The Woodbine Mile is one of Canada’s most important turf races and a central part of Woodbine Racetrack’s international calendar. The Grade 1 event is run over one mile on turf for horses three years old and upward, and the 2026 edition carries a purse of $1 million.
The 30th running is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026, during Turf Champions Day at Woodbine. The race is also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, with the winner earning an automatic starting position in the Breeders’ Cup Mile when all program conditions are satisfied.
Woodbine Mile 2026
The 2026 Woodbine Mile has attracted eight runners. Defending champion Notable Speech returns for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, while Deterministic brings a strong North American record into the race.
Notable Speech won the 2025 Woodbine Mile by 1 3/4 lengths with William Buick aboard. That victory continued a notable recent record for the Appleby and Buick partnership at Woodbine. Modern Games won in 2022 and Master of The Seas followed in 2023 before Notable Speech added another success in 2025.
The 2026 race is part of an unusually strong Turf Champions Day. Woodbine will stage four Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Challenge races on the same card for the first time, with the E.P. Taylor Stakes, Natalma Stakes and Summer Stakes joining the Woodbine Mile.
Read the current Woodbine Mile preview for the latest field and contender context.
Race distance and course
The Woodbine Mile is contested over one mile on turf. Woodbine lists Wise Dan’s 1:31.75 as the race record. The event is one of the track’s signature international races and regularly attracts runners from both North America and Europe.
Recent Woodbine Mile winners
Recent winners show the race’s international reach. Notable Speech won in 2025, following Win for the Money in 2024, Master of The Seas in 2023, Modern Games in 2022, Town Cruise in 2021 and Starship Jubilee in 2020.
The race has also produced a direct championship connection. Modern Games, Master of The Seas and Notable Speech each won the Woodbine Mile and later captured the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the same season.
Why the race matters for Breeders’ Cup
The Woodbine Mile sits late enough in the season to function as a major championship prep while still offering direct qualification through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. That combination makes the race especially important for international turf horses seeking a final major test before the World Championships.
Follow the wider championship picture through the Breeders’ Cup hub and browse other leading events in the Major Races center.
Woodbine Mile coverage
This page serves as OTB Bet’s permanent Woodbine Mile guide. It will be updated as future editions develop, while individual previews, results and major news will remain separate articles so the hub stays useful without duplicating short term coverage.
Sources: Woodbine Entertainment official race information, stakes schedule and race coverage, plus the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series rules and schedule.