The Vigil Stakes is a thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a Grade III sprint race open to horses aged three and older with a purse of Can$150,000. It is currently run in late July over a distance of 6 furlongs on Woodbine's Tapeta (synthetic dirt) surface.
Inaugurated as the Vigil Handicap, it was first run in 1956 at Fort Erie Race Track where it remained until 1980. Since inception it has been contested at various distances: 5.5 furlongs :1956-1958 6 furlongs: 1959 6.5 furlongs: 1960 miles (8.5 furlongs): 1961-1979 7 furlongs: 1980–2017, 2025-Present 6 furlongs: 2018–2024
Records Speed record: 1:08.06 - Pink Lloyd (2020) (at current distance of 6 furlongs) 1:20.07 - Hollywood Hit (2009) (at distance of 7 furlongs)
Most wins: 4 - Pink Lloyd (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by an owner: 4 - Gardiner Farm (1969, 1970, 1973, 1974) 4 - Entourage Stable (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Robin Platts (1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1987)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974) 6 - Rober P. Tiller (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Heavy Pour5Gaddiel A. MartinezTim GirtenRichard H. Bosshard Jr.1:22.062025Simcoe5Rafael Manuel HernandezKaterina VassilievaChiefswood Stables Limited1:21.192024Patches O'Houlihan4Sofia VivesRobert P. TillerFrank D. Di Giulio Jr.1:08.882023Patches O'Houlihan3Daisuke FukumotoRobert P. TillerFrank D. Di Giulio Jr.1:09.162022Lucky Score4Leo SallesW. V. ArmataDominic Liscio & Danny Iandoli1:08.632021Souper Stonehenge 5Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseLive Oak Plantation1:09.522020Pink Lloyd 8Rafael Manuel HernandezRobert P. TillerEntourage Stable1:08.062019Pink Lloyd 7Eurico Rosa da SilvaRobert P. TillerEntourage Stable1:08.682018Pink Lloyd 6Eurico Rosa da SilvaRobert P. TillerEntourage Stable1:09.262017Pink Lloyd5Eurico Rosa da SilvaRobert P. Tiller Entourage Stable1:22.182016Passion for Action4Eurico Rosa Da SilvaMichael P. De PauloBenjamin Hutzel1:21.652015Black Hornet5Luis ContrerasPat ParenteJoey Gee Thoroughbreds & Aldo Ventresca1:21.702014Really Sharp4Steven Ronald BahenIan Black N & R Kaster1:21.832013Laugh Track4Luis ContrerasMark E. CasseGary Barber & WinStar Farm1:21.852012Essence Hit Man5Jesse CampbellAudre CappuccittiAudre & Cappuccitti1:22.282011Stunning Stag7Gerry OlguinSid AttardJanice Attard1:22.152010Hollywood Hit4Jim McAleneyTerry JordanPeter Redekop1:20.072009Field Commission4Tyler PizarroDaniel J. VellaDaniel J. Vella & Solera Farm1:22.742008Disfunction4Emile RamsammyJulia Carey J M J's Stable & Weila Ye1:20.512007Just Rushing6Emma-Jayne WilsonSid C. AttardTucci Stables1:23.872006Judiths Wild Rush5James McAleneyReade BakerTenenbaum Racing Stable1:22.512005Judiths Wild Rush4Slade CallaghanReade BakerTenenbaum Racing Stable1:23.192004Mobil4Todd KabelMike KeoghGus Schickedanz1:21.812003Wake At Noon6Emile RamsammyAbraham R. KatryanBruno Schickedanz1:23.252002Wake At Noon5Emile RamsammyAbraham R. KatryanBruno Schickedanz1:23.132001Exciting Story4Patrick HusbandsMark E. CasseMockingbird Farm Inc1:23.492000One Way Love5Patrick HusbandsAbraham R. KatryanBruno Schickedanz & John Hillier1:22.661999Deputy Inxs8Na SomsanithAudre CappuccittiAudre & Gordon Cappuccitti1:23.541998Deputy Inxs7Na SomsanithAudre CappuccittiAudre & Gordon Cappuccitti1:22.401997Kiridashi5Mickey WallsBarbara MinshallMinshall Farms1:21.801996Kiridashi4Sandy HawleyBarbara MinshallMinshall Farms1:22.801995Sea Wall4Richard Dos Ramos Barbara MinshallMinshall Farms1:23.001994Berry Moonolow5James McKnightGordon CowieKings Lane Farm1:21.801993Canadian Silver5Dave Penna Michael J. Doyle Pinejoy Stable1:23.401992Hawk In Flight6Todd KabelLaurie Silvera Silverbrook Stable1:24.201991Key Spirit5Mickey WallsStephen BarnesBig Bux Stable1:25.001990Mr. Hot Shot5James McAleney William StewartJimmy Stewart & Michelle Upton1:23.601989Mr. Hot Shot4James McAleneyWilliam StewartJimmy Stewart & Michelle Upton1:23.401988Jamaican Gigolo5J. Paul SouterRobert E. Fisher Rodger Bawden 1:23.401987Play The King4Robin Platts Roger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:25.401986Regal Remark4Irwin Driedger James E. Day Sam-Son Farm1:24.401985Jacksboro6David ClarkTony MattineElizabeth Hunt Curnes1:24.401984My Only Love7Gary StahlbaumPhil EnglandPhil England (lessee)1:26.201983Jacksboro4David ClarkTony MattineNelson Bunker Hunt1:22.601982Great Gladiator5Larry AttardSteve AttardTom Campbell1:23.001981Von Clausewitz4Robin PlattsRoger AttfieldNorcliffe Stables1:22.601980Stutz Bearcat5George HoSangJames E. Day Sam-Son Farm1:25.201979Knight's Turn †4John BellEmile M. Allain Constance Terfloth1:45.801978Giboulee4George HoSangJacques Dumas Joe & Don Johnson1:45.001977Coverack4George HoSangJohn J. Tammaro, Jr. Kinghaven Farm1:44.601976Brilliant Sandy4Robin PlattsJerry C. MeyerSmith/Willow Downs Farm 1:44.801975Spirit Rock6Gunnar LindbergArthur H. WarnerSam-Son Farm1:46.401974Henry Tudor5Robin PlattsLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:42.601973Sea Rider4Avelino GomezLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:44.001972Cool Moon4Avelino GomezFrank Merrill, Jr. W. P. Gilbride1:44.601971Rouge Chanteur4Richard GrubbJames Mort Hardy Prime Acres Stable1:45.801970Perfect Tan5Richard ArmstrongLou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:44.001969James Bay5Robin Platts Lou Cavalaris, Jr.Gardiner Farm1:46.801968The Cheat5Richard Grubb Jim FisherWard C. Pitfield, Jr.1:45.401967Gauchesco6Frank BarrobyAndrew G. Smithers Dane Hill Acres1:43.801966Sunstruck6Avelino GomezLou Cavalaris, Jr.Hillcrest Stable1:43.201965Sunny5Keith Robinson Warren BeasleyWilliam R. Beasley1:44.001964Vindent de Paul6Avelino GomezLou Cavalaris, Jr.Hillcrest Stable1:45.201963Lord Quillo4Sam McCombEdward MannSarto Desnoyers1:43.801962Axeman4Hugo Dittfach Richard TownrowLanson Farm1:44.401961Moony5Hugo DittfachFrank Merrill, Jr. Roxie Gian & Fred Tosch1:48.001960Anita's Son4Hugo Dittfach Arthur H. WarnerLanson Farm1:17.001959Nearctic5Ben SorensenGordon J. McCann Windfields Farm1:10.601958Nearctic4Ben SorensenGordon J. McCann Windfields Farm1:05.401957Pot Hunter6Herb Lindberg Yonnie Starr Maloney & Smythe 1:05.201956Fleet Path4H. B. Wilson Arthur H. WarnerLanson Farm1:07.40 † In 1979, Coverack finished first but was disqualified and set back to third.
See also List of Canadian flat horse races
References
The Vigil Stakes at Pedigree Query The 2009 Vigil Stakes at Thoroughbred Times