and the E.P. Taylor Stakes

Dateline: 10/14/99

Entries, results, and photos here.

This weekend will be one of the last chances for a major turf prep race prior to the Breeders' Cup with the Canadian International for the males and the E.P. Taylor Stakes for the distaff at Woodbine on Sunday. The Canadian International at 12 furlongs on the turf and a $1.56 million (Canadian) purse is the next race in the Emerates World Series Racing Championship and will feature turf specialists from the US, Canada, and Great Britain. The E.P. Taylor Stakes for the fillies and mares will be 10 furlongs on the turf for a purse of $500,000 (Canadian).

Secretariat as a stallion courtesy of Elaine Carroll

The Canadian International was first run in 1938 but didn't really become an important race until 1973 when Secretariat made the final start of his career in it. Since then the purse has risen along with the quality of the fields. Other notable runners who have won are Dahlia, Exceller, All Along, Sky Classic, Singspiel, and Chief Bearheart. Several of these finished either second or won the Breeders' Cup Turf. Here is this year's Canadian International field:

Prog. #	Weight	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	M/L Odds
1	126	Dancing Place	N. Drysdale	D. Flores	12-1
2	119	Gritty Sandie *	J. Toner	M. Smith	15-1
3	126	Fruits of Love	M. Johnston	K. Fallon	5-2
4	126	Courteous	P. Cole	J. Fortune	10-1
5	126	Thornfield	P. England	R. Dos Ramos	10-1
6	126	Beautiful Dancer	R. Violette	M. Luzzi	9-2
7	119	Bienamado	P. Chapple-Hyam	C. McCarron	3-1
8	126	Dawson's Legacy	N. McKnight	C. Montpellier	6-1
9	126	Tanaasa	N. Drysdale	P. Day	10-1

* Supplemental entry ($60,000 fee)

Past performances for the Canadian International will be available free at the Daily Racing Form late on Friday. Contender profiles are also available from the OJC.

Anguilla after winning the Canadian Handicap in September

The E.P. Taylor Stakes for the fillies and mares was first run in 1956 but didn't really become an important race until the early 1980's. Some of the notable past winners are Lady Shirl, Hatoof, Hero's Love, and Timarida. This year it is hoped that this race will prove to be a springboard for the new Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf so it will have the highest purse ever offered. Here is this year's E.P. Taylor Stakes field:

Prog. #	Weight	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	M/L Odds
1	118	Cerulean Sky	R. Collet	C. McCarron	7-2
2	118	Free Vacation	R. Attfield	L. Gulas	6-1
3	123	Insight	J. Hammond	M. Smith	10-1
4	123	Except for Wanda	B. Smither	J. McAleney	20-1
5	123	Midnight Line	N. Drysdale	D. Flores	6-1
6	123	Anguilla	T. Skiffington	P. Day	3-1
7	118	Mother of Pearl	G. Foster	K. Fallon	12-1
8	123	Lady in Waiting	P. Cole	J. Fortune	5-2

Please check back on Sunday evening for photos, results, and comments on the races.

Canadian International and Canadian racing links:

• Canadian International - official page from the OJC
• Emerates World Series Racing Championship - the International is part of this series so lots of info here
• Past Performances - in Adobe Acrobat format for the International from the Daily Racing Form (available starting late Friday)
• Woodbine Stable Notes - lots of Canadian International info now and updated frequently
• British trio headed to Canada - from Sporting Life
• SLAM! Horse Racing - Canadian horse racing coverage
• News Index Search - should pick up some articles from the various online news sources
• Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
• Toronto - a look at the city from About.com guide Andrea Mulder-Slater
• Canada's Sports Hall of Fame - the horse racing section
• Canadian Racing Facts - from Sporting Life, race dates are old but the information is still useful
• Canadian Farm Directories by province from the Blood Horse
  • Alberta Farm Directory
  • British Columbia Farm Directory
  • Manitoba Farm Directory
  • Ontario Farm Directory
  • Quebec Farm Directory
  • Saskatchewan Farm Directory

Have a comment or question about this topic? Jump on over to the bulletin board!

All photos by the author except where noted, Canadian International logo courtesy of Ontario Jockey Club

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