FORT ERIE, July 14 – The border oval is gearing up for its most prestigious day of the year on Tuesday, July 25, the 82nd running of the Prince of Wales Stakes.
This highly-anticipated event features the finest Canadian-bred 3-year-old horses running one mile and three sixteenths on the dirt at Fort Erie Race Track. The race is the second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown, between the Queen’s Plate and the Breeders’ Stakes. With a $500,000 purse, it is Canada’s richest stakes race run on a dirt surface.
Early nominations have closed with some excellent contenders, including many of the starters from the Queen’s Plate run at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, July 2.
Holy Helena, winner of both the Woodbine Oaks and the Queen’s Plate has been nominated by Stronach Stables.
Also nominated is second-place Queen’s Plate finisher, Tiz a Slam, trained by Roger Attfield and owned by Chiefswood Stable, who has also entered Queen’s Plate starter Aurora Way.
Trainer Mark Casse has entered State of Honor, who competed in both the Queen’s Plate and the Kentucky Derby earlier this season.
Early nominations closed with seven horses. The entries will close on Friday, July 21 at 10:00 a.m., and supplemental nominations for horses not initially entered can be made until this time. The post-position draw will take place at noon on the same day.
“The Prince of Wales Stakes is our signature race at Fort Erie Race Track, and a highly anticipated event in the Niagara Region,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “If you’re new to the sport or a seasoned horseracing enthusiast, we encourage you to join us on July 25 for a truly exciting day of racing.”
Fans can dine from a variety of food trucks that will be onsite that day, and also enjoy local Niagara wines from the Wine Bar, which will be serving selections from Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin. After the races, The Figure Four will keep the party going with a free concert at the trackside Tiki Bar.
First race post time is 4:20 pm. Parking and admission are free for the Prince of Wales Stakes.
For more information, visit forterieracing.com.
Photo of Amis Gizmo, 2016 Prince of Wales champion, by Michael Burns
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