Prince of Wales Stakes ? Race Details: |
|
When: |
July |
Track Location: |
Fort Erie Race Track, Ontario |
Race Distance: |
1 3/16 miles |
Race Status: |
Group 1 |
Race Conditions: |
three-year-olds Canadian born |
Weights: |
Scale Weight |
Stakes: |
CAN $500 000 |
Inaugurated: |
1929 |
First run in 1929, the Prince of Wales Stakes is the second jewel in the prestigious Triple Crown series in Canada. Held at the Fort Eerie racetrack at Ontario in July each year, the event is run over a 1 3/16 mile left-handed dirt track by a top-class field of three-year-old Canadian foaled contenders with scale weights all competing for the CAN $500 000 prize money on offer.
The race was installed as the second leg in the Canadian Triple Crown thirty years after its inception in 1959, and that year?s Prince of Wales Stakes winner, New Providence, also became the first Triple Crown victor in Canada after winning the Queen?s Plate the June before and the Breeders? Stakes in August of the same year. Possibly the most celebrated and loved winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes was Dance Smartly in 1991, who also went on to win the Triple Crown, the first filly to do so.
The field is often quite small in the Prince of Wales, Fort Erie?s premier event, with the 2009 race consisting of only six starters. The year before that in 2008 there were only seven horses contesting the race. This means the race is always highly competitive, as the field of runners are usually quite evenly matched so punters really have to keep a close eye on their form in the prep races to help with their selections.
The Prince of Wales Stakes is almost always run by a similar field of entries to the Queen?s Plate, the first race of the Triple Crown. In the past, this earlier event has been a good indication for the Prince of Wales. After the race, many runners will continue their racing campaigns with a run in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Breeders? Stakes at Woodbine.
Prince of Wales Stakes ? Records: |
|
Shortest-Priced Winner: |
Ivestia in 1990 at $2.10 |
Longest-Priced Winner: |
Coryphee in 1987 at $112.80 |
Most Successful Jockey: |
Hugo Dittfach had five successful runs in the Prince of Wales Stakes, winning with Bulpamiru (1960), King Gorm (1962), Canebora (1963), He?s A Smoothie (1966) and Battling (1967). |
Most Successful Trainer: |
Roger Attfield has achieved five victories in the Prince of Wales Stakes with Norcliffe (1976), With Approval (1989), Izvestia (1990), Peteski (1993) and Ablo (2005). |
Prince of Wales Stakes ? Recent Race Results:
Year |
Winner |
Runner-Up |
Third |
Winner’s Time |
| 2009 |
Gallant |
Milwaukee Appeal | Eye of the Leopard | 1:56.74 |
| 2008 |
Harlem Rocker |
East End Tap | Pronger | 1:56.46 |
| 2007 |
Alezzandro |
Jiggs Coz | Daaher | 1:55.04 |
| 2006 |
Shillelagh Slew |
Pipers Thunder | Royal Challenger | 1:55.87 |
| 2005 |
Ablo |
Autumn Snow | Wild Desert | 1:56.90 |
| 2004 |
A Bit O?Gold |
Niigon | His Smoothness | 1:57.69 |
| 2003 |
Wando |
Arco?s Gold | Shoal Water | 1:55.84 |
| 2002 |
Le Cinquieme Essai |
Bravely | Anglian Prince | 1:56.53 |
| 2001 |
Win City |
Dancethruthedawn | Brushing Bully | 1:56.14 |
