Roger Attfield looks to add to a Remarkable Career
I have been following racing long enough to remember when a son of Buckpasser, named Norcliffe, won the Queen's Plate way back in 1976. The well-bred colt went on to become a multiple champion in Canada, and a very good sire. You will remember his most famous son, Groovy. As good as Norcliffe was, though, it was his young English trainer who really went on to become the biggest star of the team. It was a lifetime ago, but Roger Attfield has still yet to slow down.
Attfield will send out three at Woodbine in Sunday's final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, and in Major Eclipse, Glencairn, and especially Final Copy, the 77-year-old trainer has a wonderful chance to win the Breeders’ Stakes. Of course, winning the prestigious 12-furlong turf race would be nothing new for the Hall of Fame trainer. He's already won it nine times!
[Great Pick 4 and Pick 5 options at Woodbine Racetrack]
Both a steeplechase rider and an international show jumper in his younger years, Attfield has been a dominant force in Canadian racing for more than four decades. A quick glance at their Triple Crown records, comprised of the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales, and Breeders' Stakes, and his name jumps off the page. The record books show that the legendary trainer has won an amazing 22 times in the series, enjoying nine wins in the Breeders' Stakes, eight victories in the Queen's Plate, and five wins in the Prince of Wales.
In fact, there have been only seven horses to sweep Canada's Triple Crown, and three of them were trained by Attfield. He trained one of my favorites, With Approval, to be his first Canadian Triple Crown winner in 1989. The talented and versatile son of Caro was top notch on the dirt, but even better on the turf. I once watched as he broke a world record on the turf at Belmont Park. He was the first of an unbelievable run for Attfield.
The legendary conditioner followed up the sweep by With Approval with two more in the next four years -- Izvestia, in 1990, and Peteski in 1993. Like Norcliffe, all four were rewarded the title of Canadian Horse of the Year.
Along with his amazing records in Canada, Roger Attfield has always been able to come down to win important races in America, as well. After knocking on the door a few times, he finally scored his first Breeders’ Cup victory when Perfect Shirl pulled off the upset in the Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs.
Attfield's other noteworthy wins in the U.S. include the Ohio Derby, Shadwell Turf Mile, Flower Bowl, Elkhorn, Lake George, Glens Falls, Makers Mark Mile, Gotham, Arlington Matron, Molly Pitcher, Carter Handicap, Derby Trial, Yellow Ribbon Invitational, Stymie Handicap, Hialeah Turf Cup, Pan American Handicap, and Wood Memorial.
Not surprisingly, Attfield has been well recognized for his legendary career. He's won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Canadian Trainer a record eight times, and has been inducted into both the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, and the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame, as well as the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Always a threat to win a classic in Canada, I like his chances to win on Sunday. Ten wins in the Breeders' Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, only seems fitting for the gentleman, Roger Attfield. It's been that kind of career.