Woodbine Entertainment on Tuesday, Jan. 6 released the schedule for its 2026 stakes season at Woodbine Mohawk Park, featuring a trio of million-dollar races and 12 Grade 1 events.
The North America Cup (Saturday, June 13), Mohawk Million (Saturday, Sept. 26) and Metro Pace (Saturday, Sept. 26) remain the crown jewels of the racing season at Mohawk for 2026. The trio of Grade 1 million-dollar events highlight a prestigious $20 million-plus stakes program for 2026.
This year will mark the 43rd edition of the North America Cup, which showcases the finest three-year-old pacers. The Mohawk Million for two-year-old trotters enters its seventh year of existence, while the Metro Pace for two-year-old pacers has been held annually since 1988.
Woodbine’s Standardbred Racing Department did a review of its stakes program following the 2025 season and has made a few changes to conditions and dates for several stakes. The marquee race days remain unchanged in their placement on the calendar. The following changes have been implemented for 2026:
The slot price for the Mohawk Million has increased from $50,000 to $60,000. After Woodbine lowered the price by half from $100,000 to $50,000 in 2024, there has been a large demand to purchase a Mohawk Million slot. Each of the 10 slots for the 2026 edition will be offered at $60,000 with Woodbine providing the remaining $400,000 of the $1 million purse.
The two-year-old summer series format has been changed. The format for the Dream Maker, Whenuwishuponastar, Millard Farms and Pure Ivory has been changed from two preliminary legs and a final to eliminations and a final. Nomination and sustaining payments have been added with Woodbine aiming to generate final purses in the $125,000 to $150,000 range, providing local trainers with a significant racing opportunity for two-year-olds of any sires stakes jurisdiction.
The Canadian Graduate Series has been removed. The four-year-old Canadian Graduate Series will not be offered in 2026 following low nominations and entries. Multiple legs were cancelled in 2025 due to lack of entries.
The dates for the Casual Breeze and Tompkins-Geers have been changed. The Casual Breeze for three-year-old filly trotters has been moved from late August to June (North America Cup weekend) as a more ideal spot on the stakes calendar across North America. The Tompkins-Geers for two-year-olds has been moved from late June to mid-July.
Mohawk will offer 32 graded stakes in 2026, the largest number of any racetrack in North America. The Dream Maker, Whenuwishuponastar, Millard Farms and Pure Ivory each received graded status (Grade 3) this season.
The marquee event days for 2026 are listed below:
- North America Cup – Saturday, June 13
- Featuring: North America Cup (G1), Fan Hanover (G1), Roses Are Red (G1), Armbro Flight (G2), Goodtimes (G2), Mohawk Gold Cup (G3).
- Wellwood Memorial & Peaceful Way – Saturday, Aug. 29
- Featuring: William Wellwood Memorial (G1), Peaceful Way (G1), Canadian Pacing Derby Eliminations, Nassagaweya (G3), Eternal Camnation (G3).
- Canadian Pacing Derby & Maple Leaf Trot – Saturday, Sept. 5
- Featuring: Canadian Pacing Derby (G1), Maple Leaf Trot (G1), Simcoe 3-Year-Old Open Trot (G3), Milton Stakes (G2).
- Mohawk Million & Metro Pace – Saturday, Sept. 26
- Featuring: Mohawk Million (G1), Metro Pace (G1), Canadian Trotting Classic (G1), Shes A Great Lady (G1), Elegantimage (G1).
To view Mohawk's full stakes schedule for 2026, click here.
Nominations for all 2026 major stakes at Mohawk close on Feb. 17.
Woodbine continues to administrate stakes for Ontario racetracks in 2026, including Grand River Raceway, Flamboro Downs, Clinton Raceway and Hanover Raceway.
Stakes payments for all Woodbine administrated events can be made payable to Woodbine Entertainment. Payments can be made through the race office, by mail or online.
All race dates are pending regulatory approval.
(With files from Woodbine)