Valedictory Stakes


The Valedictory Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late November or early December at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Open to horses age three and older, the Grade III stakes is contested on a synthetic "all weather" surface over a distance of miles.

History

Inaugurated as the Valedictory Handicap in 1952 at the Dufferin Park Racetrack, it was moved to the new Woodbine Racetrack for the 1956 running where it remained through 1960. From 1961 through 1993, the race was hosted by Greenwood Raceway; thereafter, the race returned to Woodine where it remains.
The Valedictory was originally run on dirt but in 2006 Woodbine switched to a synthetic "all weather" surface. Always a longer distance race, over the years it has been contested at a variety of distances:
  • 1952: miles
  • 1954–1955: miles
  • 1956–2019: miles
  • 2021-Present: miles
The Valedictory was not run in 1953. The 2008 Valedictory was canceled due to extreme cold weather, while the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Valedictory was upgraded to grade III status in 2011. It is the final stakes event of the year at Woodbine racetrack, which is closed to Thoroughbred racing during the winter.

Records

Speed record:
Most wins:
  • 2 - Bernfield
  • 2 - Whiteborough
  • 2 - Caesar B. Good
  • 2 - Knight's Turn
  • 2 - Pumpkin Rumble
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:

Other North American Marathon races

On dirt:
On turf: