Veitch on racing: Today’s Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Race Track an event fit for royalty

Jul 04, 2010

By: The Saratogian

Neil Campbell said it best in his introduction to “The Plate,” a marvelous work of history by Louis Cauz and Beverly Smith celebrating last year’s 150th anniversary of the Queen’s Plate.

Campbell noted that waves of social, political and technological change come and go, but the great race remains in place each summer for Canadians to enjoy.

Today is the 151st edition of the Canadian classic, worth $1 million at 1¼ miles at Woodbine Race Track in Toronto.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh will be guests of honor. Her Majesty, who also attended in 1959, 1973 and 1997, will make the trophy presentation.

The event’s link to the monarchy goes back to 1859, when the Toronto Turf Club sought help from Queen Victoria in its effort to reinvigorate thoroughbred racing in Ontario.

The Queen agreed to donate a Plate worth Fifty Guineas for a race run annually, and the Queen’s Plate was born in 1860.

It has been run without interruption ever since, making it the second oldest stakes race in North America, and the oldest for 3-year-olds.

The Phoenix Handicap, run at Keeneland in the fall, was first run in 1831 and will be run for the 158th time this year.

The Travers was inaugurated in 1864 and is the oldest stakes race in the United States for 3-year-olds.

It will be run for the 141st time this year.

The legendary Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield is going for his eighth victory in the Queen’s Plate.

He won his first with Norcliffe 1976, and followed with Market Control in 1987, With Approval in 1989, Izvestia in 1990, the brilliant and enigmatic Alydeed in 1992, Peteski in 1993, Regal Discovery in 1995, and Not Bourbon 2008

Attfield will saddle Mobilizer this afternoon.

Sam-Son Farm has three entries in its quest for a sixth victory.

They are Hotep, Dark Cloud Dancer, and Giant’s Tomb, all trained by Mark Frostad.

Hotep is a younger full brother to Eye of the Sphinx, winner of the 150th Queen’s Plate last year.

Dark Cloud Dancer’s mother is Dancethruthedawn, winner of the event in 2001 and herself the daughter of the great Dance Smartly, winner in 1991.

Dancethruthedawn won the Grade 1 Go For Wand at Saratoga in 1992.

Thirteen are entered in this year’s Queen’s Plate.

All carry 126 pounds at 1 ¼ miles except the fillies Roan Innish and Moment of Majesty, who carry 121 pounds.

Roan Innish is coming off a victory in the Woodbine Oaks.

The Queen’s Plate is the opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

It is followed by the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie on July 25, and the Breeders Stakes back at Woodbine on Aug. 15.

The Prince of Wales is at 1 3/16 miles on dirt, while the Breeders Stakes is at 1 ½ miles on turf.

Post time for the Queen’s Plate is scheduled for 5:38 p.m., and it can be seen on the Capital District Off-Track Betting network as well as at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

Michael Veitch of Saratoga Springs writes about horse racing on Wednesday and Sunday in The Saratogian. He may be reached at patelin@nycap.rr.com.

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