Queen's Plate highlights Woodbine stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The 153rd edition of the $1 million Queen's Plate headlines the 2012 Woodbine Race Course stakes schedule. The historic track will offer 102 stakes worth a total of $23 million.

The 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate for three-year-olds is the premier race offered at Woodbine and is the initial leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. This year's renewal will be on Sunday, June 24. The filly Inglorious won last year's running.

Along with the Queen's Plate, Woodbine will run the $1.5 million Canadian International on Sunday, October 14 along with the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares and the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong turf sprint.

"Last year was once again a strong one in terms of the quality and quantity of European horses that competed in our marquee events," said Woodbine director of racing Steve Lym. "The filly, Sarah Lynx, wowed the fans with her magnificent showing in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International."

On Sunday, September 16 the track will offer the $1 million Woodbine Mile on the turf and the $500,000 Northern Dancer at 1 1/2-miles on the grass.

"Turallure was impressive in winning the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, before losing by a nose to 2010 Woodbine Mile winner Court Vision in the Breeders' Cup Mile," noted Lym. "The decision by the connections of Sarah Lynx and Turallure to race at Woodbine and their outstanding results speak volumes of how WEG is regarded by the entire racing community."

Woodbine's 2012 race meet gets underway on Friday, April 6 and goes through mid-December.