There was a moment of quiet pride before the noise rose. William Buick pulled Notable Speech (GB) to a walk, patted the colt’s neck, and grinned broadly toward the crowd. Trainer Charlie Appleby, standing alongside the Godolphin team, could hardly conceal his satisfaction. A kiss on the horse’s sleek bay shoulder sealed the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile as their own once again, and with it, the headline victory on a record-setting Turf Champions Day at Woodbine.
The $1 million Mile was the centrepiece of a day that showcased Woodbine Entertainment’s biggest turf stage, and it delivered in spades. Notable Speech swept down the bet365 Inner Turf with a decisive turn of foot, handing Appleby, Buick, and Godolphin their third win in the Mile over the last four years. Significantly, the last two Godolphin-trained Woodbine Mile winners went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Mile – a stat not lost on either the horse’s connections or the crowd already buzzing about November.
Turf Champions Day Shines with Record Numbers
This year’s Turf Champions Day marked a transition as well as a triumph. With the E.P. Taylor Turf under renovation, all three Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” races unfolded on the bet365 Inner Turf. The move didn’t slow momentum: an all-sources handle of $13,026,804 placed the 2025 edition among the top five Woodbine Mile day totals. The Mile alone drew $2.1 million in wagering – a 23 percent lift over last year – while the Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes surged by 64 percent and the bet365 Summer Stakes by 43 percent. A record Pick-5 pool of $631,211 added another layer to the day’s success.
Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, was emphatic in his praise:
“Turf Champions Day is one of the most important showcases of our world-class racing program, and this year’s results reflect the strength and excitement of the product we are delivering in partnership with our racing community. From strong wagering and international participation to the success of our new global wagers, we are proud to see Woodbine firmly positioned on the international racing stage.”
International Stars and Local Heroes
Notable Speech may have stolen the spotlight, but Turf Champions Day offered plenty of depth. The bet365 Summer Stakes produced a stirring finish, with Argos flashing through under Flavien Prat to secure a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf berth for trainer Riley Mott and owner David Romanik.
Local connections had their own moment of triumph in the Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes. Corsia Veloce, trained by Josie Carroll for Glenn Sikura and Mario Serrani, dug deep under Fraser Aebly to score, booking her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The international flavour extended to Woodbine’s innovative Global Grade 1 Pick-5, linking its three feature turf races with the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. The concept, blending Canadian and European racing on a single ticket, drew global interest and underlined Woodbine’s ambitions beyond its own borders.
Looking Ahead at Woodbine
With Breeders’ Cup berths now secured, attention will soon shift to California, where Del Mar hosts racing’s world championships on October 31 and November 1. But Woodbine has more to give before then. The bet365 Inner Turf takes centre stage again with the Breeders’ Stakes, final jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, on September 28, followed by the return of the Grade 1 Canadian International on October 4.
For now, though, Turf Champions Day 2025 will be remembered for its emotion, its records, and the brilliance of Notable Speech – a winner whose victory stitched together the local crowd, international hopes, and the enduring allure of Woodbine’s turf racing.
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