Wonder what HRH the Queen thinks of the royal Canadian race, the Queen’s Plate being on the possible chopping block along with the greatest sport in the world? Hmmmm
Well, there is plenty of drama surrounding this year’s Plate (see stories below) but some interesting horse and people stories too.
WESTERN CANADA is well represented in CANADA’S RACE.. STRAIT OF DOVER is B C Bred, BC owned, ridden and MACHO WHISKEY has Alberta ties, owned by Dick Bonnycastle
SAM-SON FARMS does not have a Plate runner but bred IRISH MISSION and WASHINGTON DASH and stood the sire of ULTIMATE DESTINY…
AMERICAN OWNERS are plentiful.. and there are 2 fillies in the field
| Post | Horse |
Owner |
Trainer |
Jockey |
M/L Odds |
| 1 | River Rush | Stronach Stables | Reade Baker | Jim McAleney | 4-1 |
| 2 | Peyton | Windhaven | Mike Doyle | Julien Leparoux | 20-1 |
| 3 | Macho Whiskey | Harlequin | Reade Baker | Emma-Jayne Wilson | 15-1 |
| 4 | Strait of Dover | Canyon Farms | Dan Vella | Justin Stein | 3-1 |
| 5 | Classic Bryce | Bill Sorokolit | Darwin Banach | Todd Kabel | 12-1 |
| 6 | Wilcox | Melnyk Racing Stables Inc. | Josie Carroll | Tyler Pizarro | 20-1 |
| 7 | Golden Ridge | Melnyk Racing Stables Inc. | Mark Casse | Luis Contreras | 6-1 |
| 8 | Ultimate Destiny | Brenda Selwyn-Waxman | Mike Keogh | Steven Bahen | 20-1 |
| 9 | Colleen’s Sailor | Terra Di Sienna Stables | Roger Attfield | Corey Nakatani | 15-1 |
| 10 | Dixie Strike | John Oxley | Mark Casse | Patrick Husbands | 8-1 |
| 11 | Making Amends | Quintessential Racing Fla., et al | Mark Casse | Eurico Rosa da Silva | 20-1 |
| 12 | Big Creek | Green Hills Farm Inc. | Todd Pletcher | Ramon Dominguez | 10-1 |
| 13 | Washington Dash | Silverton Hill LLC | Darrin Miller | Rajiv Maragh | 50-1 |
| 14 | Irish Mission | Robert Evans | Mark Frostad | Alex Solis | 10-1 |
Ultimate in fun – The Waxman family – Warren and Brenda-Selwyn Waxman hope that the ontario sired ULTIMATE DESTINY sneaks into contention in the Plate Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
CANADIAN PRESS REPORT
Future of historic Queen’s Plate race uncertain
TORONTO — The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, Jun. 21 2012, 2:14 PM EDT
It’s one of Canada’s oldest and most storied sporting events that has attracted British royalty for nearly 75 years.
But the future of the Queen’s Plate thoroughbred race is being questioned after the president and chief operating officer of Woodbine Entertainment Group said Sunday’s race could be the last if the Ontario government doesn’t change its plan to scrap a slot machine revenue-sharing program at provincial tracks.
“As a result of the government’s current position, premier race events such as the Queen’s Plate as well as day-to-day horse racing are in jeopardy,” Nick Eaves said at Thursday’s post-position draw. “It shouldn’t be interpreted as a threat. It should be interpreted as a realistic outcome.”
Earlier this year, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced he was axing a revenue-sharing agreement with racetracks that began 14 years ago and gives them a cut of the slot profits. That amounts to $345 million annually and is split between track operators and horse owners and breeders.
McGuinty said the revenue-sharing program would be cancelled by March 13, 2013.
more PLATE FEATURES
READE BAKER, 2 starters!
On the wall of trainer Reade Baker’s office at Woodbine racetrack is a small, framed, black and white picture of himself, as a little boy, with his arms wrapped around a Shetland pony.
“Lady” is the reason why, says Baker, that he is where he is today as one of Canada’s top thoroughbred conditioners and set to start two contenders in Sunday’s Queen’s Plate Stakes at Woodbine.
The Plate, the longest, continually run sports event in the country, has eluded Baker, 65, after 10 previous attempts although he came close in 2005 with the filly Gold Strike who was third.
This year’s starters, Stronach Stables’ River Rush, the Plate Trial winner, and Macho Whiskey, owned by Harlequin Romance founder Dick Bonnycastle, give Baker his best chance to take the $1 million race.
“It would be nice to win it,” said Baker, well known for not only his introverted personality but his sharp and strong opinions
DAVE PERKINS, THE STAR
38 comments from the public already logged in…
http://www.thestar.com/sports/horseracing/article/1214838–queen-s-plate-in-jeopardy-after-this-year-woodbine-racetrack-head-says
TORONTO SUN
When Nick Eaves spoke Thursday, you couldn’t help but look at his audience.
A jubilant celebration, the drawing of post positions for the 153rd Queen’s Plate, turned into a factory floor where the workers were being told that the company shutdown was imminent and their services would eventually no longer be needed.
It affects Eaves and those on the corporate floor. It affects the local racing fans who support the game. Most importantly, it is a shock to the system of the track workers and the many, many horsemen who work every day both in front of the camera and behind the scenes to put the show on.
The jockeys are the star athletes of this game. And like any other profession, the younger talents in the jockeys’ room may try to find another track where they can be competitve in the morning, for the mounts they want in the afternoon or evening.
For guys such as Jim McAleney, that option becomes more difficult.
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/21/jockey-fears-uncertain-future
STRAIT OF DOVER’S STORY
Could he become the first British Columbia bred to win the Plate?
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Tale+contender/6823986/story.html
