# Northern Dancer Turf Stakes

The Northern Dancer Turf Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario in mid-September. A Grade I event with a current purse of Can$300,000, it is run at a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles on Woodbine's E. P. Taylor turf course.
Inaugurated as the Niagara Handicap, it was first raced on dirt at the Fort Erie Racetrack. In 1957 the race was changed to run on turf and was moved to the Woodbine Racetrack in 1985 where for 1986 only, it was run on dirt. The race became part of the Breeders' Cup program and the name was amended to the Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap. In 2006, the event was renamed to honour Canada's most famous racehorse, Northern Dancer.
Over the years, the race has been run at various distances:
* 1+1⁄16 miles : 1953-1956
* 1+1⁄8 miles : 1957-1975
* 1+1⁄4 miles : 1990-1994
* 1+1⁄2 miles : 1976-1989, 1995 to present

## Records

Speed Record:
* 2:25.87 - Strut the Stage (2004) at the current distance of 1+1⁄2 miles
Most wins:
* 2 - Marshall Ney II (1957, 1958)
* 2 - Strut the Stage (2003, 2004)
* 2 - Wigmore Hall (2011, 2012)
* 2 - Johnny Bear (2017, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
* 8 - Sam-Son Farm (1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2020)
* 5 - Gardiner Farm (1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 - Todd Kabel (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
* 3 - Sandy Hawley (1970, 1996, 1997)
Most wins by a Trainer:
* 6 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976)
* 6 - Mark Frostad (1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004)

## Winners since 1986

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2021 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 2020 | Say The Word | 5 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Gail Cox | Sam-Son Farm | 2:29.87 |
| 2019 | Old Persian | 4 | James Doyle | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | 2:27.78 |
| 2018 | Johnny Bear | 7 | Luis Contreras | Ashlee Brnjas | Colebrook Farms & Bear Stables, Ltd. | 2:25.74 |
| 2017 | Johnny Bear | 6 | Luis Contreras | Ashlee Brnjas | Colebrook Farms & Bear Stables, Ltd. | 2:27.30 |
| 2016 | The Pizza Man | 7 | Flavien Prat | Roger A. Brueggemann | Midwest Thoroughbreds | 2:31.75 |
| 2015 | Interpol | 4 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Sid C. Attard | JMJ Racing Stables | 2:33.56 |
| 2014 | Sheikhzayedroad | 5 | Martin Lane | David Simcock | Rabbah Bloodstock | 2:32.37 |
| 2013 | Forte Dei Marmi | 7 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Roger L. Attfield | Stella Perdomo | 2:28.46 |
| 2012 | Wigmore Hall | 5 | Jamie Spencer | Michael Bell | Mark B. Hawtin | 2:28.28 |
| 2011 | Wigmore Hall | 4 | Jamie Spencer | Michael Bell | Mark B. Hawtin | 2:30.67 |
| 2010 | Redwood | 4 | Michael Hills | Barry Hills | Juddmonte Farms | 2:28.97 |
| 2009 | Marsh Side† | 6 | Javier Castellano | Neil Drysdale | Robert S. Evans | 2:26.68 |
| 2008 | Champs Elysees | 5 | Garrett Gomez | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 2:32.02 |
| 2007 | Sky Conqueror | 5 | Edgar Prado | Darwin D. Banach | William A. Sorokolit, Sr. | 2:27.45 |
| 2006 | Sky Conqueror | 4 | Todd Kabel | Darwin D. Banach | William A. Sorokolit, Sr. | 2:34.36 |
| 2005 | Revved Up | 7 | Brice Blanc | Christophe Clement | Live Oak Plantation | 2:27.13 |
| 2004 | Strut the Stage | 6 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:25.87 |
| 2003 | Strut the Stage | 5 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:27.13 |
| 2002 | Full of Wonder | 4 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:26.18 |
| 2001 | Honor Glide | 7 | Robbie Davis | Christophe Clement | Robert Schaedle III et al. | 2:26.52 |
| 2000 | River Boat | 7 | Gary Boulanger | Frank Huarte | Frank Huarte | 2:32.16 |
| 1999 | Thornfield | 5 | Richard Dos Ramos | Phil England | Knob Hill Stable | 2:29.32 |
| 1998 | Chief Bearhart | 5 | José A. Santos | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:30.00 |
| 1997 | Desert Waves | 7 | Sandy Hawley | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:30.40 |
| 1996 | Desert Waves | 6 | Sandy Hawley | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:27.00 |
| 1995 | Lindon Lime | 5 | Craig Perret | W. Elliott Walden | Frank Mansell | 2:27.00 |
| 1994 | River Majesty | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Christophe Clement | W. Gretzky / S. Port | 2:03.20 |
| 1993 | Shiny Key | 5 | Mark Larsen | Alton H. Quanbeck | D. Morgan Firestone | 2:01.60 |
| 1992 | Beau Fasa | 6 | Stanley Bethley | Gordon Colbourne | Box Arrow Farm | 2:02.20 |
| 1991 | Tot of Rum | 5 | Daniel David | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 2:04.80 |
| 1990 | Hodges Bay | 5 | Jean Cruguet | Willard C. Freeman | Plandome Stable | 2:05.20 |
| 1989 | Turfah | 6 | Dave Penna | Thomas Skiffington, Jr. | Shadwell Stable | 2:28.00 |
| 1988 | Master Treaty | 4 | Dave Penna | Trevor Swan | Anderson/Taylor Stables | 2:34.40 |
| 1987 | Southjet | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Stephen L. DiMauro | Dogwood Stable | 2:32.80 |
| 1986 | Golden Choice | 3 | David Clark | Michael A. Tammaro | Sanderson / Belanger | 2:32.40 |

## Earlier winners

* 1985 - Sondrio
* 1984 - Cost Control
* 1983 - Norwick
* 1982 - Lord Elgin
* 1981 - Bridle Path
* 1980 - Morold
* 1979 - Dom Alaric
* 1978 - Tuxedo Mac
* 1977 - Momigi
* 1976 - Don Lorenzo
* 1975 - Yvetot
* 1974 - Carney's Point
* 1973 - Fun Co K
* 1972 - Belle Geste
* 1971 - One For All
* 1970 - Panpiper
* 1969 - Hammer Kopf
* 1968 - The Knack ll
* 1967 - Canadel‡
* 1966 - Orbiter
* 1965 - Quick Pitch
* 1964 - Will I Rule
* 1963 - Puss n Boots
* 1962 - Our Jeep
* 1961 - Harmonizing
* 1960 - Moony
* 1959 - Grey Monarch
* 1958 - Marshall Ney II
* 1957 - Marshall Ney II
* 1956 - Captor
* 1955 - Jimminy Baxter
* 1954 - Pheasant Boy
* 1953 - Scene One
* † In 2009, Marsh Side finished first but was disqualified and set back to fourth. On appeal, the original order of finish was restored on May 26, 2010.
* ‡ In 1967, Carteret finished first but was disqualified and set back to last.