| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Inaugurated | 1956 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.woodbineentertainment.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Tapeta synthetic dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & up |
| Weight | 120 pounds for three-year-olds, 124 pounds for older horses with allowances [1] |
| Purse | Can$150,000 (since 2002) [2] |
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:
Speed record:(Through 1998, Woodbine times were recorded in fifths of a second. Since 1999 they are in hundredths of a second)
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Simcoe | 5 | Rafael Manuel Hernandez | Katerina Vassilieva | Chiefswood Stables Limited | 1:21.19 |
| 2024 | Patches O'Houlihan | 4 | Sofia Vives | Robert P. Tiller | Frank D. Di Giulio Jr. | 1:08.88 |
| 2023 | Patches O'Houlihan | 3 | Daisuke Fukumoto | Robert P. Tiller | Frank D. Di Giulio Jr. | 1:09.16 |
| 2022 | Lucky Score | 4 | Leo Salles | W. V. Armata | Dominic Liscio & Danny Iandoli | 1:08.63 |
| 2021 | Souper Stonehenge | 5 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Live Oak Plantation | 1:09.52 |
| 2020 | Pink Lloyd | 8 | Rafael Manuel Hernandez | Robert P. Tiller | Entourage Stable | 1:08.06 |
| 2019 | Pink Lloyd | 7 | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Robert P. Tiller | Entourage Stable | 1:08.68 |
| 2018 | Pink Lloyd | 6 | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Robert P. Tiller | Entourage Stable | 1:09.26 |
| 2017 | Pink Lloyd | 5 | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Robert P. Tiller | Entourage Stable | 1:22.18 |
| 2016 | Passion for Action | 4 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Michael P. De Paulo | Benjamin Hutzel | 1:21.65 |
| 2015 | Black Hornet | 5 | Luis Contreras | Pat Parente | Joey Gee Thoroughbreds & Aldo Ventresca | 1:21.70 |
| 2014 | Really Sharp | 4 | Steven Ronald Bahen | Ian Black | N & R Kaster | 1:21.83 |
| 2013 | Laugh Track | 4 | Luis Contreras | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber & WinStar Farm | 1:21.85 |
| 2012 | Essence Hit Man | 5 | Jesse Campbell | Audre Cappuccitti | Audre & Cappuccitti | 1:22.28 |
| 2011 | Stunning Stag | 7 | Gerry Olguin | Sid Attard | Janice Attard | 1:22.15 |
| 2010 | Hollywood Hit | 4 | Jim McAleney | Terry Jordan | Peter Redekop | 1:20.07 |
| 2009 | Field Commission | 4 | Tyler Pizarro | Daniel J. Vella | Daniel J. Vella & Solera Farm | 1:22.74 |
| 2008 | Disfunction | 4 | Emile Ramsammy | Julia Carey | J M J's Stable & Weila Ye | 1:20.51 |
| 2007 | Just Rushing | 6 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Sid C. Attard | Tucci Stables | 1:23.87 |
| 2006 | Judiths Wild Rush | 5 | James McAleney | Reade Baker | Tenenbaum Racing Stable | 1:22.51 |
| 2005 | Judiths Wild Rush | 4 | Slade Callaghan | Reade Baker | Tenenbaum Racing Stable | 1:23.19 |
| 2004 | Mobil | 4 | Todd Kabel | Mike Keogh | Gus Schickedanz | 1:21.81 |
| 2003 | Wake At Noon | 6 | Emile Ramsammy | Abraham R. Katryan | Bruno Schickedanz | 1:23.25 |
| 2002 | Wake At Noon | 5 | Emile Ramsammy | Abraham R. Katryan | Bruno Schickedanz | 1:23.13 |
| 2001 | Exciting Story | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Mockingbird Farm Inc | 1:23.49 |
| 2000 | One Way Love | 5 | Patrick Husbands | Abraham R. Katryan | Bruno Schickedanz & John Hillier | 1:22.66 |
| 1999 | Deputy Inxs | 8 | Na Somsanith | Audre Cappuccitti | Audre & Gordon Cappuccitti | 1:23.54 |
| 1998 | Deputy Inxs | 7 | Na Somsanith | Audre Cappuccitti | Audre & Gordon Cappuccitti | 1:22.40 |
| 1997 | Kiridashi | 5 | Mickey Walls | Barbara Minshall | Minshall Farms | 1:21.80 |
| 1996 | Kiridashi | 4 | Sandy Hawley | Barbara Minshall | Minshall Farms | 1:22.80 |
| 1995 | Sea Wall | 4 | Richard Dos Ramos | Barbara Minshall | Minshall Farms | 1:23.00 |
| 1994 | Berry Moonolow | 5 | James McKnight | Gordon Cowie | Kings Lane Farm | 1:21.80 |
| 1993 | Canadian Silver | 5 | Dave Penna | Michael J. Doyle | Pinejoy Stable | 1:23.40 |
| 1992 | Hawk In Flight | 6 | Todd Kabel | Laurie Silvera | Silverbrook Stable | 1:24.20 |
| 1991 | Key Spirit | 5 | Mickey Walls | Stephen Barnes | Big Bux Stable | 1:25.00 |
| 1990 | Mr. Hot Shot | 5 | James McAleney | William Stewart | Jimmy Stewart & Michelle Upton | 1:23.60 |
| 1989 | Mr. Hot Shot | 4 | James McAleney | William Stewart | Jimmy Stewart & Michelle Upton | 1:23.40 |
| 1988 | Jamaican Gigolo | 5 | J. Paul Souter | Robert E. Fisher | Rodger Bawden | 1:23.40 |
| 1987 | Play The King | 4 | Robin Platts | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:25.40 |
| 1986 | Regal Remark | 4 | Irwin Driedger | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:24.40 |
| 1985 | Jacksboro | 6 | David Clark | Tony Mattine | Elizabeth Hunt Curnes | 1:24.40 |
| 1984 | My Only Love | 7 | Gary Stahlbaum | Phil England | Phil England (lessee) | 1:26.20 |
| 1983 | Jacksboro | 4 | David Clark | Tony Mattine | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 1:22.60 |
| 1982 | Great Gladiator | 5 | Larry Attard | Steve Attard | Tom Campbell | 1:23.00 |
| 1981 | Von Clausewitz | 4 | Robin Platts | Roger Attfield | Norcliffe Stables | 1:22.60 |
| 1980 | Stutz Bearcat | 5 | George HoSang | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:25.20 |
| 1979 | Knight's Turn † | 4 | John Bell | Emile M. Allain | Constance Terfloth | 1:45.80 |
| 1978 | Giboulee | 4 | George HoSang | Jacques Dumas | Joe & Don Johnson | 1:45.00 |
| 1977 | Coverack | 4 | George HoSang | John J. Tammaro, Jr. | Kinghaven Farm | 1:44.60 |
| 1976 | Brilliant Sandy | 4 | Robin Platts | Jerry C. Meyer | Smith/Willow Downs Farm | 1:44.80 |
| 1975 | Spirit Rock | 6 | Gunnar Lindberg | Arthur H. Warner | Sam-Son Farm | 1:46.40 |
| 1974 | Henry Tudor | 5 | Robin Platts | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:42.60 |
| 1973 | Sea Rider | 4 | Avelino Gomez | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:44.00 |
| 1972 | Cool Moon | 4 | Avelino Gomez | Frank Merrill, Jr. | W. P. Gilbride | 1:44.60 |
| 1971 | Rouge Chanteur | 4 | Richard Grubb | James Mort Hardy | Prime Acres Stable | 1:45.80 |
| 1970 | Perfect Tan | 5 | Richard Armstrong | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:44.00 |
| 1969 | James Bay | 5 | Robin Platts | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:46.80 |
| 1968 | The Cheat | 5 | Richard Grubb | Jim Fisher | Ward C. Pitfield, Jr. | 1:45.40 |
| 1967 | Gauchesco | 6 | Frank Barroby | Andrew G. Smithers | Dane Hill Acres | 1:43.80 |
| 1966 | Sunstruck | 6 | Avelino Gomez | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Hillcrest Stable | 1:43.20 |
| 1965 | Sunny | 5 | Keith Robinson | Warren Beasley | William R. Beasley | 1:44.00 |
| 1964 | Vindent de Paul | 6 | Avelino Gomez | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Hillcrest Stable | 1:45.20 |
| 1963 | Lord Quillo | 4 | Sam McComb | Edward Mann | Sarto Desnoyers | 1:43.80 |
| 1962 | Axeman | 4 | Hugo Dittfach | Richard Townrow | Lanson Farm | 1:44.40 |
| 1961 | Moony | 5 | Hugo Dittfach | Frank Merrill, Jr. | Roxie Gian & Fred Tosch | 1:48.00 |
| 1960 | Anita's Son | 4 | Hugo Dittfach | Arthur H. Warner | Lanson Farm | 1:17.00 |
| 1959 | Nearctic | 5 | Ben Sorensen | Gordon J. McCann | Windfields Farm | 1:10.60 |
| 1958 | Nearctic | 4 | Ben Sorensen | Gordon J. McCann | Windfields Farm | 1:05.40 |
| 1957 | Pot Hunter | 6 | Herb Lindberg | Yonnie Starr | Maloney & Smythe | 1:05.20 |
| 1956 | Fleet Path | 4 | H. B. Wilson | Arthur H. Warner | Lanson Farm | 1:07.40 |