Bessarabian Stakes

The Bessarabian Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1985 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced at a distance of seven furlongs, it is held during the latter part of November and is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. It has been a Grade II event since 2013.

History

Inaugurated in 1985 as the Etobicoke Handicap, in 1996 it was renamed in honor of Eaton Hall Farm's Champion filly, Bessarabian.

Through 1990 the race was contested at six furlongs on dirt. In 2006 the track surface was replaced with a Polytrack synthetic dirt which would be changed again in 2016 to Tapeta synthetic dirt. (both referred to as an "all weather track" in official charts). The purse for the Bessarabian was increased to $200,000 in 2014, plus up to $23,265 for Ontario-bred horses.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:20.76 - Our Flash Drive (2020) at current distance of 7 furlongs

Most wins:

• 2 - Count On A Change (1991, 1992)
• 2 - Early Blaze (1994, 1995)
• 2 - Moonlit Promise (2017, 2018)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Huntington Stud Farm (1990, 1991, 1992)
• 3 - Kinghaven Farms (1985, 1986, 1993)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Jim McAleney (1993, 2002, 2006, 2013)
• 4 - Eurico Rosa da Dilva (2007, 2015, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - Josie Carroll (2008, 2017, 2018, 2023)
• 4 - Roger Attfield (1985, 1986, 1993, 2021)

Winners

See also

• List of Canadian flat horse races

References

• The Bessarabian Stakes at Pedigree Query