The Nearctic Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The Grade II sprint is raced on turf over a distance of six furlongs and currently offers a purse of $232,290.
Previously a Grade II race, it was upgraded to Grade I status for 2010 but has returned to Grade II.
Inaugurated in 1973 to honor Windfield's Farms champion Nearctic, the 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, and sire of the 20th Century's most important sire, Northern Dancer.
The Nearctic Stakes was raced on dirt until 1995 when it was shifted to the Turf.
Records Speed record on turf: 0:56.19 - No Nay Hudson (2025) 5 furlongs 1:07.60 Wild Zone (1996) 6 furlongs
Speed record on dirt: 1:09.00 - Megas Vukefalos (1992)
Most wins: 2 - Play The King (1987, 1988) 2 - Wild Zone (1995, 1996)
Most wins by an owner: 3 - Sam-Son Farm (1978, 1989, 2003)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Robin Platts (1973, 1974, 1975, 1979)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Daniel J. Vella (1990, 1994, 1995, 2009)
Winners of the Nearctic Stakes Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Victory Achieved5Rafael Manuel HernandezMark E. CasseLive Oak Plantation1:09.302025No Nay Hudson (IRE)5Pablos MoralesWesley A. WardAndrew Farm and For the People Racing Stable LLC0:56.192024Patches O'Houlihan4Sofia VivesRobert P. TillerFrank D. Di Giulio Jr.1:09.492023Big Invasion4Dylan DavisChristophe ClementReeves Thoroughbred Racing1:11.312022Cazadero4Patrick HusbandsBrendan P. WalshMarc Detampel1:09.112021Avie's Flatter5Luis ContrerasJosie CarrollIvan Dalos1:10.522020Silent Poet5Justin SteinNicholas J. Gonzalez Jr.Stronach Stables1:08.572019City Boy5Jesse CampbellMichael KeoghEst of Gustav Schickedanz & Donald Howard1:08.182018Hembree 4Irad OrtizMichael MakerThree Diamonds Farm1:08.952017Field of Courage 5Luis ContrerasMark E. CasseQuintessential Racing, FL1:12.072016Calgary Cat6Luis ContrerasKevin AttardSteven Chesney & Cory Hoffman1:08.322015Bye Bye Bernie5Rafael M. HernandezBrendan P. WalshDARRS Inc1:09.002014Caspar Netscher (GB)5Andrew MullenDavid SimcockCharles Wentworth1:08.972013Phil's Dream5Justin SteinPaul M. Buttigieg Buttigieg Training Centre1:10.832012Next Question4Ramon DominguezMichael J. TrombettaThree Diamonds Farm1:09.322011Regally Ready4Corey NakataniSteve AsmussenVinery Stable1:11.352010Serious Attitude4Garrett GomezRae GuestDerek J. Willis & Rae Guest1:09.12009Field Commission4Julien LeparouxDaniel J. VellaE. Selzer & D. J. Vella1:09.232008True to Tradition6Kendrick CarmoucheScott A. LakeBen Mondello & Adam Russo1:09.112007Heros Reward5Javier CastellanoDale CapuanoRob Ry Farm & Jayne Marie Slysz1:08.042006Fast Parade3Patrick ValenzuelaPeter MillerGary & Cecil Barber1:12.412005Steel Light4Corey NakataniChristophe ClementMoyglare Stud1:12.142004I Thee Wed4Jim McAleneyDavid R. BellPin Oak Stable1:09.362003Soaring Free4Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm 1:07.732002Nuclear Debate7David R. FloresDarrell ViennaHerrick Racing1:07.862001Mr. Epperson6James McKnightScott H. FairlieR & S. Fairlie et al.1:08.862000Kahal6Brice BlancNeil D. DrysdaleShadwell Racing1:11.071999Clever Response4Emile RamsammyMichael KeoghGus Schickedanz1:10.191998Rushiscomingup5Richard Dos RamosPaul ButtigiegFarrugia & Buttigieg1:08.201997Jilin5David ClarkJohn P. MacKenzieGreenoaks Farm1:08.601996Wild Zone6Robert LandryFrank Passero Jr.Mrs. Augustus Riggs IV & Stronach1:07.601995Wild Zone5Shane SellersDaniel J. VellaMrs. Augustus Riggs IV & Stronach1:08.401994King Ruckus4Todd KabelDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach1:09.601993British Banker5Dave PennaMichael J. DoyleDogwood Stable1:09.401992Megas Vukefalos4Don SeymourPhil EnglandKnob Hill Stable1:09.001991Hadif5Dave PennaTom Skiffington, Jr.Shadwell Racing1:10.001990Dargai4Brian SwatukDaniel J. VellaKnob Hill Stable1:10.001989Regal Intention4Jack LauzonJames E. DaySam-Son Farm1:10.201988Play The King5Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:10.001987Play The King4Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:09.801986New Connection5Dave PennaTrevor SwanJ. Douglas Cameron1:10.601985Dancer's Bo Jin4Daniel DavidJerry G. LavigneGerry E. Going1:11.401984Diapason4Gary StahlbaumJacques DumasJean Lapointe1:09.801983Ask Muhammad4Richard Dos RamosMichael SilveraGordon F. Hall1:11.201982Reddy Roadster7Brian SwatukConrad J. CohenSusan Cohen1:10.201981Solo Guy3George HoSangLaurie SilveraGordon F. Hall1:10.601980La Voyageuse5J. Paul SouterYonnie StarrJean-Louis Levesque1:09.801979Ocean Emperor4Robin PlattsJ. MackPel-Gam-Ski Stable1:10.201978Stutz Bearcat3George HoSangJames E. DaySam-Son Farm1:09.801977Jilting Jim4Sandy HawleyJake NemettRoger E. Leslie1:10.601976Park Romeo5Lloyd DuffyJerry G. LavigneParkview Stable1:12.601975Gurkhas Band3Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms1:11.001974Henry Tudor5Robin PlattsLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:11.201973Rare Adventure4Robin PlattsLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:10.40
See also List of Canadian flat horse races