2025 Turf Champions Day generates strong numbers at Woodbine

September 16, 2025

TORONTO, September 16, 2025 – Notable Speech’s (GB) impressive victory in the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile highlighted a strong Turf Champions Day for Woodbine Entertainment.

Turf Champions Day featured three Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” races. All three races were held on the bet365 Inner Turf Course for the first time due to the E.P. Taylor Turf renovation project.

An all-sources handle of $13,026,804 ranks the 2025 edition among the top-five Woodbine Mile day handles. The Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile race generated $2.1 million in wagering, a 23 per cent increase from the 2024 race.

Among the other wagering highlights was a 64% increase in the Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes ($1,688,101 vs 1,030,495), a 43% increase in handle for the bet365 Summer Stakes ($2,088,730 vs $1,455,862), and a record Pick-5 pool of $631,211.

The Grade 1 contests provided competitive and strong races around the seven-furlong course, which has similar dimensions to the turf course at Del Mar (this year’s Breeders’ Cup host).

Woodbine’s focus on new and innovative wagers saw the introduction of the Global Grade 1 Pick-5, which linked Woodbine’s three Grade 1 turf races with the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster (UK) and the Irish Champions Stakes at Leopardstown (IRE).

“Turf Champions Day is one of the most important showcases of our world-class racing program, and this year’s results reflect the strength and excitement of the product we are delivering in partnership with our racing community,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “From strong wagering and international participation to the success of our new global wagers, we are proud to see Woodbine firmly positioned on the international racing stage. I want to thank our horse racing community, fans, and customers whose support and passion continue to elevate this event and the sport of horse racing in Canada.”

Notable Speech (GB) captured the $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile to give his connections of Godolphin, trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick their third Mile win in the last four years. The previous two Woodbine Mile winners for the group went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Argos won a thrilling edition of the bet365 Summer Stakes for owner David Romanik, trainer Riley Mott and jockey Flavien Prat to punch their ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Glenn Sikura and Mario Serrani’s Corsia Veloce prevailed in the Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes for trainer Josie Carroll and Fraser Aebly. The locally trained two-year-old now has secured a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup will be held on October 31 and November 1 at Del Mar in California.

Woodbine’s bet365 Inner Turf will continue be the focus through the next several weeks with the Breeders’ Stakes, final leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, to be held on September 28 and the returning Grade 1 Canadian International scheduled for October 4.

Live racing continues every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Woodbine.

For more information, visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB on social media.

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