The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to only three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of miles (1.9 km; furlongs). In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the second race in the Canadian Triple Crown series. It follows the August running of the King's Plate and precedes the Breeders' Stakes in October.
The race was inaugurated in 1929 at the now defunct Thorncliffe Park Raceway in today's Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood of central east Toronto.
Historical notes In 1959, the E.P. Taylor colt New Providence emerged as a Triple Crown champion in its first year of existence. In the ensuing years, six more three-year-olds have equaled the feat. In 2014, it was decided to grandfather the five horses who had won the series prior to 1959 as well.
According to the racetrack's website, for fans, the most popular winner of the race was the Canadian and American Hall of Fame filly Dance Smartly who went on to win the 1991 Triple Crown.
In 1995 Barbara J. Minshall became the first woman to train the winner of a Canadian Triple Crown race when the Minshall Farms colt Kiridashi won. To date, no female jockey has won the Prince of Wales Stakes, although Francine Villeneuve and Autumn Snow lost the 2005 running by a nose to Ablo.
Uniquely, the 2003 edition featured the first "father vs. daughter" match up in a Canadian Triple Crown race, when jockeys David Clark and Cory Clark competed against one another. He finished third aboard Shoal Water, while she brought her horse, Sonofawac, home in sixth position.
From 1959 through 1987 the Prince of Wales Stakes was run on turf. Since inception, it has been contested at four different Ontario racetracks and at various distances: miles : 1929–1930 at Thorncliffe Park Raceway, 1957–1958 at Woodbine Racetrack miles : 1932–1942 and 1947–1952 at Thorncliffe Park Raceway, 1944–1945 and 1953–1955 at Old Woodbine Racetrack, 1956 at Woodbine Racetrack miles : 1959–1975 at Fort Erie Racetrack miles : 1976–1987 at Fort Erie Racetrack miles : 1988–present at Fort Erie Racetrack
Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles) 1:53.80 – Bruce's Mill (1994)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Hugo Dittfach (1960, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967)
Most wins by a trainer: 7 – Gordon J. McCann (1951, 1952, 1954, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1967)
Most wins by an owner: 9 – E. P. Taylor and/or Windfields Farm (1951, 1952, 1954, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1967, 1972, 1988)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Military TimeFraser AeblyMark E. CasseGary Barber & St. Elias Stable1:56.022025Runaway Again Ryan MungerSid C. AttardStronach Stables1:55.642024VitalityJose CamposHarold LadouceurStronach Stables1:55.722023VelocitorJustin SteinKevin AttardAl & Bill Ulwelling1:55.242022Duke of LoveJustin SteinJosie CarrollMyRaceHorse Stable1:58.072021HaddassahGary BoulangerKevin AttardAl and Bill Ulwelling1:56.152020Mighty HeartDaisuke FukumotoJosie CarrollLawrence P. Cordes1:55.592019Tone BrokeRicardo Santana Jr. Steve AsmussenL and N Racing1:56.562018Wonder GadotJohn VelazquezMark E. CasseGary Barber 1:58.712017Cool CatomineLuis ContrerasJohn RossJack of Hearts Racing / J.R. Racing Stable Inc.1:55.632016Amis GizmoLuis ContrerasJosie CarrollIvan Dalos1:56.762015Breaking LuckyJames S. McAleneyReade BakerGunpowder Farms1:56.592014Coltimus PrimeEurico Rosa da SilvaJustin J. NixonCabernet Racing Stables1:54.582013UncapturedMiguel MenaMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley1:55.492012Dixie StrikePatrick HusbandsMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley1:57.542011Pender HarbourLuis ContrerasMike De PauloDenny Andrews & Robert Giffin1:55.742010Golden MokaAnthony StephenBrian A. LynchGood Friends Stable1:56.452009GallantCorey FraserMark E. CasseWoodford Racing LLC1:56.742008Harlem RockerEibar CoaTodd PletcherAdena Racing Venture1:56.462007AlezzandroTodd KabelKevin AttardKnob Hill Stable1:55.042006Shillelagh SlewDino LucianiMichael P. DePauloDavid H. T. James1:55.872005AbloGerry OlguinRoger AttfieldMichael & Phyllis Canino1:56.902004A Bit O'GoldJono JonesCatherine Day PhillipsKingfield Racing Stables1:57.692003Wando †Patrick HusbandsMike KeoghGus Schickedanz1:55.842002Le Cinquieme EssaiBrian BochinskiPaul NielsenWilliam A. Scott1:56.532001 Win City Constant Montpellier Robert P. TillerFrank Di Giulio Jr.1:56.142000 Scatter the Gold Todd KabelMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:56.011999 Gandria Constant Montpellier James Cheadle Arosa Farm1:56.201998 Archers Bay Robert Landry Todd Pletcher Melnyk / Bristow1:55.201997 Cryptocloser Willie Martinez Mark Frostad Mack / Sorokolit1:56.001996 Stephanotis Mickey Walls Barbara J. MinshallMinshall Farms1:55.201995 Kiridashi Larry AttardBarbara J. MinshallMinshall Farms1:55.001994 Bruce's Mill Craig PerretMark FrostadEarle I. Mack & partners1:53.801993 Peteski †Dave PennaRoger Attfield Earle I. Mack1:54.401992 Benburb Larry Attard Phil England Knob Hill Stable1:57.401991 Dance Smartly †Pat DayJim DaySam-Son Farm1:56.601990 Izvestia †Don Seymour Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms1:56.401989 With Approval †Don Seymour Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms1:56.801988 Regal Classic Sandy Hawley Jim Day Sam-Son/Windfields2:00.201987 Coryphee Brian Swatuk Sam DiPasquale S. Carnevale2:39.601986 Golden Choice Vincent Bracciale, Jr.Michael Tammaro Sanderson / Belanger2:44.401985 Imperial Choice Irwin Driedger Jim Day Sam-Son Farm2:34.601984 Val Dansant John LeBlanc Gerry BelangerSanderson / Norman2:48.601983 Archdeacon Vincent Bracciale, Jr. John J. Tammaro, Jr.Kinghaven Farms2:32.001982 Runaway Groom Robin PlattsJohn DiMario Albert J. Coppola2:38.401981 Cadet Corps Robin Platts W. GrangerFNR Stable2:34.801980 Allan Blue Joey BelowusGil RowntreeStafford Farms2:34.401979 Mass Rally George HoSang Duke Campbell D. Mann2:33.401978 Overskate Robin PlattsGil RowntreeStafford Farms2:34.401977 Dance In TimeGary StahlbaumFrank H. Merrill, Jr.Viscount Hardinge2:31.801976 NorcliffeJeffrey FellRoger AttfieldNorcliffe Stable2:30.201975 L'EnjoleurSandy HawleyYonnie StarrJean-Louis Lévesque2:32.401974 Rushton's CorsairJames KellyGlen Magnusson Aubrey W. Minshall2:23.401973 Tara RoadSandy HawleyGil RowntreeStafford Farms2:16:801972 PresidialJohn LeBlancRoy JohnsonWindfields Farm2:16.601971 New Pro EscarJames KellyAndrew G. SmithersE. Lieberman2:15.201970 AlmonerSandy HawleyJerry G. LavigneParkview Stable2:19.801969 Sharp-Eyed QuilloHeliodoro GustinesHoratio LuroJ. Hood2:16.601968 RouletabilleRichard GrubbYonnie StarrJean-Louis Lévesque2:18.601967 BattlingHugo DittfachGordon J. McCannWindfields Farm2:21.201966 He's A SmoothieHugo DittfachWarren BeasleyWilliam R. Beasley2:19.001965 Good Old MortSam McCombJerry C. MeyerDane Hill Acres2:22.801964 Canadillis Avelino GomezM. LongViscount Hardinge2:35.001963 Canebora †Hugo DittfachGordon J. McCannWindfields Farm2:30.601962King GormHugo DittfachRichard TownrowLanson Farm2:21.201961 Song of EvenJim FitzsimmonsGordon J. McCannWindfields Farm2:29.001960BulpamiruHugo DittfachRed BarnardShermanor Farm2:19.801959 New Providence †Avelino GomezGordon J. McCannWindfields Farm2:18.001958 White ApacheDon HaleF. RussellFour L's Stable1:52.201957 Our SirdarE. RoyF. CookShermanor Farms1:59.601956 Canadian Champ †David StevensonJohn PasseroWilliam R. Beasley1:46.201955 Ace Marine †George WalkerYonnie StarrLarkin Maloney1:45.201954 Queen's Own B. AlbertGordon J. McCannE. P. Taylor1:46.201953 Chain ReactionNick CombestRichard TownrowMrs. Elodie S. Tomlinson1:44.401952 AcadianJose VinaGordon J. McCannE. P. Taylor1:44.801951 Major FactorAlf BavingtonGordon J. McCannE. P. Taylor1:52.201950 NephistoJohnny DewhurstArthur BrentParkwood Stable1:48.801949 Victory ArchPat RemillardRobert K. HodgsonNorth Downs Farm1:45.601948 Lord FairmondL. KerrHarry Giddings, Jr.Whittier Park Stock Farm1:48.401947 BurboyRobert FisherRobert RushtonBur-fit Stable1:48.201946 no race 1945 Uttermost †Robert B. WatsonCecil HowardHarry C. Hatch1:45.001944 OmpaloRobert B. WatsonCecil HowardHarry C. Hatch1:47.001943 no race 1942 Ten to AceCharles W. SmithHarry Giddings, Jr.Harry Giddings1:50.401941 no race 1940 HoodPat RemillardC. MitchellJ. R. McIntyre1:49.401939 Archworth †Sydney Denny BirleyMark CowellC. George McCullagh1:46.401938 no race 1937 Cease FireCharley CritchfieldM. MaciverH. R. Bain1:47.801936 SamoanFrankie MannJohnny Thorpe Edward Frowde Seagram1:47.201935 no race 1934 no race 1933 Syngo John "Red" PollardJack WhyteR. E. Webster1:47.401932 Queensway †Frankie MannHarry Giddings, Jr.Robert W. R. Cowie1:52.001931 no race 1930 SpearheadEarl SteffenGeorge StrateTedluc Stable1:55.201929 Lion HeartedHenry Little R. Emmett PottsMrs. W. J. Giblin1:54.60
A † designates a Triple Crown winner.
Broadcasting TSN owns broadcast rights to the event. It has carried the race intermittently due to the lack of consistent sponsorship; the race aired on TSN in 2018 through a sponsorship with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.
References
Toronto Star article on the 2009 Prince of Wales Stakes
External links