Vigil Stakes

Horse race

The Vigil Stakes is a thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a Grade III sprint race open to horses aged three and older with a purse of Can$150,000. It is currently run in late July over a distance of 6 furlongs on Woodbine's Tapeta (synthetic dirt) surface.

Inaugurated as the Vigil Handicap, it was first run in 1956 at Fort Erie Race Track where it remained until 1980. Since inception it has been contested at various distances:

• 5.5 furlongs :1956-1958
• 6 furlongs: 1959
• 6.5 furlongs: 1960
• 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs): 1961-1979
• 7 furlongs: 1980–2017
• 6 furlongs: 2018–present

Records

Speed record: (Through 1998, Woodbine times were recorded in fifths of a second. Since 1999 they are in hundredths of a second)

• 1:08.06 - Pink Lloyd (2020) (at current distance of 6 furlongs)
• 1:20.07 - Hollywood Hit (2009) (at distance of 7 furlongs)

Most wins:

• 4 - Pink Lloyd (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Most wins by an owner:

• 4 - Gardiner Farm (1969, 1970, 1973, 1974)
• 4 - Entourage Stable (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 - Robin Platts (1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1987)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 6 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974)

Winners

• † In 1979, Coverack finished first but was disqualified and set back to third.

See also

• List of Canadian flat horse races

References

1. "Chart for the 2018 Vigil Stakes". equibase.com. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
2. "Vigil Stakes Profile". equibase.com. Retrieved 30 July 2018.

• The Vigil Stakes at Pedigree Query
• The 2009 Vigil Stakes at Thoroughbred Times