# Nijinsky Stakes (Canada)

The Nijinsky Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Since 2009, it has been run in late July. The Grade II race is open to horses aged three years and up and is run on Woodbine Racetrack's E. P. Taylor Turf Course at a distance of one and one eight miles. The race currently offers a purse of CAD$175,000 added.
Inaugurated as the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Stakes in 1998, it was raced during the third week of July on turf at a distance of 1+3⁄8 miles. In 2002, the Chinese Cultural Centre sponsored the race and it was renamed the Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes. In 2006, the race was renamed the Nijinsky Stakes and the Chinese Cultural Centre assumed sponsorship for the Seagram Cup Stakes .
The race honors the Canadian-born Nijinsky, the 1970 English Triple Crown champion and a son of Canada's most famous horse and most important sire of the 20th century, Northern Dancer.

## Records

Time record:
* 2:24.45 @ 1+1⁄2 miles : Tiz A Slam (2019)
* 2:12.37 @ 1 3/8 miles : Shoal Water (2004)
* 2:00.60 @ 1+1⁄4 miles : Seaside Retreat (2008) (new course record)
* 1:45.28 @ 1 1/8 miles : So Long George (2013)
Most wins by a horse
* 2 – Up With the Birds (2014, 2016)
* 2 – Windwards Islands (2010, 2011)
* 2 – Tiz A Slam (2018, 2019)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Todd Kabel (2003, 2004, 2012)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 – Mark Frostad (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011)
Most wins by an owner:
* 8 – Sam-Son Farm (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
| 2020 | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2019 | Tiz a Slam | 5 | Steven Bahen | Roger Attfield | Chiefswood Stable (Robert & Mark Krembil) | 11⁄2 | 2:24.45 | $132,930 | G2 |
| 2018 | Tiz a Slam | 4 | Steven Bahen | Roger Attfield | Chiefswood Stable (Robert & Mark Krembil) | 11⁄2 | 2:29.06 | $105,000 | G2 |
| 2017 | Dragon Bay | 4 | Gary Boulanger | Stuart C. Simon | McLellan/McLellan/Simon | 11⁄4 | 2:02.10 | $105,000 | G2 |
| 2016 | Up With the Birds | 6 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Malcolm Pierce | Sam-Son Farm | 11⁄8 | 1:49.18 | $144,000 | G2 |
| 2015 | Are You Kidding Me | 5 | Alan Garcia | Roger L. Attfield | Kirk/Bates/Riordan | 11⁄8 | 1:46.59 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2014 | Up With the Birds | 4 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Malcolm Pierce | Sam-Son Farm | 11⁄8 | 1:45.74 | $144,000 | G2 |
| 2013 | So Long George | 4 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | John Charalambous | Up Hill Stable | 11⁄8 | 1:45.28 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 2012 | Riding the River | 5 | Todd Kabel | David Cotey | Dominion Bloodstock/HGHR/Linmac Farm | 11⁄8 | 1:48.05 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2011 | Windward Islands | 7 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 11⁄8 | 1:49.82 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2010 | Windward Islands | 6 | Chantal Sutherland | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 11⁄8 | 1:53.58 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2009 | Rahy's Attorney | 5 | Slade Callaghan | Ian Black | Ellie-Boje Farm, et al. | 11⁄4 | 2:08.42 | $207,000 | G2 |
| 2008 | Seaside Retreat | 5 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | William S. Farish IV | 11⁄4 | 2:00.60 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2007 | Last Answer | 7 | Emile Ramsammy | Michael Keogh | Gus Schickedanz | 11⁄2 | 2:31.25 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2006 | Rush Bay | 4 | David Clark | Tom Amoss | Mueller Thoroughbred Stable | 11⁄2 | 2:33.89 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2005 | A Bit O'Gold | 4 | Jono Jones | Catherine Day Phillips | The Two Bit Racing Stable | 13⁄8 | 2:15.94 | $205,920 | G2 |
| 2004 | Shoal Water | 4 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 13⁄8 | 2:12.37 | $199,980 | G2 |
| 2003 | Strut The Stage | 5 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 13⁄8 | 2:13.85 | $198,540 | G2 |
| 2002 | Strike Smartly | 5 | Laurie Gulas | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 13⁄8 | 2:13.16 | $201,780 | G2 |
| 2001 | Allende | 4 | Na Somsanith | Macdonald Benson | Augustin Stable | 13⁄8 | 2:16.98 | $164,100 | G2 |
| 2000 | Quiet Resolve | 5 | Robby Albarado | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 13⁄8 | 2:13.20 | $169,950 | G2 |
| 1999 | Crown Attorney | 6 | Mickey Walls | John MacKenzie | Tony & Mary Jane Lamb | 13⁄8 | 2:18.53 | $132,360 | |
| 1998 | Buck's Boy | 5 | Earlie Fires | P. Noel Hickey | Quarter B. Farm (George Bunn) | 13⁄8 | 2:15.40 | $131,640 | |