Canadian Racing HOF Honors Early Triple Crown Winners

Woodbine Entertainment Group, in conjunction with the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, today announced the grandfathering of five winners of the Triple Crown of Canadian Thoroughbred racing.

Queensway (1932), Archworth (1939), Uttermost (1945), Ace Marine (1955) and Canadian Champ (1956) now join the seven Triple Crown winners of the modern era.

The declaration came at a reception hosted by the Honorable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Friday morning, at Queen's Park.

Canada's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing, launched in 1959, is the Queen's Plate, of which the 155th edition of the race will be run on July 6, 2014 at Woodbine, the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie and the Breeders' Stakes on turf at Woodbine.

New Providence (1959), Canebora (1963), With Approval (1989), Izvestia (1990), Dance Smartly (1991), Peteski (1993) and Wando (2003) all swept the three-race series.

"This is an historic day for Canadian Thoroughbred racing," said Nick Eaves, President and C.E.O. for Woodbine Entertainment Group. "The five new names added to the roll call of Triple Crown winners are giants in the sport. By winning the three races which constitute the Triple Crown, they should be acknowledged as Triple Crown heroes, like their contemporary legends."

Horse racing in the United States went through a similar grandfathering in 1948, the year Citation swept the Triple Crown.

Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946) and Citation were all cited after the Triple Crown term was coined.  Subsequently, Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978) would go on to sweep the three races as well.

The Lieutenant Governor will be the Guest of Honour at the Queen's Plate and present the trophy to the winning owner of the 1 1/4-mile race. It will be his fourth official visit to the event, following appearances in 2009, 2011 and 2012.