The Canadian Triple Crown, which debuted in 1959, retains many of the traditional aspects of the international series: it shares the Racing lengths of the various races with the United States Triple Crown, and it is confined to three-year-olds, as was the original English Triple Crown. However, there are numerous distinctions between the Canadian Triple Crown and other Triple Crown series across the globe. The Canadian series is accessible to colts, fillies, and geldings who cannot compete in any other Triple Crown event. Secondly, each race of the Canadian Triple Crown is held on a different surface, putting each runner’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances to the test.
What are the Distances of the Triple Crown Races – The Canadian Triple Crown races are run over the following distances:
- Queen’s Plate: 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
- Prince of Wales Stakes: 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs)
- Breeders’ Stakes: 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs)
The Queen’s Plate, the first race in the Canadian Triple Crown series, marked its 150th anniversary in 2009, making it the oldest thoroughbred horse event in North America. The event takes place in June and is run over 10 furlongs on the Polytrack at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The duration of this race has altered periodically; it has been fixed to its present length since 1956. To safeguard the safety of the runners, the number of stars in the Queen’s Plate has been restricted to 17 since 1995. Izvestia, the 1990 Canadian Triple Crown winner, set the Queen’s Plate track record with a time of 2 minutes and 1.45 seconds.
The Second Leg is The Prince Of Wales Stakes was created in 1929 and ran for 30 years before the Canadian Triple Crown. The event takes place on a dirt track at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario, over 9 ½ Furlongs. The winning three-year-old receives a $500,000 reward. The track’s speed record was set in 1994 when Bruce’s Mills ran one mile and three-sixteenths in one minute and 53.80 seconds; this record has yet to be beaten.
The Breeders’ Stakes, the last leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, has been held since 1889 and is the longest event in the series, 12 Furlongs. It is held on Turf, a surface hitherto disregarded in the series, and the winner receives $500,000. The Breeders’ Crown is the series’ make-or-break race; five candidates have won the first two races, only to meet their equal in the gruelling Breeders’ Crown. The August race is one of the most anticipated events of the Canadian racing season.
Global Triple Crown Racehorse Series
There are Triple Crown series of races for three-year-old thoroughbreds staged worldwide, including one in Canada, founded in 1959. The United States has the most well-known and recognised Triple Crown, while the Canadian version differs from others in that it has the same race lengths as those conducted in America and permits geldings to participate. Many Triple Crown series, notably one in Europe, exclude geldings from competing in crucial flat races. The Canadian Triple Crown is unusual because the races are held on three different surfaces. Because of the distance and track surface variations, only the best and most adaptable runners will win this prestigious race.
The Queen’s Plate is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. It is held at the Woodbine racetrack in Ontario in June and is valued at CAN $ 1 million. The Prince of Wales Stakes, held in July, represents the series’ midpoint. This race is 1 3/16 mile on a dirt track at the Fort Erie Racecourse in Ontario, and it is valued CAN $500 000. The Breeder’s Stakes, held over a mile, is the series’ third and final event. It is the longest race in the Triple Crown. In August, this event is held on a turf course at Woodbine’s E. P. Taylor Course and provides the same prize money as the Prince of Wales Stakes, CAN $500 000. Throughout the series, there have only been seven horses to win the Triple Crown in Canadian history. The winners are given here, along with the year they won and their rider, trainer, and owner.
Queensway was the first horse to win all three legs of the Triple Crown unofficially in 1932. The Canadian Jockey Club, however, did not recognise her as a Triple Crown winner since the Triple Crown title had not yet been created. Given this, only one filly won the Triple Crown, Dance Smartly, in 1991. Several good horses have come near to capturing the Triple Crown, winning the first two legs but losing in the Breeders’ Stakes.
The Hosts of the Canadian Triple Crown
The Fort Erie Race Track, located in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, opened on June 16, 1897. The racetrack is commonly referred to as “the border oval” because of its proximity to the US border. The Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, is its most significant race.
The Fort Erie Jockey Club created the Fort Erie Race Track, which debuted on June 16, 1897. The Cella family, who also owned Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, originally owned it. They sold it to noted Canadian horseman E. P. Taylor on behalf of the Ontario Jockey Club in 1952. Before its purchase, Fort Erie was described as a “shabby” facility with just 14 days of racing each year.
Woodbine Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Woodbine Racetrack, which Woodbine Entertainment Group owns, manages and stages Canada’s most renowned race, the King’s Plate. In 1956, the track debuted with a one-mile oval dirt track and a seven-eighth grass circuit. It has been completely remodelled since 1993 and has had three racetracks since 1994.
A Series for Champions
The Triple Crown is the crowning achievement in Canadian horseracing. The Three Legs are held on various courses, dates, and lengths; it takes a special horse to win all three races. It would not be the apex of the Canadian Horseracing Calendar if it were not tough to win. The Triple Crown is only won by true champions.