The 2026 Ontario Derby takes place Saturday, October 17 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The Grade III race is contested at 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine's all-weather main track and is open exclusively to 3-year-olds. With a $175,000 guaranteed purse, plus additional money available to eligible Ontario-breds, the Ontario Derby provides an important late-season test for sophomores stretching out around two turns.
| Date | Saturday, October 17, 2026 |
| Track | Woodbine Racetrack |
| Race | 9 |
| Distance | 1 1/8 miles |
| Surface | All-Weather |
| Grade | Grade III |
| Purse | $175,000 guaranteed |
| Age | 3-year-olds |
| Post Time | 5:26 PM ET |
Entry Update: The 2026 Ontario Derby field is set with 9 starters. Post positions, jockeys and trainers are listed in the table below. Morning-line odds will be added once Woodbine posts them.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Final Score | Pietro Moran | Kevin Attard | TBA |
| 2 | Trevally | David Moran | John P. LeBlanc Jr. | TBA |
| 3 | Fire And Wine | Jalon Samuel | Zeljko Krcmar | TBA |
| 4 | Western Warrior | Sahin Civaci | Kelsey Mayhew | TBA |
| 5 | Teleport (IRE) | Pietro Moran | Kevin Attard | TBA |
| 6 | Bull By The Horns | Rasheed Hughes | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | TBA |
| 7 | Brachetto | Ryan Munger | Julia Carey | TBA |
| 8 | Chaos Agent | Rafael Manuel Hernandez | Josie Carroll | TBA |
| 9 | Military Time | Fraser Aebly | Mark E. Casse | TBA |
Get up to $1,000 Sign Up Cash Bonus - for your first deposit with BUSR, you'll get an additional 20% bonus to your deposit absolutely free. Plus, earn a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
The Ontario Derby is an appealing betting race because its 1 1/8-mile distance on Woodbine's Tapeta surface tests both tactical speed and staying power. Horses coming from sprint or middle-distance races must prove they can carry their form around two turns, while runners already experienced at nine furlongs may hold an advantage. Woodbine form, synthetic-track experience, pace position and the ability to finish strongly are all important handicapping factors.
The race also regularly brings together horses emerging from major Canadian 3-year-old events with improving runners from open stakes competition. Recent editions have featured horses coming off races such as the King's Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes, and Breeders' Stakes, giving bettors several form lines to compare. The 2026 field of nine is listed in the table above, with odds to follow once they are posted.
Want to bet the race? View Odds & Bet Now
The Ontario Derby was inaugurated in 1972 as the Colonel R. S. McLaughlin Handicap before taking its current name in 2003. The race was moved to its present 1 1/8-mile distance in 1992 and has held Grade III status since 2012. Run at Woodbine in the fall, it has become an important late-season opportunity for 3-year-olds competing beyond the Canadian Triple Crown season.
Recent winners illustrate the quality of horses the race attracts. Frosted Over won in 2021 before Ironstone captured the 2022 edition, and Touch'n Ride was elevated to victory in 2023 following a disqualification after previously winning the Breeders' Stakes. Dresden Row added the Ontario Derby to his Grade III Durham Cup victory in 2024, while Borealis Trail closed strongly to defeat King's Plate winner Mansetti in 2025, completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.88.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Borealis Trail | Jose Luis Campos | 1:50.88 |
| 2024 | Dresden Row | Ryan Munger | 1:49.12 |
| 2023 | Touch'n Ride | Kazushi Kimura | 1:48.93 |
| 2022 | Ironstone | Kazushi Kimura | 1:49.15 |
| 2021 | Frosted Over | Kazushi Kimura | 1:50.50 |
The 2026 Ontario Derby is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.
The Ontario Derby is run at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Ontario Derby is contested at 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine's all-weather main track.
The Ontario Derby is a Grade III Thoroughbred stakes race and has held Grade III status since 2012.
The 2026 Ontario Derby carries a $175,000 guaranteed purse, with up to an additional $35,000 available for eligible Ontario-breds.
The Ontario Derby is open to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.
The Ontario Derby is run on Woodbine's all-weather Tapeta main track.
The latest Ontario Derby post positions, jockeys and trainers are listed in the race table above. Odds will be added once Woodbine posts them.
The favorite can change as wagering develops. Morning-line odds are not posted yet, so check the table above for updates.
Borealis Trail won the 2025 Ontario Derby under jockey Jose Luis Campos for trainer Rachel Halden, completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.88.
The race was inaugurated in 1972 as the Colonel R. S. McLaughlin Handicap and was renamed the Ontario Derby in 2003.
You can bet the Ontario Derby online at BUSR. Create and fund an account, select Woodbine and the Ontario Derby, then choose your wager. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Ready to Bet the Ontario Derby?
View the latest Ontario Derby odds and wager on the Grade III all-weather route from Woodbine.
