The Fort Erie Race Track is gearing up for its most prestigious day of the year, the 81st running of the Prince of Wales Stakes on Tuesday, July 26. The race is the second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown, and with a $500,000 purse it is Canada’s richest stakes race run on a dirt surface.
The race features the finest Canadian-bred 3-year-old horses, running 1 3/16 miles on the dirt track. Early nominations have closed with some excellent contenders, including the top three finishers from the Queen’s Plate – Sir Dudley Digges owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, Amis Gizmo owned by Ivan Dalos, and All On Red owned by JMJ Racing Stables LLC.
Michael Maker, trainer of the Queen’s Plate Winner Sir Dudley Digges said they’re looking forward to running in all three Triple Crown stakes races. “Sir Dudley Digges has been training and all is well with the horse. We’re looking forward to this next leg of the Triple Crown.”
Also nominated this year is Battery, owned by Harrell Ventures, LLC and trained by Todd A. Pletcher, the current leading money-winning trainer in North America. Pletcher has trained two previous Prince of Wales winners, including Harlem Rocker in 2008, and Archer’s Bay in 1998.
“The Prince of Wales Stakes is a longstanding tradition at the Fort Erie Race Track that the local community and visitors from afar look forward to every year,” said Jim Thibert, chief executive officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “This year’s event is sure to be another entertaining day of Canadian thoroughbred racing, and we welcome everyone to attend and take part in the excitement.”
In addition to the Prince of Wales Stakes, the Rainbow Connection Stakes will also run on Tuesday, July 26. The five-furlong turf race for Ontario sired horses can run with a field of up to ten horses, and has a purse of $75,000. Nominations for the stakes closed on July 7 with 22 nominees.
The Prince of Wales will run on Tuesday, July 26 at approximately 7:40 p.m. and will once again be covered on live television by TSN. First race post time is 4:15 p.m.
After the races, fans can enjoy the free Tiki Bar concert featuring the Elton Lammie Band.
Parking and admission at the Fort Erie Race Track are always free, including admission to the Prince of Wales Stakes.
For more information, visit forterieracing.com.
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