) (recorded in fractions of 1/5 seconds)
* 1:23.02 - Turf War (2007)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 - Robin Platts (1968, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1992)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 - Mark E. Casse (1999, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 - Lanson Farm (1956, 1960)
* 2 - Windfields Farm (1958, 1987)
* 2 - Stafford Farms (1976, 1978)
* 2 - John C. Oxley (2011, 2012)
* 2 - Conquest Stables (2013, 2014)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
| 2016 | Undulated | 2 | Andy Garcia | Cathal A. Lynch | M M G Stables | 6 F | 1:10.26 | $75,000 |
| 2015 | Riker | 2 | Jesse M. Campbell | Nick Gonzalez | Tucci Stables | 7 F | 1:23.39 | $75,000 |
| 2014 | Conquest Boogaloo | 2 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Conquest Stables | 7 F | 1:23.97 | $90,000 |
| 2013 | Conquest Titan | 2 | Eurico da Silva | Mark E. Casse | Conquest Stables | 7 F | 1:23.64 | $75,000 |
| 2012 | Uncaptured | 2 | Patrick Husbands | Mark Casse | John C. Oxley | 7 F | 1:22.49 | $113,400 |
| 2011 | Indian Evening | 2 | Tyler Pizarro | Josie Carroll | John C. Oxley | 7 F | 1:22.57 | $90,000 |
| 2010 | Bears Future | 2 | Gerry Olguin | Reade Baker | Bear Stables | 7 F | 1:23.58 | $90,000 |
| 2009 | Ghost Fleet | 2 | Todd Kabel | Sid C. Attard | Jim Dandy Stable | 7 F | 1:23.20 | $103,500 |
| 2008 | Mine That Bird | 2 | Chantal Sutherland | David Cotey | Dominion Bloodstock et al. | 7 F | 1:23.52 | $90,000 |
| 2007 | Turf War | 2 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Woodford Racing LLC | 7 F | 1:23.02 | $75,000 |
| 2006 | Barilko | 2 | Constant Montpellier | David Dwyer | David Dwyer | 7 F | 1:24.65 | $75,000 |
| 2005 | Bear Character | 2 | Jim McAleney | Dale Greenwood | Bear Stables Ltd. | 7 F | 1:23.83 | $83,632 |
| 2004 | What's Up Dude | 2 | Patrick Husbands | Mike Mareina | Kuehne Racing | 7 F | 1:24.67 | $81,600 |
| 2003 | Winter Whiskey | 2 | Jono Jones | Catherine Day Phillips | Ten Goal Racing et al. | 7 F | 1:25.08 | $80,550 |
| 2002 | Added Edge | 2 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Robert Wilson/Valor | 7 F | 1:23.33 | $83,948 |
| 2001 | Rare Friends | 2 | David Clark | Robert P. Tiller | F. DiGiulio, Jr. & Tiller | 7 F | 1:25.83 | $65,940 |
| 2000 | Highland Legacy | 2 | Emile Ramsammy | Steve Owens | Empress Stable | 7 F | 1:23.64 | $67,032 |
| 1999 | Exciting Story | 2 | Emile Ramsammy | Mark E. Casse | Mockingbird Farm | 7 F | 1:23.05 | $48,645 |
| 1998 | Riddell's Creek | 2 | James McKnight | Beverly Buck | Clausen/Buck/Buck | 7 F | 1:25.00 | $40,711 |
| 1997 | Thunder Bow | 2 | Todd Kabel | Rita A. Schnitzler | J. M. Stritzl Stable | 7 F | 1:25.40 | $39,060 |
| 1996 | Holzmeister | 2 | Robert Landry | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 7 F | 1:23.00 | $67,740 |
| 1995 | Hard Rock Crossing | 2 | Emile Ramsammy | Robert P. Tiller | Tiller/Norseman Stable | 6.5 F | 1:17.20 | $49,635 |
| 1994 | Talkin Man | 2 | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven / Stollery | 6.5 F | 1:16.60 | $39,240 |
| 1993 | Pulled Through | 2 | Larry Attard | Tino Attard | Tanya Attard / Dav Stable | 6.5 F | 1:17.20 | $33,768 |
| 1992 | Reach The Gold | 2 | Robin Platts | John A. Ross | Huntington Stud Farm | 6.5 F | 1:18.60 | $39,960 |
| 1991 | Frosted Spy | 2 | Mickey Walls | Frank Passero, Jr. | Pedigree/Sunny Acre | 6.5 F | 1:19.40 | $39,888 |
| 1990 | Dark Brew | 2 | David Pugh | Jack R. Wilson | Robert & Saronda Smith & Jack R. Wilson | 6.5 F | 1:17.40 | $39,816 |
| 1989 | Dandy Shine | 2 | Lloyd Duffy | William R. MacKinnon | John Royle | 6.5 F | 1:18.00 | $40,104 |
| 1988 | Mercedes Won | 2 | Lloyd Duffy | Arnold Fink | Chris Spencer | 6.5 F | 1:17.00 | $34,170 |
| 1987 | Silver Deputy | 2 | Irwin Driedger | Mac Benson | Windfields Farm | 6.5 F | 1:17.20 | $32,100 |
| 1986 | Bell Lap | 2 | Jack Lauzon | Richie Papa | Carravetta / Rundle | 6.5 F | 1:19.00 | $25,872 |
| 1985 | Color Me Smart | 2 | Jeffrey Fell | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 7 F | 1:27.00 | $38,112 |
| 1984 | Rulers Sceptre | 2 | Gary Stahlbaum | Joe Attard | N. Dickinson | 7 F | 1:24.60 | $26,736 |
| 1983 | Let's Go Blue | 2 | Sid Fenech | Janet Bedford | Jim Dandy Stable | 7 F | 1:24.20 | $26,784 |
| 1982 | Sunny's Halo | 2 | Dave Penna | David C. Cross Jr. | David J. Foster | 7 F | 1:23.80 | $22,890 |
| 1981 | Son of Briartic | 2 | Dave Dennie | Jerry Lavigne | Paddockhurst Stable | 7 F | 1:23.60 | $16,395 |
| 1980 | Native Fisher | 2 | David Clark | Gordon Huntley | S. Young & A. Fisher | 7 F | 1:26.20 | $17,455 |
| 1979 | Classic Joker | 2 | George HoSang | Brian Ottaway | Mrs. C. McCullough | 5 F F | 0:58.60 | $14,560 |
| 1978 | Port Master | 2 | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 5 F F | 0:59.00 | $13,880 |
| 1977 | Buck Mountain | 2 | Gary Stahlbaum | Jim Roberts | S. Brener | 5 F F | 0:58.40 | $14,225 |
| 1976 | Sound Reason | 2 | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 5 F F | 0:58.60 | $10,710 |
| 1975 | First | 2 | Jeffrey Fell | Yonnie Starr | Jean-Louis Levesque | 6 F | 1:11.60 | $11,000 |
| 1974 | Greek Answer | 2 | Wayne Green | Frank Merrill Jr. | W. Preston Gilbride | 6 F | 1:10.40 | $11,480 |
| 1973-1 | Bedknob | 2 | Richard Grubb | Gordon Huntley | R. Papa | 6 F | 1:09.20 | $7,012 |
| 1973-2 | Amazing Journey | 2 | Sandy Hawley | Jerry C. Meyer | Vallelonga Stable | 6 F | 1:11.40 | $7012 |
| 1972 | Sunny South | 2 | Sandy Hawley | Frank Merrill, Jr. | Mrs. C. Hardwicke | 5.5 F | 1:04.00 | $7,850 |
| 1971 | Jewel Prince | 2 | Robin Platts | Carl F. Chapman | Garden City Stable | 5.5 F | 1:04.40 | $7,325 |
| 1970 | Overproof | 2 | Chris Rogers | Earl Harbourne | V. Martin, Jr. | 5 F F | 0:58.00 | $7,050 |
| 1969 | Andy The Great | 2 | Lloyd Duffy | William F. Edmiston | William F. Edmiston | 5 F F | 0:59.60 | $8,175 |
| 1968 | Moss Lodge | 2 | Robin Platts | Charles S. Softley | Charles S. Softley | 5 F F | 0:59.80 | $7,150 |
| 1967 | Great Cohoes | 2 | Ronnie Ferraro | John Rufrano | Armond J. Castellani | 5 F F | 0:58.80 | $7,925 |
| 1966 | Sunstruck | 6 | Avelino Gomez | Lou Cavalaris Jr. | Hillcrest Stable | 8 F | 1:36.40 | $6,450 |
| 1965 | President Jim | 5 | Avelino Gomez | Lou Cavalaris Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 8 F | 1:36.80 | $7,200 |
| 1964 | Folk Dancer | 5 | Ron Turcotte | Jerry C. Meyer | Edward B. Seedhouse | 8 F | 1:38.60 | $7,025 |
| 1963 | Lord Quillo | 4 | Sam McComb | Edward Mann | Sarto Desnoyers | 8 F | 1:38.20 | $6,650 |
| 1962 | Strongboy | 6 | Jim Fitzsimmons | Nick Julius | J. E. F. Seagram | 8 F | 1:37.80 | $4,575 |
| 1961 | Moony | 5 | Avelino Gomez | Frank Merrill, Jr. | Roxie Gian & Fred Tosch | 8 F | 1:37.40 | $4,455 |
| 1960 | Anita's Son | 4 | Pat Remillard | Arthur H. Warner | Lanson Farm | 7 F | 1:27.20 | $4,350 |
| 1959 | Kitty Girl | 5 | Roberto Gonzalez | Yonnie Starr | Larkin Maloney & Conn Smythe | 7 F | 1:25.00 | $4,560 |
| 1958 | Nearctic | 4 | Ben Sorensen | Gordon McCann | Windfields Farm | 7 F | 1:25.20 | $5,320 |
| 1957 | Canadian Champ | 4 | Dave Stevenson | John Passero | William R. Beasley | 6.5 F | 1:24.40 | $3,640 |
| 1956 | Fleet Path | 4 | H. B. Wilson | Arthur H. Warner | Lanson Farm | 6 F | 1:11.00 | $3,605 |