Fort Erie Race Track’s border oval is gearing up for its most prestigious day of the year on July 25th, the 82nd running of the Prince of Wales Stakes.
This highly-anticipated event features the finest Canadian-bred three-year-old horses running one mile and three sixteenths on the dirt. The race is the second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown, between the Queen’s Plate and the Breeders’ Stakes. With a $500,000 purse, it is Canada’s richest stakes race run on a dirt surface.
Early nominations have closed with some excellent contenders, including many of the starters from the Queen’s Plate run at Woodbine Racetrack on July 2nd. These include:
AURORA WAY
dk b/.g.3 by Giant’s Causeway(Storm Cat) – Aurora Lights(Pulpit)
Owner: Chiefswood Stable; Trainer: Stuart C. Simon
JUROJIN
b.g.3 by Giant Gizmo(Giant’s Causeway) – Copelan County(Gibson County)
Owner: Sandra Bird and Sarah Ladoucer (Minor); Trainer: Harold Ladouceur
MEGAGRAY
gr/ro.c.3 by Langfuhr(Danzig) – Megavista(Medaglia d’Oro)
Owner: Gustav Schickedanz; Trainer: Michael Keogh
STATE OF HONOR
b.c.3 by To Honor and Serve(Bernardini) – State Cup(Elusive Quality)
Owner: Conrad Farms; Trainer: Mark E. Casse
TIZ A SLAM
b.c.3 by Tiznow(Cee’s Tizzy) – Flaming Rose(Grand Slam)
Owner: Chiefswood Stable; Trainer: Roger L. Attfield
WOODBRIDGE
b.g.3 by Langfuhr(Danzig) – Wood Fern(Woodman)
Owner: G. Schickedanz and D. Howard; Trainer: Michael Keogh
There likely will not be a Triple Crown run this year, as Holy Helena, winner of both the Woodbine Oaks and the Queen’s Plate, will likely skip this race, and run in the $500,000 Alabama Stakes in Saratoga, NY on August 19th.
The entries will close on Friday, July 21 stat 10:00 a.m., and supplemental nominations for horses not initially entered can be made until this time. The post-position draw will take place at noon on the same day.
“The Prince of Wales Stakes is our signature race at Fort Erie Race Track, and a highly anticipated event in the Niagara Region,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “If you’re new to the sport or a seasoned horseracing enthusiast, we encourage you to join us on July 25 for a truly exciting day of racing.”
Fans can dine from a variety of food trucks that will be onsite that day, and also enjoy local Niagara wines from the Wine Bar, which will be serving selections from Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin. After the races, The Figure Four will keep the party going with a free concert at the trackside Tiki Bar.
First race post time is 4:20 p.m. Parking and admission are free for the Prince of Wales Stakes.
For more information, visit forterieracing.com.
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