Horse Racing in Canada
Horse racing is a major professional sport in Canada. By far the most popular form of the sport is the racing of mounted Thoroughbred horses over flat courses at distances from three-quarters of a mile to two miles. Other main horse races in the country are harness racing, steeplechase racing, and Quarter Horse racing.
In the forty six year history of Canadian Triple Crown, only seven horses have achieved this accolade. The names of those horses are Wando (2003), Peteski (1993), Dance Smartly (1991), Izvestia (1990), Canebora (1963) and New Providence (1959).
The first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown horse racing is Queen’s Plate. This is North America’s oldest thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses. It is run at a distance of 11/4 miles for and is annually held in the month of July at Woodbine Racecourse in Ontario.
Queen’s plate was inaugurated on June 27, 1860 at the Carleton Race Track in Toronto Ontario. The prize of 50 guineas was originally awarded to the winner of the race by none other than the Queen Victoria herself.
Second Leg of the Triple Crown Race is Prince of Wales Stakes. It is held in the month of July at Fort Erie racetrack. It is run at a distance of one mile and three sixteenths on the main track. Mr. E.P. Taylor has the honour to win the first running of the Prince of Wales Stakes. And again after four years one of Mr. Taylors farm’s product Canebora became the champion in Triple Crown Race. However in 1991, Dance Smartly became the first and the only lady to win the Canadian Triple Crown.
The Breeders’ Stake is the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, which is run at 1 and 1/2 mile. This is the final race which is held in the month of August on the E.P. Taylor Turf course. It displays Canada’s Top three year olds. Horses who have won the race since 1959 include Sweetest thing, Free vacation, Pinafore Park, Dance Smartly, Hanging on a start, Bounding away, Mary of Scotland and Song of even. A Bit O’Gold also made history at the race in 2004, when it made Catherine Day Phillips the first woman trainer to win the Breeder’s stakes in its 114 running’s.
If we look at the Horse racing tracks in Canada, the few prominent names are Woodbine, Fort Erie, Assiniboia Downs, Northlands Park, Hastings Park, Windsor raceway and Stampede Park.
Woodbine Race track in Ontario is the host track for Queen’s Plate and Breeder’s Stakes. The distinguished fact about this racecourse is that it is the only racetrack in North America, which stages Thoroughbred and Standardbred Horse racing all year round.
Fort Erie is regarded as one of North America’s most picturesque race track. Its history dates back to 1897 and it is the home of the Prince of Wales Stakes. There have been many thrilling and memorable races run on this track. Other than the horse races, its beauty and glamour has always attracted people towards itself.
Assiniboia Downs is the home of thoroughbred racing, located in Manitoba, Canada. It offers grand races every spring through the fall. The track features Harness and Quarter Horse races also which are held in from the month of May to October.
Northlands Park, a dirt 5/8 mile Horse racing track is in Alberta, Canada. It is home of the major Horse race in Canada the Canadian Derby. At Northlands Park the thoroughbred season runs from the month of June through October. While harness races are run from the month of March to June and then October to December.
Hastings Park has been linked with the Horse racing since 1880. The history of this horse track is little different from others. In the year 1880, the local horsemen formed a Jockey Club and cleared land for a 15 acre track what was then called East Park. Today, Hastings Park has come to the level of all other main race courses in the country.
The controlling authority for the Horse racing in Canada is ‘Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA). This association represents all areas of the horse racing industry. The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association seeks to further promote the horse racing industry as an important part of Ontario's lifestyle, heritage, and agricultural economy. Its goal is to work diligently and unify all stakeholders in the horse racing industry throughout Ontario, Canada.
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