The inaugural race in 1988 was sponsored by Molson Breweries with a purse of $750,000 and run as the Molson Export Challenge, reflecting the name of the company's flagship beer.
The inaugural race was sponsored by Molson Breweries and run in 1988 as the Molson Export Challenge with a purse of $750,000. The next year it was changed to the Molson Export Mile, reflecting the name of the company's flagship beer.