 Run in mid July, it is contested over a distance of seven furlongs on Polytrack (dirt from 1997–2006) and currently carries a purse of $96,000 + .Inaugurated in 1997, the race was named in honour of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Deputy Minister, a Canadian-bred colt who earned Canadian Sovereign and American Eclipse awards during his racing career and who became a very influential stallion.He was the Leading sire in North America in 1997 and 1998, and the Leading broodmare sire in North America in 2007.