In a mild upset, CAITLINHERGRTNESS surged past heavy favourite MY BOY PRINCE late to take the 165th running of the $1 million King’s Plate, the race formerly known as the Queen’s Plate. The lone filly in the race was coming into the race off an improving second in July’s Woodbine Oaks against female company. She becomes the 39th filly to win either the King or Queen’s Plate. This proves that you can’t have a King’s Plate without a Queen!

She was a late addition to the race for owners Siena Farm and Winstar Farm, made eligible via the payment of a supplement fee. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez, who guided her Kevin Attard stablemate MOIRA to victory in the same race back in 2022, CAITLINHERGRTNESS certainly is living-up to her name.

The 3/4 length victory was clocked at 2:03.4 for the 1 1/4 mile distance, with MY BOY PRINCE finishing second, and his Mark Casse stablemate MIDNIGHT MASCOT taking third. A $2 bet on her to win rewarded backers with $20.70.

The King’s Plate was the highlight of Friday’s race card at Woodbine Racetrack, an unusual move to place the season’s marquee race on a weekday. The race was to take place Saturday, August 17, 2024, only to be postponed after a torrential downpour which made track conditions unsafe to run what is known as North America’s most historic race.

Other major winners of the day included:

FILO DI ARIANNA taking the Grade II King Edward under Sahin Civaci for Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch and Gary Barber. The talented eight-year-old gelding won the same race back in 2022, continuing to show amazing consistency and resilience for trainer Mark Casse. He is being pointed towards September’s Grade I Woodbine Mile next.

PATCHES O’HOULIAN winning the Bold Venture Stakes a second time. The reigning champion sprinter was late to start his 2024 campaign but has been flawless thus far, doubling-up following a win in the Pink Lloyd Stakes (a race named a horse owned and trained by his connections) late July under Sofia Vives, for owner Frank D. Di Giulio, Jr. and trainer Bob Tiller.

SHIFTY broke her maiden in style on her second try, winning under Sahin Civaci for trainer Mark Casse and owner DJ Stable. The race is seen as a stepping stone to September’s Grade I fixture, the Natalma Stakes.

CAIRO CAPER scoring in the Soaring Free Stakes under Jose Luis Campos. He is trained by Nathan Squires and owned by William B. Thompson. He very much echoes CAIRO CONSORT, champion two-year-old filly of 2022 (also by stallion Cairo Prince), while owned and trained by the same connections as she. He is being pointed to the Grade I Summer Stakes next month.

Some Videos highlighting the King’s Plate ’24:

The second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown takes place September 10, 2024 at Fort Erie Racetrack.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Woodbine Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media today announced they have entered into a multi-year media rights agreement for Canada’s most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race, The King’s Plate. This new media rights partnership will provide fans with an extensive lineup of live premier horse racing from around the world, offering more opportunities to enjoy the sport than ever before.

“We are thrilled to partner with Sportsnet and Citytv to deliver The King’s Plate – one of our country’s longest and most storied sporting traditions – and premier racing from Woodbine and around the world to sports fans across Canada,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “Through this new partnership we see an exciting opportunity to grow our sport and we look forward to working with Sportsnet to deepen sports fans’ connections and engagement with racing.”

As part of the agreement, the 165th Kings Plate on Saturday, August 17 will air on both Sportsnet and Citytv, and stream on Sportsnet+ and Citytv+. The second and third legs of the Canadian Triple Crown – The Prince of Wales Stakes (run at Fort Erie Race Track on Tuesday, September 10) and the Breeders’ Stakes (Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, September 29) – will also air on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

In addition, fans can watch the following races from Woodbine Racetrack on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+: Woodbine Oaks presented by Stella Artois (Saturday, July 20), Greenwood Stakes (Saturday, September 7), Turf Champions Day (Saturday, September 14) which features the newly named Rogers Woodbine Mile, and Turf Finals Day (Saturday, October 5), featuring the Neartic Stakes and bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes. Select international races will also air on Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, Citytv, and Citytv+.

Woodbine today released the latest nomination numbers for The King’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks presented by Stella Artois. We are one step closer to North America’s most historic horse race and Canada’s premier race for three-year-old fillies.

Following the original subscriptions in April, the connections of nominated horses were required to submit an additional payment by June 5, 2024, to remain eligible to either race.

The 165^th King’s Plate, to be contested on Saturday, August 17, had 52 Canadian bred three-year-olds remain eligible, plus one supplement, to bring the total number of nominees to 53.

The Woodbine Oaks, to be run on Saturday, July 20, has 34 Canadian bred three-year-old fillies nominated, plus one supplement, for a total of 35.

To view the full list of King’s Plate nominees, click here.

To view the full list of Woodbine Oaks nominees, click here.

For the latest news and information, visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB and @WoodbineComms on X.

The Stella Artois Terrace overlooking Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack opens for the 2024 season on Saturday, May 18, 2024 with a refreshed menu, featuring the perfect balance of wow factors and nostalgic comfort foods.

Head Chef Timothy Dunnhill joined the Woodbine Culinary team late last year. Chef Tim spent nearly a decade as an Executive Sous Chef at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, where he mastered the art of crafting food for sports fans.

“Food isn’t just an amenity at Woodbine,” Chef Tim says. “It’s part of the whole show.”

The Stella Artois Terrace provides a remarkable view of live racing from a spacious covered outdoor patio located in the centre of the Woodbine grandstand.

“We know our guests on the Stella Terrace really get into the atmosphere and make a day of their visit to the track with friends and family. That’s why we’ve focused on decadent dishes that can be shared.

While updating this menu we looked for local suppliers and considered seasonality and innovation. For the Stella Terrace we specifically thought about what interests people when they’re sitting on a patio with a Stella beer.”

The revised 2024 menu has something for everyone.

Triple Crown Seafood Tower
“When the Seafood tower comes out, It’s one of those wow moments.”

East and west coast oysters, grilled and chilled shrimp, lobster cold rolls, cod ceviche, lager steamed and chilled mussels fill a tiered platter with Stella Artois mignonette, cocktail sauce, lime and chili sauce, grilled lemon.

Stella Fondue
“Fondue is nostalgic. I can remember my parents making it in the mid-70s and now it’s made a comeback.”

Stella Artois beer and cheddar fondue is accompanied by a spread of smashed crispy garlic potatoes, roasted cauliflower, grilled asparagus, roasted portobello mushroom, mini pretzel bites, and gala apples for dipping.

Acadian Po’ Boy
“Po’ Boys are an Eastern Canadian favourite, and we’re keeping them classic.”

Crusted shrimp and lobster with Acadian remoulade, heirloom tomato, and pickled cucumber is served on a brown butter potato roll.

Compressed Watermelon Salad
“All the flavours in this one really pop. It’s just something fresh that’s nice to have on a warm summer day.”

Vodka-compressed watermelon and feta, pickled shallot, sunflower microgreens, and avocado, is tossed with pulsed mint, shallots, mustard, and orange zest.

Parma Stromboli
“This is an old school Italian-style comfort dish.”

Salami, pepperoni, provolone, and mozzarella with sundried tomato pesto and parma tomato sauce is baked in crisp rosemary dough.

Apple Cider BBQ Chicken Thighs
“We use a cooking technique on this chicken thigh called Pollo al Mattone (brick pressing), which allows for the chicken to be cooked to perfection quite efficiently.”

Grilled apple cider barbeque chicken is plated with fingerling potato salad, grilled and maple-glazed carrot and a pomegranate BBQ sauce.

Chef Tim looks forward to serving up these delectable dishes for those who may be new to visiting the track.

“I think our success lies in driving the business for people to come here and experience not just our dining but the whole experience of horse racing. Woodbine is destination dining.”

The Stella Artois Terrace opens for the season on Friday, May 17.

Make your reservations today on Open Table here: https://www.opentable.ca/r/stella-artois-terrace-at-woodbine-racetrack-toronto

Woodbine Racetrack’s 5th annual Derby Day Party presented by Bulleit Bourbon takes place on Saturday, May 4th. Tickets are on sale now.

The first event of the 2024 Thoroughbred season celebrates the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby and features a live stream from Churchill Downs, food, fashion, and live Woodbine racing. Woodbine’s race card will be highlighted by the $135,000 Whimsical Stakes, presented by Bulleit Bourbon (G3).

Woodbine is bringing a piece of the Derby to Toronto. Guests will enjoy a variety of complimentary Southern gourmet food and dessert stations. Tickets also include a Mint Julep, the signature cocktail of the Kentucky Derby, in a complimentary solid copper cup.

The viewing party is set to take place in Woodbine’s Turf Lounge. The Turf Lounge, formerly Favourites, is a newly renovated space on the second floor of the Woodbine grandstand dedicated to hosting events. The space features a panoramic view of the racetrack with three levels of tiered seating and an outdoor balcony.

Hats, fascinators, and Derby-style attire is highly encouraged. There will be a “Best Dressed” contest, photo booth, raffle prizing, and more.

Tickets are $110 per person. Click here to purchase a ticket on Ticketmaster.

Get ready for the Kentucky Derby by signing up for HPIbet, the ultimate horse betting experience. Horse racing is also now available at bet365.

What a year 2023 has been for Canadian racing! For the first time in a while Horse of the Year title in Canada looks a bit of a headscratcher. Why? Because the spotlight shone on several stars this year. Not a bad problem at all!

Woodbine-based mare FEV ROVER won not one but two Grade I races, the E.P. Taylor and the Beverly D. north and south of the border respectively, which in any other year would make her a shoe-in for consideration. Let’s not forget a very impressive third in the Grade I Diana at Saratoga as well. She has kept reigning Horse of the Year MOIRA at bay, only for us to see that champion filly surpass her and run a bang-up third in the Breeders’ Cup against the world’s best after being close-up all year.

Sprinter PATCHES O’HOULIHAN won an incredible six races, each one escalating in difficulty for the same connections who brought us the unforgettable Pink Lloyd. He is showing many reminders of that same brilliance Pink had… and at only three years old. But otherwise the three-year-old male division is far from having one singular leader. TOUCH’N RIDE won both the Breeders’ Stakes and Grade III Ontario Derby through disqualifaction, while PARAMOUNT PRINCE strung together a pair of dazzling efforts this Summer in the nation’s most prestigious affair, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the King’s Plate and its precursor, the Plate Trial.

The three-year-old filly division is led by the tough ELYSIAN FIELD who won the Woodbine Oaks, but a valiant second in both the Queen’s Plate and Breeders’ Stakes against males. Her stablemate SOLO ALBUM also had a strong campaign, winning the Grade III Selene Stakes and then the Ontario Derby against males before being disqualified. She capped it off finishing second against older competition in the Maple Leaf Stakes behind the consistent older filly MILLIE GIRL who is one of the standouts of her own division.

In the two-year-old male division, there is the promising MY BOY PRINCE who has proven himself locally with dominance, and also on a world stage running second in the Grade I Summer Stakes and a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

The older male division also sees several vying for the throne including TYSON, who had a great summer campaign taking the Grade II Seagram Cup and Grade III Dominion Day Stakes, en route to running third in the U.S. in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Champion older filly/mare Sprinter division sees LOYALTY at its summit, winning both the Grade III Hendrie and Grade II Bessarabian Stakes, consistent throughout the whole season and improving further from her sophomore season.

The race for the nation’s top jockey, while competitive, once again goes to KAZUSHI KIMURA with almost $7 million in earnings, though SAHIN CIVACI had a career best season at Woodbine, close behind him. And how about these apprentices? The future is looking bright with new talents Amanda Vandermeersch, Sofia Vives, Rachel Slevinsky, Fraser Aebly and Pietro Moran all having great seasons, making their presences felt.

MARK CASSE and team also continue their domination, winning a whopping $7.6 million in purse money at Woodbine in 2023, almost doubling the earnings of a second Team KEVIN ATTARD, who had a great year also with $3.9 million in earnings.

Let’s look back together at what’s been a highly competitive year in 2023, with highlights from Woodbine and a short visit to Saratoga where we got to see racing’s biggest stars, including Cody’s Wish and White Abarrio!

Wishing you and your loved ones a restful Holiday. While we can’t wait for the 2024 season, a break is in good order!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The wheels are already in motion for the planning of Canada’s premier thoroughbred horse race and the can’t miss social and fashion event of the summer: The King’s Plate.

Woodbine Entertainment today announced the 165th running of The King’s Plate, one of Toronto’s biggest annual sporting events, will take place Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Woodbine Racetrack.

“This year’s King’s Plate was a big success, delivering a record handle, sold-out crowd and really exciting racing,” said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine. “The third weekend in August has been a good spot for attracting a quality field on the track and an energetic crowd off the track.

“Building on our momentum created at this year’s Plate, we are excited to make the event even bigger in 2024 and look forward to welcoming everyone to Woodbine for the 165th King’s Plate on August 17.”

The “handle” is the amount of money wagered by bettors. More than $18.1 million was bet across all 13 races on the King’s Plate card this year.

This year’s race was the first under “The King’s Plate” name in more than 70 years after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September of 2022. Since its inception in 1860, The Plate has been named after the reigning British monarch.

A formal invitation to His Majesty King Charles III to attend the event has been extended to Buckingham Palace.

The King’s Plate is North America’s longest continuously run stakes race and serves as the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. It is open to Canadian bred three-year-old Thoroughbreds and is contested at a distance of a mile and a quarter. The purse is $1 million.

Ticket and event information will be announced in the coming months.

To learn more about The King’s Plate, visit KingsPlate.com.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Time and again, the Honda Accord has proven to be a favourite of mine. It balances sophistication, practicality and performance so beautifully, a perfect pairing for an annual Summer tradition of mine, the Queen’s Plate. With King Charles’ coronation recently, the most historic horse race in North America was re-branded the King’s Plate this year. This marks the first time the race has been run under the name since 1951. The affair is a $1 million race, restricted to three-year-old horses foaled in Canada, but for some it is a celebration of fashion, with guests donning their very best for a fabulous reason to party!

The race was won this year by PARAMOUNT PRINCE, who is co-owned by Michael Langlois and Hollywood giant Gary Barber, who flew in for a very successful day which saw him win another feature race on the card, the Soaring Free Stakes, with GOLD CANARY. Jockey Patrick Husbands piloted to score, defeating stablemate ELYSIAN FIELD, a filly going up against the boys. Like the flashy and speedy Radiant Red Metallic 2023 Honda Accord EX I test drove for the day, Paramount Prince also is what you call “red” in colour, being of chestnut colouring just like Secretariat. In fact, that legend’s nickname was “Big Red”!

Interest in Horse Racing is peaking once again and there’s proof in numbers. Not only did the King’s Plate sell-out completely, wagering also hit record numbers with $18.1 million bet that day alone!

I initially was given the opportunity to test drive the 2023 Honda Accord EX a couple weeks back for a road trip. After experiencing an “emissions system problem” message (below), I had brought it into Formula Honda in Scarborough, who were amazing to give it a look and a system reset and it turned out everything was fine. When experiencing this error, the car will cap at a certain speed with a reduction in power, and it directs you to visit a dealer. This admittedly was concerning but after a check-through by trusted hands, I was assured the car was as good as new! The error message never resurfaced. Giving it a second go, I was thrilled how true to form it is with what I love about Accords. Sleek, fuel effiicient and just all-around a car I would want to drive every day!

Going over specifications, the Accord EX is powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, VTEC turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It operates at 192 @ 6000 rpm horsepower, has idle stop and Eco Assist, which are a better alternative for both the environment and the wallet. Running on Regular Unleaded fuel (also with capless fuelling) it will have you second-guessing if it’s even on because it is so quiet! If you’re looking to save a bit on gas, this is your car with a Highway, City and Combined Fuel Economy of 8.6/6.4/7.3L per 100 km.

Because looks do matter when it comes to cars, the Accord EX comes with small subtle flourishes that elevate it. It has body-coloured door handles, heated power door mirrors (which fold) and a shark fin antenna. The EX is blessed with a one-touch power moonroof including a tilt feature. Proximity Entry makes it super-easy for you and we are all for no more fumbling for keys!

Honda has a way of understanding the passenger experience so well and the EX‘s dual-zone automatic climate control with air-filtration system, gets it just right. While I like it freezing cold, my Mom for example doesn’t, and that’s fine because you can have it both ways with the EX! Everybody wins.

The Driver has much flexibility with with 8-way power adjustment, including 2-way power lumbar support. The front passenger’s seat gets 4-way manual adjustment. There’s an adjustment for everyone’s comfort levels and mobility.

The marriage of phone and car is a sacred union, whether we are navigating Google Maps, streaming Spotify and receiving urgent messages on the EX’s 7″ touchscreen display. Connecting was a cinch with HandsFreeLink™-bilingual Bluetooth® wireless mobile phone interface. The EX is powered by a Bose 8-speaker Audio System, perfect for Audiophiles. Above this, the EX has steering wheel-mounted controls (cruise control, audio, telephone, Driver Information Interface) for ease of navigating while you’re busy driving.

Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines are the new norm, making parking or reversing so easy and eliminating anxieties about this. What was life actually like before cars had cameras?

The EX is packed with Active Safety features including 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Auto high beam; Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®); Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system; Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system; Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); Blind Spot Information (BSI) system; Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system; Traffic Jam Assist; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system; Traffic sign recognition (HS); and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control. All needed for those months we get great and not-so-predictable weather!

Passive Safety also is a focal point. 3-point front seat belts with automatic tensioning system; Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure reducing shock and impact in the event of a collision; Childproof rear door locks i-SRS airbag system (front); Front knee airbags; Rear side airbags; HondaLink™ Assist; Automatic Emergency Response System; Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system; and SmartVent™ side airbags are there to protect you and your loved ones. Also, the EX comes with a Security System and Find My Car/Vehicle Locator features for added piece of mind.

In all, a real gem, reinforcing why exactly test-driving the Accord is always a joy. The 2023 Honda Accord EX starts at $31,000 CAN.

Our King’s Plate experience highlights:

The 2023 Honda Accord EX starts at $31,000 CAN.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

She’s back! The Stella Artois Terrace at Woodbine Racetrack once again is open for reservations. In addition to boasting the best view in the City, the space located on the third floor in the home of the upcoming King’s Plate has amazing food and drink.

Experience Chef Jay‘s curated food and drink menu which is fixated on variety, trends of today and most importantly, taste! For the apps, I highly recommend the Oysters, Fish Tacos, Chicken Wings (for all sorts of spice tolerances) and Calamari. These were a home run. Mains include a diverse range of cuisines including Salads, Pastas, Steak Frites, Ribeye, Ribs, Fish & Chips, Burgers, Ratatouille even and more! Trust me you will not leave hungry. Did we mention there’s dessert too?

The Stella Artois Terrace is perfect for celebrations and milestones if you’re looking to make it unforgettable. And who doesn’t want that?

But best of all, to go with this world-class experience, you also get the best seats in the house to enjoy some world-class Horse Racing as well, as the 2023 meet at Woodbine Racetrack is well underway. A seat on the patio oversees the top turf course in North America! Book your reservations now here.

A reel of highlights of the best day ever:

Get your tickets now for the 2023 King’s Plate! This is the 164th running of the race, previously known as the Queen’s Plate.

It’s hard to believe another racing season at Woodbine Racetrack has concluded and we’re so thrilled to have been there start to finish. While I admit it gets a little tougher as the years pass and I get a bit older, what always brings me back is the stories, the lineage and relationships. Sometimes along the way I get a little reward for my $2 investments of a bet!

2022 was a standout year for horses based at Woodbine on a world stage. We got to see Hall of Fame Trainer Roger Attfield send-out his two top charges LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE and SHIRL’S SPEIGHT to top three placings at the Breeders’ Cup in November against the world’s best. We also saw our Queen’s Plate heroine MOIRA also made us proud finishing in the thick of things, not to mention locally-based CAIRO CONSORT finishing well also before being sold and taken under the wings of top Trainer Todd Pletcher.

Woodbine truly is proving its worth on an international stage, hosting Breeders’ Cup Win-and-You’re-In races. Time and again, we’ve shown the world that we not only are a stepping stone to the best. Some of the best in the world in fact are based right at home in Toronto.

A huge congratulations to our leading Trainer Mark Casse and Jockey Kazushi Kimura, once again taking year-end title honours! Kimura despite an absence due to injury, still made it back to reclaim his title which is super-impressive.

It was such a joy seeing fans back in full capacity this year with Covid restictions having been lifted. And every week I pop by, I marvel at how quickly the construction is coming along in the new Casino/Hotel portion of the venue. We welcome a new era soon!

In carrying-on my annual tradition, here’s my 2022 A Year in Horses Review, set to Harry Styles’ “As It Was”. All moments here lensed by yours truly. What a year!

April 22, 2023 will mark the start of a new racing season at Woodbine and I can’t wait.

But first, a well-deserved rest for all!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Mr. Will & beanie