Summer Stakes (Canada)
The Summer Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-September at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Contested on turf over a distance of 1 mile, it is open to two-year-old horses. It became a Grade II in 1999 but in 2006 was downgraded to a Grade III status. In 2012, it returned to Grade II status. In 2018, the Jockey Club of Canada moved it to Grade I status.
Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the Summer Stakes automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Inaugurated in 1953 at Fort Erie Racetrack as a sprint race on dirt, the Summer Stakes was moved to the turf in 1962. Since inception it has been run at various distances:
- 5 furlongs : 1953-1956 on dirt at Fort Erie Racetrack
- 5.5 furlongs : 1957-1960, 1961 on dirt at Fort Erie Racetrack
- 8 furlongs : 1962-1984 on turf at Fort Erie Racetrack, since 1985 on turf at Woodbine Racetrack
The race was run in two divisions in 1958, 1967, and 1969.Records
Speed record:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
- 8 - James E. Day
Winners
- In 1992, Desert Waves finished first but was disqualified and set back to sixth.
