The 157th running of the Queen’s Plate was held today at Woodbine Racetrack, bringing together some stellar fields of horses leading up to the $1-million marquee moment, North America’s most historic thoroughbred horse race. Winning in an upset victory this year was SIR DUDLEY DIGGES, owned by racing icons, Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Shipping-in from the U.S. the three-year-old Gio Ponti colt under jockey Julien Leparoux closed late furiously to claim the victory over favoured AMI’S GIZMO.
Won in a time of 2:04.09 for one and a quarter miles, SIR DUDLEY DIGGES won by half a length. Finishing third was ALL ON RED. The winner paid $33.90 to a $2 bet.
Ramsey, who has plans to continue bringing his business north, spoke at a media scrum following the race at Woodbine‘s Press Box, indicating his sights are set on winning the Canadian Triple Crown (Fort Erie‘s Prince of Wales Stakes, followed by Woodbine‘s Breeders’ Stakes). One of his former Queen’s Plate contenders WE MISS ARTIE now is standing in Ontario as a stallion and he has sent some mares up to be bred to him.
In addition, the amazing day of races featured wins by LEXIE LOU (former Horse of the Year and Queen’s Plate victress), DANISH DYNAFORMER (former Queen’s Plate candidate and winner of the Breeders’ Stakes), CONQUEST ENFORCER (originally considered for the Queen’s Plate) and PASSION FOR ACTION (a hard-knocking local sprinter). A filled grandstand and the thunderous roar of the crowd very much is telling that Horse Racing is still alive here in Canada!
Check out some of our highlights of the day including some of the headlining names at the first-ever Queen’s Plate concert including Hedley, The Strumbellas and Matthew Good. We love the colourful fashion, the brilliant fascinators, the amazing food trucks, cocktails and festivity. The Queen’s Plate outdid itself once again and it forever is our highlight of the Summer.
My #QP16 look
Showtime!
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The Paddock Party
Food Trucks!
Food trucks! Food trucks! #QP16
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Buster’s Sea Cove’s Key Lime Pie In a Jar
#RethinkattheRaces
The official cocktail of #RethinkattheRaces, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Lemonade + Soda. #QP16
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#FashionattheRaces with Bri Mott
With Ray Paulick (The Paulick Report) and Yvonne Schwabe
With Ray Paulick (Paulick Report) + Owner/Breeder @Yschwabe. #QP16
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Passion for Action wins the Highlander!
Ryan Campbell, groom of Passion for Action
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With Racing Ambassador Dan Tordjman and his father Max
Conquest Enforcer wins the Charlie Barley
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Team Casse
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Fashionistas
Loving some of the fashion we’re seeing at #QP16. @geekigirl’s fascinator. 👏
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More #QP16 Cuties. Hi @nataliedeane!
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These girls are all sorts of YES! #QP16 Style done right.
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Woodbine’s Dawn Lupul
My hun @WoodbineDawn channeling rock goddess. #QP16
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Jackie Redmond of The Score
Hands down one of the best-dressed today! Gorgeous sports personality #JackieRedmond. #QP16
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Katie Lamb, Toronto Star (Trainer Mark Cassse picked her Fascinator!)
Katie Lamb (@katielamb) with a photobomb by the brilliant Lady Shipman. #QP16
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Alx Feliz performing the Anthem
#AlxFeliz performing the anthem. #QP16
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The Hamilton Tigercats walk the Pink Carpet
So the #HamiltonTigercats showed up! #QP16
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The Social’s Melissa Grelo and The Strumbellas
#TheSocialCTV’s @MelissaGrelo with #TheStrumbellas! #QP16
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Rethink Breast Cancer Ambassador Sarah Regan walks the Pink Carpet
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Hedley walk the Pink Carpet
#Hedley have arrived! Our #QP16 Headliner!!
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With #JacobHoggard of #Hedley. The triple concert starts in an hour! #QP16
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Lexie Lou wins the Dance Smartly
Literally crying before thousands of people. The Queen reigns in the Dance Smartly. #QP16
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Sir Dudley Digges wins the 2016 Queen’s Plate
#SirDudleyDigges wins the #QP16!
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Winning jockey Julien Leparoux cools down in Press Box
Julien Leparoux cools down after his winning ride. #QP16
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With winning owner of Sir Dudley Digges, Ken Ramsey and Trainer Mike Maker
Matthew Good
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Hedley
That’s a wrap!
And that’s a wrap! Time for a breather. #QP16
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Missed the Queen’s Plate? There’s still a long season ahead filled with amazing racing! We’ll see you at Woodbine!
We’d like to thank our official partners Ford Canada for making the Ford Fiesta our official car Canada Day/Queen’s Plate weekend and Hotel Novotel Mississauga Centre for being our official Queen’s Plate hotel!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Nominees for the 2015 JUNO Awards were announced earlier today at Danforth Music Hall. After already what has been a smashing year internationally for Toronto Band MAGIC!, it all comes back full circle as the Quartet lead the way at the 2015 JUNO Awards with five nominations including Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Breakthrough Group of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.
Not far behind with four nominations apiece were Canadian Dance-Pop Queen Kiesza getting nods for Single of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Dance Recording of the Year and Video of the Year thanks to the success of her hit Single, Hideaway. Canadian Icon Leonard Cohen also received four nominations: JUNO Fan Choice, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
Up for International Album of the Year is a star-studded list including One Direction, Sam Smith, Katy Perry, Lorde and Taylor Swift.
The Breakthrough Artist of the Year Category also boasts an eclectic mix of new Talent including massively-popular Shawn Mendes, Glenn Morrison, Jess Moskaluke, Kiesza and Mac DeMarco.
Confirmed to perform thus far at the Ceremony include Hedley, Shawn Mendes, Kiesza and The Arkells. Rush will be receiving the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award.
The 2015 JUNO Awards take place Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.
See the complete list of Nominees here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
It certainly was a star-studded night in Toronto as the 15th annual Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards Show was held at Elgin Theatre. The Ceremony honours Canadians who have made significant contributions in the Arts, Sports, Science and Innovation. The Event was preceded by a Red Carpet which shut-down a section of Yonge Street beforehand.
Honourees this year include:
Bob Ezrin
Terry Fox
Victor Garber
Craig & Marc Kielburger
Oscar Peterson
Christine Sinclair
Alan Thicke
Presenters and Performers also added much Starpower to the Affair including the likes of Mike Myers (just here last week for TIFF ’13 with Documentary Supermensch), Martin Short, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jacob Hoggard (Hedley), David Foster, Joanna Kerns, Alice Cooper and several more. Cooper even performed a Medley of his mega-hit School’s Out for Summer together with Pink Floyd‘s The Wall.
Global Television airs the 2013 Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards Show on Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 8:00 PM EST.
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Canada’s Finest were honoured tonight at Roy Thomson Hall, where the 23rd Annual SOCAN Awards Gala was held. The Gala honours the Country’s most prolific Songwriters, Composers, Lyricists and Music Publishers in the following Genres: Pop/Rock, Dance, Urban, Country, Jazz, Folk/Roots, Classical and Film & Television. Appearing tonight were the likes of Jacob Hoggard (Hedley), Dragonette, Alyssa Reid, Kristina Maria, JRDN, Danny Fernandes, Fefe Dobson, Alyssa Reid and more. CTV‘s Seamus O’Reagan hosted the Event.
Receiving top honours were three v. prolific Canadian Musicians who have gained much respect abroad: deadmau5 (International Achievement Award), Trooper (National Achievement Award) and Bruce Cockburn (Lifetime Achievement Award) – the latter also who was honoured with a fittingly-legendary Tribute by Royal Wood, Serena Ryder and Hawksley Workman. Members of Trooper and Cockburn were present to accept their Awards.
Although unable to attend, prolific names like Michael Bublé, Johnny Reid and K’Naan each received Songwriting Awards for their Hits Hollywood, Let’s Go Higher and The Lazy Song, respectively. On-hand to accept Awards in that same Category were JRDN (Like Magic) and Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace (Lost in You). Dragonette‘s Martina Sorbara was the deserving Winner of the Dance Music Award for her Collaboration with Martin Solveig, Hello.
Learn more about SOCAN here.
(Photo credit: Kara Maclean/Touchwood PR)
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