Queen's Plate highlights early Woodbine stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Canada's most prestigious thoroughbred race, the $1 million Queen's Plate, tops the stakes schedule at Woodbine during the track's opening half of its 2013 meeting. The stakes schedule was released Monday by Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG).

"We release this 12-week calendar with guaranteed purses to provide confidence for horsemen as they plan their racing season," said Steve Koch, WEG's Vice- President of Thoroughbred Racing. "We will release a full year stakes schedule after the industry has finalized funding projections."

The 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate for 3-year-olds will go off on Sunday, July 7. The race is the first jewel in Canada's Triple Crown and will be conducted for the 154th time.

Woodbine begins its 2013 season on Saturday, April 20 and will hold 133 race days. During the first 12 weeks, the track will have 37 stakes.