Connaught Cup Stakes


The Connaught Cup Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Run in late May, the Grade II race is open to horses aged four and older. Raced over a distance of seven furlongs on turf, it currently offers a purse of $196,750.
The Connaught Cup was first run in 1912 on dirt at Toronto's Old Woodbine Race Course. As a result of World War I, there was no race held in 1918 and 1919 and it was not run in 1930. The Great Depression saw much consolidation in the horse racing industry with track owners reducing the number of races run and the amount of the purses being offered. The Connaught Cup was suspended after the 1932 running and was not revived until 1952. In 1956 it was moved to the newly built Woodbine Racetrack where in 1958 it was converted to a turf race.
It was run in two divisions in 1984.
Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances:
On dirt:
On turf:
  • 7 furlongs : beginning 2010 at Woodbine Racetrack
  • 1 mile : 1994 at Fort Erie Racetrack
  • miles : 1958-1963, 1980–93, 1995-2009 at Woodbine Racetrack
  • miles : 1964-1966, 1979 at Woodbine Racetrack, 1967-1978 at Fort Erie Racetrack

    Records

Speed record:
  • 1:19.40 - Tower of Texas
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
  • 5 - J. K. L. Ross
  • 5 - Stafford Farms
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
  • 5 - Gil Rowntree

    Winners

  • In 1978, Hopeful Answer finished first but was disqualified and set back to second.