The Canadian horse racing industry is one of the oldest sports in the country, with a long and proud history of competition and entertainment. Horse racing has been a part of Canadian culture for centuries, and today, Canada boasts some of the most thrilling and popular horse races in the world. Three of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Canada are the Queen’s Plate, the Prince of Wales Stakes, and the Breeders’ Stakes. In this article, we’ll take a look at each of these races, their history, and their importance to the Canadian horse racing industry.
The Queen’s Plate
The Queen’s Plate is the oldest continuously run thoroughbred horse race in North America and the first jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. It was first run in 1860 at the old Carleton Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The race is run at a distance of one-and-a-quarter miles on the turf and is open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses. It is the longest continuously-run race in the Canadian Triple Crown series and the oldest of the three races. The Queen’s Plate is also the richest race in Canada with a purse of $1 million.
History of the Queen’s Plate
The Queen’s Plate was established by Queen Victoria in 1860 as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It has been run every year since then, with the exception of the years 1917-1918 when it was suspended due to World War I. The race was originally run on the old Carleton Racetrack in Toronto but has since moved to Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. The Queen’s Plate is one of the most important races in Canada and is highly anticipated by horse racing fans from around the world.
Notable Winners of the Queen’s Plate
There have been many notable winners of the Queen’s Plate over the years. Some of the most famous winners include Northern Dancer (1964), Secretariat (1973), Alydar (1978), and Smart Strike (1998). Other notable winners include two-time winner Danzig Connection (1987 and 1988) and three-time winner With Approval (1990, 1991, and 1992).
The Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes is the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. It is a Grade 1 stakes race open to three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The race is run at a distance of 1 3/16 miles on the dirt track at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. It has a purse of $500,000 and is one of the most prestigious races in Canada.
History of the Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes was first run in 1929 at the old Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. It was named for the then-Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII. The race has been run every year since then, with the exception of 1945 when it was cancelled due to World War II. The race was moved to the new Fort Erie Race Track in 1997.
Notable Winners of the Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes has been won by some of the most famous horses in Canada. Some of the most notable winners include Northern Dancer (1964), Alydar (1978), Secretariat (1973), and Smart Strike (1998). Other notable winners include With Approval (1991 and 1992), Deputy Minister (1979), and Kingarvie (1957).
The Breeders’ Stakes
The Breeders’ Stakes is the third and final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. It is a Grade 1 stakes race, open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. The race is run at a distance of 1 ½ miles on the turf track at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. It has a purse of $500,000 and is one of the most prestigious races in Canada.
History of the Breeders’ Stakes
The Breeders’ Stakes was first run in 1889 at the old Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. It was named for the then-owner of the racetrack, the Breeders’ Association of Canada. The race has been run every year since then, with the exception of 1945 when it was cancelled due to World War II. The race was moved to the new Woodbine Racetrack in 1997.
Notable Winners of the Breeders’ Stakes
The Breeders’ Stakes has been won by some of the most famous horses in Canada. Some of the most notable winners include Northern Dancer (1964), Alydar (1978), Secretariat (1973), and Smart Strike (1998). Other notable winners include With Approval (1991 and 1992), Deputy Minister (1979), and Kingarvie (1957).
The Canadian Triple Crown
The Canadian Triple Crown is a series of three Grade 1 stakes races for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The races are the Queen’s Plate, the Prince of Wales Stakes, and the Breeders’ Stakes. It is one of the most prestigious and difficult series of horse races to win in the world. The races are run at various tracks in Canada, with the Queen’s Plate being run at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, the Prince of Wales Stakes being run at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario, and the Breeders’ Stakes being run at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.
Notable Triple Crown Winners
Only three horses have ever won the Canadian Triple Crown: Northern Dancer (1964), With Approval (1991), and Izvestia (1993). Northern Dancer is one of the most famous and successful racehorses in history, and his Triple Crown win is considered one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time. With Approval is the only horse to win the Triple Crown twice, having won it in both 1990 and 1991. Izvestia was the last horse to win the Triple Crown, and his victory marked the first time in Canadian horse racing history that a horse had won the Triple Crown in consecutive years.
Conclusion
The Canadian horse racing industry has a long and proud history, and the three big horse races in Canada are part of that history. The Queen’s Plate, the Prince of Wales Stakes, and the Breeders’ Stakes are some of the most prestigious and important races in Canada, and they draw the attention of horse racing fans from around the world. Only three horses have ever won the Canadian Triple Crown, but the races remain as popular and exciting as ever.
References
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, Queen’s Plate, Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/queens-plate
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, Prince of Wales Stakes, Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-of-wales-stakes
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, Breeders’ Stakes, Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/breeders-stakes
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, Canadian Triple Crown, Retrieved from: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-triple-crown