Canada is not the first nation that comes to most people’s mind when thinking about horse racing but it is a place that boasts a long and rich connection to the sport. Competitive horse racing has a relatively long history in North America dating back over two centuries and it still has a significant presence today. In addition to harness racing, which continues to attract crowds, there are 10 racecourses hosting thoroughbred action in Canada. This, more popular form of racing, will form the basis of our overview of Canadian horse racing.
Whilst horse racing may not be as popular in Canada as it is in the UK or USA, there is still decent coverage to be found online if you know where to look. Many Canadian gambling sites, such as the ones listed on Casivo, feature horse racing alongside their casino games and other sports bets, but you may need to dig around a little to find it.
The Canadian Triple Crown
Three of the most prestigious horse races in Canada are the ones that form the Canadian Triple Crown. Claiming victory in all three (during the same year) is a tricky feat and one that has only been accomplished 12 times in the near 100 years that it has been possible. One interesting element of this Triple Crown is that each event takes place on a different surface (Tapeta, dirt and turf).
The most recent jockey to claim the Triple Crown was Patrick Husbands (2003), who is something of a legend within the Canadian racing scene. He began jockeying in his native Barbados and, when aged just 16, won the prestigious Barbados Gold Cup. Still active in 2024, he has recorded over 3,000 career wins, mainly in Canada, and has claimed the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey on seven occasions.
Anyway, before we digress too much, here are the three events that form this sought-after but often allusive crown…
King’s Plate
Formerly known as the Queen’s Plate, this contest most recently changed its name in 2023 following Queen Elizabeth II’s death and the accession of King Charles III. It is Canada’s oldest thoroughbred race still in existence, having first appeared in 1860 and usually takes place in the summer at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario. Ran on turf, carries a huge $1M purse and is contested by three-year-old, Canadian-bred colts/geldings and fillies, although the latter enjoys a five-pound advantage. This qualification criteria is the same for all three races that form the Triple Crown.
Prince of Wales Stakes
The next instalment of the Canadian Triple Crown is the Prince of Wales Stakes, run at Fort Erie Racetrack. This middle event has a smaller purse than the King’s Plate at $400,000 but is still comfortably one of the country’s richest races. It is the newest of the three events too, inaugurated in 1929 at the now-defunct Thorncliffe Park Raceway. Ran on dirt, it sees horses complete over nine and a half furlongs, although it has been held over several other distances in the past.
Breeders’ Stakes
For any horse able to win the first two races, the last hurdle they must face is the Breeders’ Stakes, held in October at Woodbine. Six Triple Crown contenders have failed this final test, most recently Mighty Heart in 2020. Compared to the other two races, it is a greater test of stamina as it tests horses over a distance of one and a half miles (12 furlongs). The Breeders’ Stakes is well over a century old, having begun in 1889, and shares an equal purse to the Prince of Wales Stakes ($400,000).
Other Major Races
While the Triple Crown events produce many headlines, they are not the only races with a big reputation taking place in Canada. In addition to the three ‘restricted’ class races, Canada, specifically Woodbine, hosts five Grade 1 events (as of 2024). Here is a brief overview of the races, each of which usually takes place in September or October.
Woodbine Mile
Held over a distance of one mile, this event is a relatively new addition to Canada’s elite racing calendar having first appeared in 1988. Despite not being steeped in history, it initially began with a big $750,000 purse which soon increased to $1m, putting it level with the King’s Plate. The event is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series meaning the winner of the event qualifies for the Brredders’ Cup Mile. Several horses have won both races and recent examples include Masters of the Sea (2023) and Modern Games (2022).
Natalma Stakes
Specifically for two-year-old fillies, this is the biggest contest for female horses enjoying their debut racing season. It too is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series with victors of this event enjoying entry to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. So far though, only one Natalma Stakes winner has gone on to win the big event south of the border (Catch a Glimpse, 2015). If you are wondering where the race gets its name from, it is named in honour of Natalma, who was the dam of Nothern Dancer.
Summer Stakes
You know summer is coming to an end when it is time for the Summer Stakes, scheduled for mid-September. It is similar to the Natalma Stakes in that is a one-mile contest open to two-year-olds, but it is open sex. Ran during the same meeting as the Natalma Stakes and Woodbine Mile, it forms part of one of the biggest days on the Canadian racing calendar. Winners of the $400,000 event qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf but the only horse to win both races is Todd Pletcher’s Pluck (2010).
EP Taylor Stakes
Offering a purse of $750,000, the EP Taylor Stakes, named to honour the late Edward Plunket Taylor (founder of the Jockey Club of Canada), often attracts interest from trainers outside of Canada. Regularly well-contested as a result, the 10 furlong event for fillies and mares aged three years or over is one of Woodbine’s leading events. Due to the tough competition, it’s a race horses can only really expect to win once although Kitty Girl did win the event both as a three-year-old and four-year-old in the 1950s.
Canadian International Stakes
Also offering a large $750,000 purse (although down from a high of $2m in 2005), the Canadian International Stakes is another event with global interest. It originally began as a race exclusively for Canadian-bred three-year-olds when founded in 1938 and changed to Canadian-owned a year later. Since 1954 though, it has been open to all horses aged three and up, regardless of their or their owner’s nationality. Thanks to this, it has been won by horses bred from farms in the United States, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. Logistical issues associated with bringing in horses from abroad saw the race cancelled in 2022 and 2024, however.
