by John Siscos, for the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced its lucrative 2010 Standardbred stakes schedule, which includes the 27th edition of the C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk.

The calendar, worth more than C$20 million in stakes finals this year, is again the richest and most attractive on the continent.

The Pepsi North America Cup, WEG’s signature harness race and one of the highest-profile on the continent, is set for Saturday, June 26, at Mohawk. The card will offer more than C$3 million in stakes action as the C$680,000 Fan Hanover Stakes, C$600,000 Elegantimage Stakes and C$400,000 Goodtimes Stakes are also featured.

WEG has two other C$1 million events slated for 2010. The C$1 million Metro Pace is set for Saturday, September 4, and the C$1 million Canadian Trotting Classic will go postward on Saturday, September 18, both at Mohawk.

The country’s oldest harness stakes race, the C$800,000 Canadian Pacing Derby and C$810,000 She’s A Great Lady Stakes will be part of the sensational Saturday, September 4, Metro Pace card on Labor Day weekend, worth more than C$3 million.

The C$515,000 William Wellwood Memorial and C$475,000 Peaceful Way Stakes have been moved to bolster the Saturday, September 18, Canadian Trotting Classic card. The pair was offered on the Sunday card following the CTC last year.

Like the Canadian Pacing Derby, the Maple Leaf Trot also received a purse hike and will be contested for C$820,000 on Saturday, July 24, topping a program that also features the C$375,000 Roses Are Red and C$365,000 Armbro Flight.

“We are most appreciative of the strong support owners and trainers have shown towards our stakes program. There were record nominations to some of the major events last year,” said Bruce Murray, WEG’s Vice-President of Standardbred Racing. “We feel the program provides the most opportunities for quality horses in tandem with the strongest purse structure in harness racing. Additionally, for the smaller series, there are now guaranteed purses for the 2010 finals, which we hope will assist in enhancing these fields.”

The lucrative Fall Four races for 2-year-old pacers and trotters (Governor’s Cup, Three Diamonds, Goldsmith Maid and Valley Victory) will return to Woodbine on Saturday, November 6, with eliminations to be held the weekend prior.

Finally, the pinnacle of the popular Ontario Sires Stakes season will occur at Woodbine on Saturday, November 13, with the eight-race, C$2.4 million OSS Super Final night.

To view the entire 2010 stakes schedule, click here.