Nijinsky Stakes
The Nijinsky Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the last Sunday of August at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. 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 $300,000.
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 great Canadian-born Nijinsky, the 1970 English Triple Crown champion and a son of Canada's most famous horse, Northern Dancer. Originally run at 1-3/8 miles, as the Nijinsky Stakes it was contested at 1-1/2 miles in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 and 2009 it was run at 1-1/4 miles and beginning in 2010 at 1-1/8 miles.
Woodbine Racetrack Graded Stakes Races
| Stakes Race | Grade | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| Eclipse Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Nassau Stakes | II | $300,000 |
| King Edward Stakes | II | $250,000 |
| Highlander Stakes | II | $200,000 |
| Singspiel Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Queen's Plate Stakes | I | $1,000,000 |
| Dominion Day Stakes | III | $200,000 |
| Dance Smartly Stakes | II | $300,000 |
| Ontario Matron Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Nijinsky Stakes | II | $300,000 |
| Royal North Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Sky Classic Stakes | II | $250,000 |
| Ontario Colleen Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Play the King Stakes | II | $200,000 |
| Seaway Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Natalma Stakes | III | $200,000 |
| Summer Stakes | III | $250,000 |
| Canadian Stakes | II | $300,000 |
| Northern Dancer Turf Stakes | I | $500,000 |
| Woodbine Mile Stakes | I | $1,000,000 |
| Selene Stakes | III | $250,000 |
| Grey Stakes | III | $200,000 |
| Nearctic Stakes | I | $500,000 |
| E.P. Taylor Stakes | I | $1,000,000 |
| Canadian International Stakes | I | $1,500,000 |
| Autumn Stakes | II | $150,000 |
| Kennedy Road Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Bessarabian Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Valedictory Stakes | III | $150,000 |
