MILTON, January 16, 2025 – Woodbine Entertainment today released the schedule for its lucrative 2025 harness racing season at Woodbine Mohawk Park, which includes three $1 million races and the return of the Breeders Crown.
The prestigious Pepsi North America Cup (June 14), Mohawk Million (September 20) and Metro Pace (September 20) each carry $1 million in prize money, while the Breeders Crown (September 24 and 25) October) offers more than $7 million (USD) in 12 championship races.
These top events headline a betting calendar with races worth over $20 million.
The United States Trotting Association recently announced the introduction of graded stakes for North American harness racing in 2025. Woodbine Mohawk Park hosts 12 Class 1 races (not including the 12 Class 1 Breeders Crown races), which is more than any other racetrack.
In total, Woodbine will offer 28 graded stakes events in 2025.
“We are very proud of our stakes program and are excited to bring the Breeders Crown back into play this season,” said Bill McLinchey, vice president of Standardbred Racing. “The recent classification of stakes underlines the strength of our racing product and the prestige of our stakes program.
“We pride ourselves on offering a world-class product and the 12 Grade 1 races we organize will demonstrate this with forceful fields and excellent betting opportunities.”
The 42ndnd The Pepsi North America Cup (G1) on Saturday, June 14 brings the sport's best three-year pacers to Woodbine Mohawk Park. The $1 million event will be the crown jewel of an all-star evening that also includes the $425,000 Fan Hanover (G1) for three-year-old filly pacer, the $305,000 Roses Are Red (G1) for pacemaker mares and the Armbro Flight (G1), which is worth $233,000 ) for trotter mares, $225,000 Goodtimes (G2) for three-year-old trotters and $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational (G3) for open pacers.
The Mohawk Million (G1) and Metro Pace (G1) will once again take place on the same evening, offering racing fans the opportunity to see two $1 million races on the same card. This lucrative racing card on Saturday, September 20th also includes the $713,000 Canadian Trotting Classic (G1) for three-year-old trotters, $532,000 Shes A Great Lady (G1) for two-year-old fillies and Pacer and Elegantimage (G1) valued at $347,000. for three-year-old foal trotters.
The Breeders Crown returns to Woodbine Mohawk Park on October 24th and 25th. The year-end division series will feature 12 championship races over two nights with more than $7 million in prize money. Woodbine last hosted the Breeders Crown in 2022 and has hosted more Crown races than any other track operator in the series' 42-year history. Since the series' inception in 1984, a total of 164 Breeders Crown finals have been held at Mohawk Park, Woodbine Racetrack and Greenwood Raceway.
Over Labor Day weekend, harness racing's top open trotters and pacers will once again compete in the $600,000 Maple Leaf Trot (G1) and $540,000 Canadian Pacing Derby (G1) on Saturday, August 30.
Adolescent trotters will be the star attraction on Saturday, August 23, when the $575,000 William Wellwood Memorial (G1) for two-year-old trotters and the $390,000 Peaceful Way (G1) for two-year-old foal trotters goes.
Woodbine Mohawk Park's racing calendar provides owners and trainers with the perfect place to race their 2-year-olds throughout the summer and fall. Each division for two-year-olds offers the opportunity to race from June to October.
Woodbine Mohawk Park's schedule provides racing opportunities for four-year-olds early in the stakes season.
The Canadian Graduate Series for Canadian four-year-olds returns in April, while the Graduate Series (managed by The Meadowlands) stops May 31. The live card on May 31 will also include a leg of the Miss Versatility trotting mares and Somebeachsomewhere (G3) for three-year-old pacers.
To view the full 2025 deployment plan, Click here.
Stakes Payment Information
Nomination for all major stakes events at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 2025 closes February 15.
To view the 2025 mission brochure, Click here.
Woodbine continues to manage interests for Ontario racetracks in 2025, including Grand River Raceway, Flamboro Downs, Clinton Raceway and Hanover Raceway.
Wagers on all Woodbine managed events can be paid to Woodbine Entertainment. Payments can be made through the race office, by mail or online.
from Mark McKelviefor Woodbine Entertainment
