Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

Standardbred Legends Samuel Johnston And Celias Counsel Join Hall of Fame at Woodbine, Friday, May 24th

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has announced its 2013 Legend inductees.

Legends are people and horses whose accomplishments occurred a number of decades ago. They made unique contributions to horse racing in Canada and the Hall recognizes the special roles they played.

Standardbred Legends

Samuel Johnston a pioneering businessman, contractor and horseman is credited with saving harness racing in Fort Erie, Ontario. In 1898 at the same time Grand Circuit racing was scheduled to come to Canadian soil for the first time, its future was threatened when harness racing was deemed to be a violation of public morals. Johnston’s opposition and his arguments before town council culminated in ensuring the future of horse racing at Fort Erie. Without Mr. Johnson’s efforts, Grand Circuit racing would not have continued and grown to the stature it has today.

Celias Counsel, a foal of 1946, was somewhat of an anomaly as her sire, Chief Counsel, was best known as a producer of pacers. Campaigned by the Honourable William Earl Rowe, she was one of the most prominent trotters in the early1950s, including a career highlight win in the 1952 Maple Leaf Cup Trot. She held a record of 2:07 when most trotters were racing in 2:10 or slower. As a broodmare, she produced 9 foals, including Van Counsel who trotted in 2:03 and made over $131,000. The contributions of Celias Counsel are acknowledged each year with the Celia Counsel Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Thoroughbred Legends

Hidden Treasure was overshadowed in the early part of his exceptional career because he was foaled in 1957, the same year as one of Canada’s greatest thoroughbreds – Victoria Park. But this does not distract from Hidden Treasure’s overall contributions to Canadian racing. He was a multiple stakes winner at age two, three, four and five and an added money winner at age six. Owned and bred by Hall of Fame builder Bill Beasley of Nobleton, ON and trained by HOF trainer John Passero, Hidden Treasure retired with earnings of $187,734, second in Canada at the time to Victoria Park.

Jack Hood celebrated the romance of horse racing unlike any other owner and breeder ever to appear on the horse racing stage in Canada. Although garrulous and eccentric, he was also one of the more astute, and fortunate men to ever study the bloodlines of thoroughbreds. Hood’s legacy grew among those who shared the company of this gregarious gentleman from Stratford, Ontario, a man who became a legend to all following his death in 1984 at the age of 71. Hood’s venture into horse racing began in 1958 with the purchase Round Camera, a yearling filly that proved to be successful as a broodmare. It was however the purchase of Quillopolly that would elevate his status. She produced four foals in eight years. Two were stakes winners – Allquillo, winner of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, and Sharp-Eyed Quillo, who won the Prince of Wales and Quebec Derby. Bonquill and Classy Quillo were the others. Classy Quillo was the dam of No Class who in turn was purchased in 1975 by Sam-Son Farms, and went on to be the grand-dam of Eclipse Award and Triple Crown winner Dance Smartly, the leading money-winning female in Canadian history. No Class is also the dam of four Sovereign Award winners – Sky Classic, Grey Classic, Regal Classic and Classy ‘n Smart, dam of world champion sire Smart Strike and Dance Smartly. No Class’s daughter is also the grand-dam of Plate winners Dancethruthedawn and Scatter the Gold.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame will celebrate the inductions of these deserving legends at a Wine and Cheese reception ceremony scheduled to take place Friday, May 24 at 5:00 pm in the Hall of Fame at Woodbine Racetrack. The reception will also feature the official unveiling of the display boards for the 2012 inductees, as well as the introduction of the 2013 inductees.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a dual hall representing both Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds. Inductees are added annually to build an ever-growing honour roll in the category of Builders, Drivers/Trainers, Jockeys/Trainers, Communicators, Veterans and Legends.

Additional details are available at: www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com .

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Celias Counsel, Samuel Johnston, Woodbine Racetrack

Niatross, Carl Jamieson Among 2013 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Inductees

World Class racing greats Secretariat and Niatross headline the field of 13 new Hall of Fame inductees under new rules that allow international competitors into Canada’s Hall. There will be a total of three horses and three people representing Standardbreds, along with three horses and four people from the Thoroughbred ranks entering the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in August 2013.

The Standardbred Inductees are:

Niatross – Veteran Horse Category
Admirals Express – Male Horse Category
Eternal Camnation – Female Horse Category
Carl Jamieson – Trainer/Driver Category
William Rowe – Builder Category
Doug Harkness – Communicator Category

The Thoroughbred Inductees are:

Secretariat – Veteran Horse Category
Soaring Free – Male Horse Category
Sealy Hill – Female Horse Category
Sid Attard – Jockey/Trainer Category
Phil England – Jockey/Trainer Category
John Sikura Jr. – Builder Category
Bruce Walker – Communicator Category

Niatross won a remarkable 37 of 39 career starts. He was trained and driven by co-owner Clint Galbraith, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. Niatross set 15 world records and earned more than $2 million as a racehorse. Included in his accomplishments were both a race and track record of 1:53.4 in the 1980 Prix d’Été at Montreal’s Blue Bonnets, the fastest Canadian mile at that time. After retiring to stud, Niatross sired winners of over $62 million, including three millionaires. His most famous son, Nihilator earned more than $3 million on the racetrack.

Admirals Express captured the hearts of Canadian racing fans during a career that spanned over a decade. The son of Admirals Galley, known as the ‘Grey Gladiator’, won 86 races in 353 starts, and earned more than $2.1 million. He earned a pair of O’Brien Awards in 2005 when he was named Canada’s Older Pacing Horse of the Year and Horse of the Year. Trained by Mike Hales and driven by Paul MacDonnell, ‘The Admiral’ was owned by Ed Sayfie of Rockford, Michigan and Gary and Laurel Gust of Cedar Springs, Michigan.

Pacing mare Eternal Camnation earned more than $4.1 million, and won 47 of her 101 starts during her extraordinary career. The champion mare won numerous stakes races on both sides of the border dominating her division throughout the majority of her racing career. She was rewarded for her accomplishments by being voted Pacing Mare of the Year in both Canada and the US three times and also received the O’Brien as Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2003. She retired in 2004 to pursue a career as a broodmare. Eternal Camnation is owned by Jeff Miller Stable of Haviland, Ohio.

Carl Jamieson of Rockwood, Ontario has been elected in the Driver/Trainer category. Jamieson, a second generation horseman and a native of Nova Scotia, has established a reputation for selecting and developing young horses. He’s enjoyed considerable success, having trained 950 winners and horses to earnings in excess of $22 million to date in his career. In addition, he achieved driving success in the 1980’s and 90’s with 1300 plus wins. Horses including Santanna Blue Chip and Elegant Killean, a daughter of Run the Table, have achieved success under Jamieson’s tutelage. In 2011, Carl trained two Canadian champions – Up The Credit, Canada’s Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year and Warrawee Needy, Canada’s Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year.

The late William Rowe was involved in many facets of the harness racing industry and will be inducted in the Builders’ Category. He enjoyed success as a breeder, trainer-driver and administrator, but it was as a builder of racetracks and as a racing executive that he made his greatest mark in Canadian racing. Rowe was responsible for the construction of Windsor Raceway, Barrie Raceway and Georgian Downs. The opening of the all-weather facility at Windsor in the fall of 1965, where Rowe served as both General Manager and President, ushered in a new era in the sport, as major metropolitan centres across North America followed Windsor’s lead with year-round harness racing.

The late Doug Harkness will be inducted in the newly created Communicators’ Category. Harkness made unparalleled contributions to the harness racing industry in the Maritimes. He was the founder and editor of Atlantic Post Calls from 1979 – 2010. Doug was also involved in lobbying efforts with the government and was a passionate spokesperson for harness racing on a regional, national and international level. Doug received the City of Charlottetown award for his promotional work in harness racing and also received the President’s Award from the United States Harness Writers Association, the only Canadian journalist to be so honoured.

The seven Thoroughbred representatives in the 2013 class include:

In the Veteran Horse Category, Secretariat, Penny Chenery’s “Big Red” captivated the sports world with his sensational American Triple Crown win in 1973. The excitement continued throughout his race career and crossed the border into Canada later that year where he received a hero’s welcome and concluded his race career with his only race run outside the US, a decisive 6 ½ length win in the 1973 Canadian International Championship Stakes. 2013 marks the 40^th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown exploits where he set three track records that still stand today.

Sam-Son Farm’s homebred Soaring Free was one of the earliest stars by Smart Strike and is being recognized in the Male Horse Category. Under the tutelage of trainer Mark Frostad, the turf specialist won 15 of his 27 starts with lifetime earnings in excess of $2 million. Included on his resume is a win in the 2003 Neartic Stakes, as well as 2004 wins in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes and his second straight Play The King Stakes before achieving his most important career win in the Grade 1 Atto Mile in race record time.

The Female Horse Category inductee is Ontario bred Sealy Hill who was the first to win the Tiara Series (Woodbine Oaks, Bison City Stakes and Wonder Where Stakes) for breeder/owner Eugene Melnyk and trainer Mark Casse. She also finished 2^nd in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Her racing achievements resulted in winnings of $1.75 million dollars, as well as three Sovereign Awards.

Two inductees will be added to the Jockey/Trainer category.

Sid Attard, born in Malta, immigrated to Canada with his family in the 1960’s and began training horses in 1977. He has visited the winners circle over 1700 times in his training career including 60 stake wins. Attard trained horses have earned over $47 million in purse money. In 2001 Sid engineered a perfect season for Numerous Times who beat a world class field in the Gr. 1 Atto Mile and subsequently won a Sovereign award as Canada’s outstanding turf male. He recorded five straight 50+ win seasons from 1994-1998 and another six straight 50+ win seasons from 2003-2008.

The list of 2013 Inductee Phil England pupils include Knob Hill Farm Horses of the Year horses Benburb (1992), Thornfield (1999) and the Rick Kennedy-owned Afleet in 1987. Other stars trained by him include Blushing Katy, One From Heaven, Apelia and Gr. 1 Stakes winner Schossberg. England moved to Canada in 1962 from the UK and worked as an exercise rider before obtaining his trainer’s license in 1966. He won the Sovereign Award as Canada’s top trainer in 1992.

Inducted in the Builder Category is the late John Sikura Jr who emigrated from Czechoslovakia as a teenager in the 1950s, and built Hill ‘N’ Dale Farms into a highly successful breeding and stallion operation. He was the purchaser of the first yearling in history to sell for more than $1 million and twice was leading consignor at Keeneland. Additional honours include being recognized with the status of Kentucky Colonel and in 1994 was awarded the Mint Julep Cup for lifetime contributions to the Ontario Racing Industry.

The first inductee in the Communicator Category representing Thoroughbreds is Bruce Walker, a renowned publicist and four-time Sovereign award winning feature writer (1985, 1991, 2002, and 2009). Bruce is one of the founders of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and his additional accomplishments include Election to the office of President of The Turf Publicists of America in 1972 and subsequently being awarded that organization’s Award of Merit in 1997. He was also a founding committee member of the Avelino Gomez Award.

The Induction Ceremony will be hosted at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Thursday, August 15, 2013.

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Carl Jamieson, Niatross, Secretariat

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Nominations Must Be Submitted By Wed., March 6

Is there a horse or person that you think should be added to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2013? You can have your say b submitting a nomination before March 6.

2013 marks a year of change for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. In an effort to ensure that all horses and people who have made a significant impact on racing in Canada can be honoured by the hall, eligibility criteria have been updated, and two new categories are being introduced.

Now all those, both equine and human, regardless of whether they have Canadian connections, but have either raced in Canada or made a significant contribution to the betterment of racing in Canada can be nominated and in turn elected to the CHRHF. The hall is also expanding the number of categories available for entry into the hall from 5 to 7.

Veteran People will recognize those whose careers and impact on racing took place a minimum of 20 years ago. The Communicator category provides the opportunity to recognize those, either living or deceased, who have told the story of horse racing in Canada, This category will honour broadcasters, announcers, writers, photographers, etc. These two categories will be added on a rotational basis along with the existing Veteran Horses category.

In 2013 both Veteran Horses and Communicators will be honoured as well as the existing categories of Male Horse, Female Horse, Builder, and People – Jockeys/Drivers/Trainers. All nominations for inductees from both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries will be considered by the Nomination Committees as selected by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

For complete eligibility information and nomination process click here http://canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com/?page_id=115 All public nominations are to be sent as a formal letter containing detailed information on the record and merits of each nominee along with the nominator’s contact information. The deadline is 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 6, 2013 and nominations can be mailed, hand delivered, or emailed to:

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Woodbine Racetrack
555 Rexdale Blvd.,
P.O. Box 156 Toronto, ON M9W 5L2

Phone: 416-675-7723/1-800-675-7223
Email: admin@horseracinghalloffame.com

The final list of the 2013 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. For more information on the 2013 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Nominations Process click here http://canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com/?page_id=115

For questions regarding Standardbred Nominations, please contact call Kathy Wade Vlaar 905-858-3060 ext. 207 or Darryl Kaplan at 241. Questions regarding Thoroughbred Nominations should be directed to Tom Cosgrove at, please call 416-675-3993 ext. 2113, or Jim Bannon at ext. 2454.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a not- for- profit organization dedicated to honoring the achievements of horses and people in the great sport of Thoroughbred and Standardbred Racing in Canada.

We invite you to visit the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame located at the West Entrance of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. For information on arranging a personal tour and/or an interview contact the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame by email admin@horseracinghalloffame.com or 416-417-9404 .

(Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Expands Eligibility, Calls For Nominations

The hall is also expanding the number of categories available for entry into the hall from five to seven. Veteran People will recognize those whose careers and impact on racing took place a minimum of 20 years ago. The Communicator category provides the opportunity to recognize those, either living or deceased, who have told the story of horse racing in Canada, This category will honour broadcasters, announcers, writers, photographers, etc. These two categories will be added on a rotational basis along with the existing Veteran Horses category. In 2013 both Veteran Horses and Communicators will be honoured as well as the existing categories of Male Horse, Female Horse, Builder, and People – Jockeys/Drivers/Trainers.

Kathy Wade Vlaar, Chair of the Standardbred Election Committee, and Director of the CHRHF explained the changes as follows: “The Board of Directors felt that our previous eligibility criteria may have excluded horses because of where they were bred and where their owners reside, and horse people because of their citizenship or place of residency. In revising the eligibility criteria, we wanted to ensure that there is an opportunity, when warranted and deserved, that all horses and horse people that have made outstanding contributions to Canadian horse racing are eligible for induction, regardless of where they are from.”

Jim Bannon and Tom Cosgrove, Co-Chairs of the Thoroughbred Nomination and Election Committees applaud the changes, “Canadian Horse Racing will benefit greatly from the Hall’s new and more embracing eligibility initiative which welcomes those horses and people who have significantly enriched the fabric of the sport in our country.”

The new criteria take effect immediately with the 2013 call for public nominations being accepted until Wednesday, March 6, 2013

All nominations for inductees from both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries will be considered by the Nomination Committees as selected by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Complete eligibility information and nomination process information is available on the HOF website.

All public nominations are to be sent as a formal letter containing detailed information on the record and merits of each nominee along with the nominator’s contact information.

The deadline is 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 6, 2013 and nominations can be mailed, hand delivered, or emailed to:

Chair of the Nominating Committee Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame 555 Rexdale Blvd. P.O. Box 156 Toronto, ON M9W 5L2 Email: admin@horseracinghalloffame.com

The final list of the 2013 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.

For more information on the 2013 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Nominations Process, visit the HOF website

For questions regarding Standardbred Nominations, please contact call Kathy Wade Vlaar 905-858-3060 ext. 207 or Darryl Kaplan at 241

For questions regarding Thoroughbred Nominations, please call 416-675-3993 ext. 2113 for Tom Cosgrove or ext. 2454 for Jim Bannon.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a not for profit organization dedicated to honoring the achievements of horses and people in the great sport of Thoroughbred and Standardbred Racing in Canada.

Visitors to the Hall of Fame will enjoy learning about the legendary horses whose names are synonymous with today’s racing champions while discovering the stories of the legends of Canadian horse racing placed among rarely seen memorabilia and historic trophies.

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame Dinner To Feature Jody Jamieson As Auctioneer On August 16

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement at the 2012 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala Dinner, as 3 time O’Brien Driver of the Year winner Jody Jamieson takes to the microphone for the Hall of Fame Live Auction.

Generous donors like Adena Springs, The Royal Horse Show, Paul Reddam and Doug O’Neill, Gustav Schickedanz, and the Woodbine Entertainment Group have beefed up the list of items which will see all proceeds go directly toward helping the Hall of Fame recognize the achievements of those that have built and established the roots of horse racing in Canada.

Live Auction

Halter worn by 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Winner “I’ll Have Another” (donated by Paul Reddam and Doug O’Neill )
- Dinner at the Turf Club Lounge and 2 tickets to the Chicago Black Hawks vs Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Game – Saturday, November 3, 2012 (donated by WEG)
- Breeding seasons to Hall of Fame stallion Langfuhr , sire of 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee Jambalaya (donated by Gustav Schickedanz, Schonfeld Farms)
- A pair of tickets for a Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Game. You will be seated with some of the Toronto Maple Leaf Legends. This package also includes a $200.00 gift certificate for Harbour Sixty Steakhouse (Donated by Jim Bannon and Harbour Sixty Steakhouse)

Silent Auction

A limited edition framed print of Cam Fella by artist Lindsay Sovil; signed by the artist as well as Cam Fella’s owner Norm Clement and trainer Pat Crowe
- Riding Boots signed by Hall of Fame Inductee Jockey Russell Baze
- Plus many more items from sports memorabilia and tickets to equine art and collectibles, there’s a little something for everyone.

Visit the CHRHF website for a complete list of items. www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com

This year’s ceremony, Thursday, August 16^th at the Mississauga Convention Centre, will celebrate the induction of standardbred honourees Astreos, Kadabra, Mystic Mistress, Charles Juravinski and Dave Wall, along with thoroughbred counterparts Arravale, Jambalaya, L’Alezane, Russell Baze and Aubrey Minshall.

In addition we will pay tribute to 2012 Legend honourees Dalyce Blue, Mildred Williams, John Dewhurst, and Patrick MacMurchy.

The reception and silent auction will commence at 5:30 p.m., followed by a four course dinner, live auction and induction ceremonies at 7:00 p.m. Woodbine Entertainment Group Thoroughbred Racing Analyst Jim Bannon will MC the festivities which will pay tribute to the 30th anniversary of the great Cam Fella’s career.

We are also pleased to welcome Equifera Wines as our wine sponsor this year. With a winery built on a former Thoroughbred Farm in the Niagara Wine Region, Equifera is the perfect selection to partner with the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame for this evening of celebration.

Tickets are available for $175 per person or $1,700 for a table sponsorship which includes 8 tickets and a $300 donation to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame by contacting Linda Rainey 416-417-9404 or linda.rainey@horseracinghalloffame.com

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Jody Jamieson

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Dinner Tickets Now Available

Enjoy a night of excitement at the 2012 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Fundraising Dinner as the newest Hall of Fame Members are honoured and celebrated.

The 2012 Induction Ceremony & Fundraising Dinner will take place at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Thursday, August 16, 2012.

This year’s ceremony will celebrate the induction of standardbred inductees Astreos, Kadabra, Mystic Mistress, Charles Juravinski and Dave Wall, along with thoroughbred counterparts Arravale, Jambalaya, L’Alezane, Russell Baze and Aubrey Minshall.

In addition, tribute will be paid to 2012 Legend honourees Dalyce Blue, Mildred Williams, John Dewhurst, and Patrick MacMurchy.

The Hall of Fame welcomes Woodbine Entertainment Group Thoroughbred Racing Analyst Jim Bannon as master of ceremonies on a night which will celebrate the 30th anniversary of pacing legend Cam Fella’s career.

The evening entails a reception and silent auction which will commence at 5:30 p.m., followed by a four course dinner and induction ceremonies at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $175 per person or $1,700 for a table sponsorship which includes a 8 tickets and a $300 donation to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

For more information, including the purchase of tickets, please visit www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com
or contact: Linda Rainey Linda.rainey@horseracinghalloffame.com 416-417-9404

(Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Misssissauga Convention Centre

Online Bidding On Hall of Fame Artwork Closes May 25th–Check It Out!

The bidding in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame online equine art auction is well underway!

Here is your chance to own a unique piece of equine art, and support the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Available for online bidding are:

Item One – “Somebeachsomewhere” by artist Linda Shantz. We are offering a limited edition framed and numbered print (25/50) from the oil painting commissioned on the occasion of Somebeachsomewhere’s induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2010. The print is signed by the artist as well as driver Paul MacDonnell

Item Two – “Northern Dancer” by artist Debbie Goldring. Limited edition framed and numbered print (34/50) signed by the artist. The original head study of Northern Dancer was commissioned by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of his birth – 2011.

Item Three – “Colors of the Hambletonian”. Framed, signed Poster celebrating the first 75 years of the Hambletonian and illustrating the driving colours of the winners. Signed by John Campbell, Stanley Dancer, Jack Moiseyev, Ron Pierce, Ray Remmen, Ron Waples and many more.

Item Four – “John Henry” Bill Shoemaker up! By artist Fred Stone. Limited edition framed, signed and numbered print (558 of 595)

Bids are being accepted until 6:00pm on May 25th. For complete details, please visit www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Colors of the Hambletonian, Online Art Auction, Somebeachsomewhere

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Offering Silent Auction on Artwork Until May 25

During the month of May, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is offering four racing-related Limited Edition pieces of framed art in a silent auction.

Here is your chance to own a unique piece of equine art and also support the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
The artwork pieces are as follows:

Item One – “Somebeachsomewhere” by artist Linda Shantz. We are offering a limited edition framed and numbered print (25/50) from the oil painting commissioned on the occasion of Somebeachsomewhere’s induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2010. The print is signed by the artist as well as driver Paul MacDonnell.

Item Two – “Northern Dancer” by artist Debbie Goldring. Limited edition framed and numbered print (34/50) signed by the artist. The original head study of Northern Dancer was commissioned by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of his birth – 2011.

Item Three – “Colors of the Hambletonian”. Framed, signed Poster celebrating the first 75 years of the Hambletonian and illustrating the driving colours of the winners. Signed by John Campbell, Stanley Dancer, Jack Moiseyev, Ron Pierce, Ray Remmen, Ron Waples and many more.

Item Four – “John Henry” Bill Shoemaker up! By artist Fred Stone. Limited edition framed, signed and numbered print (558 of 595)

Bids being accepted until May 25th. For complete details and online bidding, please visit www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Colors of the Hambletonian, Debbie Goldring, Fred Stone, Linda Shantz, Somebeachsomewhere

Dalyce Blue, Mildred Williams To Be Honoured As Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame “Legends” May 25

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has announced its 2012 Legend inductees.

The Legends section of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame honours the people and horses whose accomplishments and feats occurred a number of decades ago. These people and horses made unique contributions to horse racing in Canada and the Hall of Fame recognizes the special roles they played in the development of Canadian horse racing.

Standardbred Legend Honourees

Dalyce Blue
Dalyce Blue became the first Canadian-bred trotter to record a sub-2:10 mile as a 2-year-old and a 2:05 mile at three. Bred by Madawaska Farms Ltd. of Arnprior, ON, Dalyce Blue was trained and driven by veterinarian-horseman Dr. John S. Findley who co-owned the farm with his father, John H. Findley. In the early years of her career she had to race against older horses and even pacers. As a two year old she won eight of nine starts. In 1959 as a three year old she won 13 of 16 starts and was second in two others. No 3-year old trotter, colt or filly, American or Canadian bred beat her that season. Her defining moment came at Suffolk Downs near Boston where she faced most of the best 3-year-old trotters in the US including World Champion Sara Black, in eh $28,400 Suffolk Downs Trot. At odds of 14-1, Dalyce Blue “Came out of the pack in a corking five-way duel in the last sixteenth” to win going away in 2:04.3h.

She raced until the age of seven, and attained a lifetime mark of 2:03 at six. She retired with earnings of $90,119. As a broodmare, Dalyce Blue produced the $273,000 winner The Black Douglas (2:01.2), stakes winner Crimson Duchess (2, 2:09.4f), a winner of $73,195 and voted Canadian Two-Year-Old Trotter in 1969.

Mildred Williams
Often referred to as “The First Lady of Harness Racing”, Mildred Williams was a true pioneer in the sport. In the days when a female harness driver was a rarity, Mildred Williams was a trailblazer as one of the first women in Canada granted a driving licence.

She went on to fight for the right to drive in pari-mutuel races in the US when in both 1960 and 1964 the USTA denied her a licence. She eventually won the battle, and was granted her US licence in 1968. In 1969 she represented Canada in the “Mondiale des conducteurs feminins” against Italian and American ladies.

In 1973 Mildred Williams was declared to be the winningest woman in recorded harness racing history in the U.S. and Canada with over 400 victories. The Mildred Williams International Women’s Driving Series was established in 2006, and continues each year with races contested by female harness drivers and held throughout North America as a charity event in support of breast cancer.

Williams’ last visit to the races was in 2007 when she joined the women who participated in the Montreal leg of the series, by participating in the winner’s circle presentation. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 92.

Thoroughbred Legend Honourees

Patrick MacMurchy
By the mid-1960s there wasn’t a more respected horseman in the country than Patrick MacMurchy, a Scotsman whose reticent demeanor spoke volumes. Born in 1895 in Port Patrick, his apprenticeship had taken him from Scotland to Canada in 1905 and later to the largest racing stables in Kentucky and New Jersey before he achieved success on the Ontario racing circuit in the years following World War II.

For years he had trained for some of the most influential owners in the business, Col. Sam McLaughlin and his Parkwood Stable, K.R. (Rud) Marshall, president of the Ontario Jockey Club, R.W.R. Cowie and Mrs. J.A. McDougald. In 1964 his training career was winding down, one that had seen him train numerous stakes winners, including Hartney, horse of the year in 1957, and Blue Light, the long-shot Queen’s Plate winner of 1961. There was talk that MacMurchy was considering retirement. But a big, black colt postponed that idea when he and Peter Marshall, son of the late OJC president, took a liking to a regally bred son by Canadian Champ at E.P. Taylor’s pre-priced yearlings sale that carried a tag of $15,000. He would be named Titled Hero. A year later the horse was Canada’s champion juvenile and the odds-on favourite for the upcoming Queen’s Plate after winning the Coronation Futurity, Summer and Grey Stakes, and eight races in 12 starts and more than $100,000.

In 1966 MacMurchy’s notable skills to get the most out of a horse with bad feet was put to the test when Titled Hero was hobbled continually by hoof problems leading up to the 1966 Queen’s Plate. Titled Hero was not only victorious in the Plate, but also in the Plate Trial, the Friar Rock Stakes and earned champion 3-year-old honours.

John Dewhurst
As is often the way in horse racing, jockeys are associated with the animal they achieved headlines on. John Dewhurst and Kingarvie were such a pairing. This rider/thoroughbred combo won almost everything in sight during the mid-1940s.

Parkwood Stable’s Kingarvie was the overwhelming favourite for the 1946 King’s Plate and he won it in a gallop with Dewhurst up. They also won the Plate Trial and a year earlier won the three major races for juveniles – the Coronation Futurity, Cup and Saucer and the Clarendon Stakes. Dewhurst and Kingarvie would also pair up to win the Canadian (International) Championship at Long Branch in 1946.

At age 18 Dewhurst rode his first winner, June 26, 1941, at Hamilton, Ont., breaking his maiden on Rye Grass, a 28-to-1 long shot. A week later he again won with the Archie Rennie-trained gelding. He won three races that season for his contract owner, Art Halliwell. Throughout the 1940s Dewhurst was often among the leading jockeys in the province, competing against future Hall of Fame riders Bobby Watson, Pat Remillard, Chris Rogers, Herb Lindberg and Frank Mann.

As well as Kingarvie, Dewhurst guided numerous outstanding horses into the winner’s circle during his 15-year career. Probably the best was George McCullagh’s Speedy Irish, his mount in the 1949 King’s Plate. The colt was a slight favourite but finished second to E.P. Taylor’s first Plate winner, Epic and Rogers. Dewhurst and Speedy Irish had dominated the racing scene in 1948, winning the Cup and Saucer, Coronation Futurity and Clarendon Stakes and prepping for the Plate with a win in the Plate Trial.

He won the Plate Trial Stakes three times, with Kingarvie, Libertine and Speedy Irish. Some of his other stakes horses were Palermo, Beau Dandy, Grand Pal, Imperator, Hyperhelio and Nephisto. He rode many of his winners for Parkwood Stable and trainer Arthur Brent. Dewhurst had ten Plate rides with his Plate career concluding in 1955, the last year the race was run at Woodbine Park.

Two broken ankles forced his retirement following the 1955 season. It is estimated he won close to 500 races. Dewhurst died in 1972 at age 49.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame will celebrate the inductions of these deserving legends at a Wine and Cheese reception ceremony scheduled to take place Friday, May 25th at 5:00 pm in the Hall of Fame at Woodbine Racetrack. The reception will also feature the official unveiling of the display boards for the 2011 inductees, as well as the introduction of the 2012 inductees.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a dual hall representing both Standardbreds and Throroughbreds. Inductees are added annually to build an ever-growing honour roll in the category of Builders, Drivers/Trainers, Jockeys/Trainers, Veterans and Legends.
Additional details are available at: www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Dalyce Blue, Mildred Williams, Woodbine Racetrack

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Unveils 2012 Honourees

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has announced its 2012 inductees. This year’s honour roll includes three horses and two people representing the Standardbred industry, as well as three horses and two people from the Thoroughbred ranks.

The 2012 Standardbred Inductees are:

Astreos – Male Horse Category

Kadabra – Male Horse Category

Mystic Mistress – Female Horse Category

Dave Wall – Trainer/Driver Category

Charles Juravinski – Builder Category

Astreos, a son of Artsplace, won several stakes events, including the 2000 Little Brown Jug during his million dollar race career and took a record of 1:49.3. In his second career, as a stallion, he has produced winners of over $50 million to date, and many top performers including Zooka, Astronomical, To Helen Back and Voelz Hanover.

As a racehorse, Kadabra enjoyed incredible success, winning 25 of 36 lifetime starts for earnings in excess of $2.1 million. In the years since his entrance to the breeding shed, he has sired the winners of more than $26.5 million including stars Poof Shes Gone and Daylon Magician; and in 2011 he was No. 1 in Canada for his progeny’s all-age earnings of $8,408,950.

Mystic Mistress has established herself as a top broodmare in the sport, producing the winners of more than $3.8 million, including Mystician, the 2010 Metro Pace Champion and a winner of over $1.6 million, and Camystic, a proven sire and a winner of over $779,000 on the track. Mystic Mistress, now owned by Warrawee Farm, received the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association’s award as Broodmare of the Year for 2011.

Dave Wall, 65, of Komoka, Ontario, and a former top campaigner on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit, has driven 7,117 winners and horses to earnings in excess of $59.6 million during his career. He has also dabbled in training, sending 518 winners postward and horses with over $2.4 million in earnings. Two outstanding horses that he drove were pacing filly Odies Fame, a winner of $1.4 million, and Hall of Fame trotter Goodtimes, a winner of more than $2.2 million.

Charles Juravinski, 82, of Dundas, Ontario, was involved in harness racing as a racetrack operator and owner-breeder. With no prior knowledge of racetracks or horse racing, Charles took a chance and turned a farmer’s field into Flamboro Downs, a multi-million dollar half-mile racetrack, which opened in 1975 and soon became one of Canada’s premier racetracks and home to the Confederation Cup. He raced horses and ran the racetrack devotedly for the next 30 years until 2003. He also raced two world champion horses who are also members of the Hall of Fame – the top pacing mare Ellamony, which he also bred, and pacing horse Matts Scooter.

The five Thoroughbred representatives in the Hall of Fame class of 2012 include:

Jambalaya – Male Horse Category

Arravale – Female Horse Category

L’Alezane – Veteran Horse Category

Russell Baze – Jockey/Trainer Category

Aubrey Minshall – Builder Category

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a Not-For-Profit organization founded in 1976. For 20 years this was a Hall of Fame without a “home”. In 1997, the dream of the founders finally became a reality when the Ontario Jockey Club provided a permanent site at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is a dual hall representing both Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds.

Inductees are added annually to build an ever-growing honour roll in the category of Builders, Drivers/Trainers, Jockeys/Trainers and Veterans. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is located by the West Entrance of Woodbine Racetrack.

The Induction Ceremony will be hosted at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Thursday, August 16, 2012.

For more information, including the purchase of tickets to attend the induction ceremony, please contact:

Linda Rainey

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

Linda.rainey@horseracinghalloffame.com

416-417-9404

Filed Under: Featured, Industry News Tagged With: Astreos, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Charles Juravinski, Dave Wall, Kadabra, Mystic Mistress