Notable Speech made history in the Notable Speech Woodbine Mile as he successfully defended the prestigious race at Woodbine Racetrack on September 13. The Godolphin-owned star became only the second horse to win the Woodbine Mile in consecutive years, matching the achievement previously recorded by the legendary Wise Dan. His victory formed one of the major highlights of Woodbine Turf Champions Day, which featured four Grade 1 contests on a 12-race programme.
The meeting marked the return of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course to the spotlight after last year’s Woodbine Mile was held on the Inner Turf while renovation work was carried out. The latest programme brought together leading horses, trainers and jockeys from several racing jurisdictions, with the four top-level races producing important victories and notable career milestones.
Notable Speech Woodbine Mile Victory Makes History
Trained by Charles Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Notable Speech produced another strong performance in the Woodbine Mile. The five-year-old followed up his 2025 success by defeating Deterministic and retaining his title. The result also brought Deterministic’s six-race winning streak to an end.
Notable Speech became only the second horse to complete consecutive victories in the Woodbine Mile. Wise Dan had previously achieved the same feat in 2012 and 2013, making Notable Speech’s latest success an important addition to the race’s history.
The victory also strengthened Godolphin’s record in the contest, giving the operation its fourth Woodbine Mile success. For Appleby, the result marked his fourth victory in the race and made him the winningest trainer in Woodbine Mile history. Buick also recorded his fourth success in the event and moved within one victory of John Velazquez’s record.
The E.P. Taylor Stakes produced another significant result when Gimme a Nother secured victory for Newstead Stables and trainer Graham Motion. The South African-bred mare claimed her first Grade 1 success in North America, while jockey John Velazquez reached the remarkable milestone of 1,300 career stakes victories.
Velazquez’s achievement added further significance to an already memorable afternoon at Woodbine. His latest success continued a distinguished career at the venue and placed another major milestone alongside the headline performances of the meeting.
Al Hudaiba also produced a notable result for Godolphin, trainer Charles Appleby and jockey William Buick. The victory gave the combination another important success during the programme and further underlined their strong afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack.
The Natalma Stakes brought another achievement for trainer Mark Casse. Voyager won the race for D. J. Stable, Casse and jockey Javier Castellano, giving the Canadian trainer his ninth Natalma Stakes victory. The result extended Casse’s record in the prestigious race and added another significant chapter to his association with the event.
The four Grade 1 contests formed the centrepiece of a 12-race card that showcased a strong mix of established stars and international talent. The return to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course also provided an important backdrop to a programme that produced several memorable performances.
Woodbine Racetrack Records and Milestones
The results at Woodbine Racetrack extended beyond the individual race victories. Notable Speech’s consecutive Woodbine Mile triumph placed him alongside Wise Dan in the history of the event, while Appleby and Buick strengthened their own records in the race.
The meeting also highlighted the continued influence of experienced figures in North American racing. Velazquez’s 1,300th stakes victory represented one of the afternoon’s biggest personal milestones, while Casse’s ninth Natalma Stakes success further established his record in the race.
Following the meeting, Woodbine’s autumn programme continued with the Breeders’ Stakes scheduled for September 27. The Canadian International followed on October 3, while racing continued from Thursdays through Sundays into mid-December.
For Woodbine Racetrack, the meeting provided a successful return to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course and delivered a series of results that added to the venue’s racing history. At the centre of it all was Notable Speech, whose second consecutive Woodbine Mile victory gave the afternoon its defining performance.
Notable Speech made history by defending the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Racetrack for a second consecutive year. Gimme a Nother, Al Hudaiba and Voyager also claimed major victories, while William Buick, Charles Appleby, John Velazquez and Mark Casse added significant milestones to an already memorable programme.
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