Some 13 hours before the 164th King’s Plate, grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders, trainers and their assistants are organizing their barns at Woodbine for Sunday morning training. Indeed, those with horses in the 164th King’s Plate today likely made sure the workload was a bit lighter this Sunday morning since post time for the day’s racing card is early and Plate horses will be doted on until the walk to the paddock.
This is the first running of the King’s Plate since 1951. It had been known as the King’s Plate from 1901, after the first 40-plus runnings as the Queen’s Plate, inaugurated in 1860.
The first winner of the King’s Plate, in 1902, was William Hendrie’s LYDDITE, fittingly a filly, since fillies have won five of the last 12 Plates and almost always acquit themselves well.
The last winner of the King’s Plate was Major Factor (photo below with jockey Alf Bavington), owned by E.P. Taylor.
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It will be a hot and steamy day at the track today. The field of 17 will have to keep its cool in front of a raucous crowd.
Two fillies will take a lot of action – ELYSIAN FIELD and WICKENHEISER – while American jockey JAVIER CASTELLANO, who won the Kentucky Derby this year, comes in to ride STANLEY HOUSE, a popular colt who competes for longtime owners – and trainer – John and Diana Russell and Mike DePaulo.
Canadian Thoroughbred‘s full card of race selections at Woodbine for August 20 are here.
ONTARIO RACING ANALYSIS here.
Some resources from FRIDAY SHOW FROM PAULICK REPORT.
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