Canadian Triple Crown

Roger Attfield, 86, a member of both the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the United States National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, is retiring from training after a 54-year career, although he plans to remain involved in the sport as an owner, breeder and consultant. The news was announced via press release Mar. 25 by Woodbine Racetrack. Attfield enjoyed much of his success on the Ontario circuit, where he won the Sovereign for Outstanding Canadian Trainer eight times and conditioned six Canadian Horses of the Year...

The stakes schedule for the 2026 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack, set to kick off on Apr. 18, was released by Woodbine Entertainment Wednesday. Woodbine's 2026 racing season is highlighted by two $1-million classics: the 167th King's Plate Aug. 15, and the GI Woodbine Mile Sept. 12. The full stakes schedule consists of 39 graded stakes, including five Grade I events. "We're very proud of our stakes program at Woodbine and eagerly anticipate a season filled with outstanding competition," said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. "We look forward...

It was an 8-1 upset Tuesday in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie as Runaway Again pushed past the tiring King's Plate winner Mansetti in the final strides to win the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. A debut maiden special weight winner at Woodbine going 1 1/16 miles, Runaway Again endured a rough trip and came home an eased-up 10th in the King's Plate over the Tapeta Aug. 16. With just two prior starts to his name, the Stronach Stables-owned gelding came in as the least...

A single filly, No Time (Not This Time), was named the 7-2 morning-line favorite in a 13-horse field due to line up for the King's Plate Saturday at Woodbine. North America's oldest continually contested race, the Canadian-bred 3-year-olds will go 1 1/4 miles on the main track as the first of three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. To be ridden again by John Velazquez, the daughter of Not This Time last won the Woodbine Oaks for owner Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse--the jockey, owner and trainer who won...

The nominations for the 2025 Canadian Triple Crown, consisting of The King's Plate, Prince of Wales and Breeders' Stakes, were released by Woodbine Entertainment Friday. A total of 88 3-year-olds, all foaled in Canada, have been nominated to this year's Canadian Triple Crown. The 166th running of The King's Plate will launch the Canadian Triple Crown Saturday, Aug. 16 at Woodbine Racetrack. The Prince of Wales, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Fort Erie Race Track, and the Breeders' Stakes, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28 at Woodbine, complete the Triple...

The 166th King's Plate will crown the Canadian racing season at Woodbine, set to go Saturday, Aug. 16, and will top a full stakes schedule, the track announced Monday afternoon. With 39 graded contests--five at the elite level--set for this season, Woodbine will kick off the 2025 Road to the Canadian Triple Crown with the annual running of their Classic Aug. 16, and will then move to Fort Erie Race Track for the Prince of Wales Sept. 9 before concluding in the Breeders' Stakes Sept. 28 at the venue. Of...

Roscar, under a perfectly timed ride from Justin Stein, led home a one-two-three finish for Chiefswood Stables in the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine Sunday. Roscar was vying for the lead with favored Hurricane Clair (Silent Name {Jpn}) into the first turn, but settled just off the pace as the Chiefswood trio lined up in behind the leaders as Thor's Cause (Brody's Cause) took the lead up the hill. Thor's Cause slowed the pace down up front, with Hurricane Clair tugging just to his outside and Roscar raced along the rail...

If you didn't get your fill of stakes action on Saturday, this is the weekend for you. Five more graded stakes, including the 'Win and You're In' GII Miss Grillo Stakes, as well as the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, will take place on Sunday. 'TDN Rising Star' Virgin Colada (More Than Ready) will look to punch her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in a wide-open renewal of the Miss Grillo at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. A flashy come-from-behind debut winner...

Stronach Stables's Vitality (Street Boss), sixth at 38-1 in the King's Plate Stakes Aug. 23, jumped up significantly in his dirt debut to deliver a powerful win in Tuesday's Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Having just broken his maiden two starts back for trainer Harold Ladouceur at Woodbine July 19, the chestnut gelding lined up as a 9-1 shot here. Drawn just outside of the filly Airosa (Uncle Mo), he settled in the second flight of runners past the wire for the first...

Over a track surface turned sloppy by steady afternoon rain at Fort Erie, Velocitor (Mor Spirit) finally got the better of rival Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) to take the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown in the Prince of Wales S. Fourth to the King's Plate S. winner in each of his last two starts, the dark bay gelding was able to turn the tables while drawn two gates to the outside of the 5/2 favorite. Outsprinted to the lead by Paramount Prince, Velocitor was able to tuck into...

On paper, it looks like 8-5 morning line favorite Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) is the horse to beat in Tuesday's $400,000 Prince of Wales S. at Fort Erie, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. He's perfect around two turns and is coming off a front-running victory in the first leg of the series, the King's Plate. And once again, there doesn't appear to be another horse in the field who can keep this front-runner honest early. But this race always comes with a handicapping conundrum. How do you...

A total of 17 sophomores--including Woodbine Oaks heroine Elysian Field (Hard Spun) and U.S.-based Kalik (Collected)-have signed on to contest Sunday's King's Plate, the initial jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. Held at Woodbine's Trackside Clubhouse, Wednesday's King's Plate breakfast was highlighted by the post-position draw, which was co-hosted by Woodbine TV personality Jeff Bratt and Woodbine track announcer Robert Geller. Being run for the 164th time, making it North America's oldest continually run race, the 1 1/4-mile test will be contested as the King's Plate for the first...