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Daniel J. Vella
Daniel J. "Dan" Vella (born November 18, 1955) is a Canadian Champion Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Vella was introduced to thoroughbred horse racing by an uncle who owned horses. After graduating from high school, Vella went to work at a racetrack in his native Toronto. After an apprenticeship he worked as an assistant trainer with Patrick Collins and got his first win in 1985. Following the death of Patrick Collins in 1990, Vella took over as head trainer for the prominent Woodbine-based Knob Hill Stable where he remained until joining the racing operations of Frank Stronach in late 1991. Biography Training for Stronach Stables, between 1993 and 1998 Vella spent a good part of his time competing in the United States but won important races at Woodbine including Canada's most prestigious race in 1994, the Queen's Plate. That year, he was voted the Canadian Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer The Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer is a C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Horse Trainer
A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them submissive behaviors and/or coaching them for events, which may include contests and other riding purposes. The level of education and the yearly salary they can earn for this profession may differ depending on where the person is employed. History Horse domestication by the Botai culture in Kazakhstan dates to about 3500 BC. Written records of horse training as a pursuit has been documented as early as 1350 BC, by Kikkuli, the Hurrian "master horse trainer" of the Hittite Empire. Another source of early recorded history of horse training as a discipline comes from the Greek writer Xenophon, in his treatise On Horsemanship. Writing circa 350 BC, Xenophon addressed starting young horses, selecting older animals, and proper grooming and bridling. He discussed different approache ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plate Trial Stakes
The Plate Trial Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred flat horserace for three-Year-Olds, foaled in Canada run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in early June, the -mile race on dirt is considered one of the most important prep races for Canada's premier horse race, the Queen's Plate.''2018 Woodbine Media Guide'' Inaugurated in 1944 at the Old Woodbine Race Course as a six sprint race, it was moved to the new Woodbine Racetrac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canadian Classic Races
The Canadian Triple Crown (branded as the OLG Canadian Triple Crown for sponsorship reasons) is a series of three Thoroughbred horse races run annually in Canada which is open to three-year-old horses foaled in Canada. Established in 1959, the series is unique in that it shares the same distances as its American counterpart but is contested on three different track surfaces. The first leg, the King's Plate in August, is contested at 1¼ miles on Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, whereas the Prince of Wales Stakes in September is a 1³/16 mile event run on dirt at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. The final leg is the 1½ mile Breeders' Stakes in October, which is run on turf over one full lap of the E. P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine. The Canadian Triple Crown shares another characteristic with its American counterpart – all of the races in both series are open to geldings. This differs from the situation in Europe, where many important flat r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
South Ocean Stakes
The South Ocean Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A race for two-year-old fillies on Tapeta synthetic dirt over a distance of a mile and a sixteen, it offers a purse of $100,000. Part of the Ontario Sire Stakes program, it is restricted to horses sired by a stallion certified as standing in the Province of Ontario. From the first running in 1997 through 2005, the race was contested on natural dirt. In 2006 the synthetic racing surface known as Polytrack was installed and used until 2016 when it was replaced with the current Tapeta synthetic racing surface. Race name The stakes was named for the racemare South Ocean, a multiple stakes winner bred by E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm in Ontario. Bred to super-sire and sire of sires Northern Dancer, South Ocean was the dam of the Champion runner and important sire Storm Bird. Again with Northern Dancer, South Ocean produced Northernette, a Canadian Champion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Play The King Stakes
The Play the King Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade II sprint race, it is open to horses age three and older and is run over a distance of seven furlongs on turf. It currently offers a purse of CAN$200,000. Inaugurated in 1987 as the Toronto Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap, it was competed at a distance of six furlongs on dirt until 1996 when it was shifted to the turf and set at its current distance of seven furlongs. At the same time, the race was renamed in honor of Kinghaven Farms' 1988 Canadian Horse of the Year, Play the King. The race was run in two divisions in 2000. Records Speed record: * 1:19.77 - Just Rushing (2008) (at current distance of 7 furlongs) * 1:09.20 - Play the King (1987) * 1:09.20 - Apelia (1993) Most wins: * 2 - Play the King (1987, 1988) * 2 - King Corrie (1991, 1992) * 2 - Soaring Free (2003, 2004) * 2 - Le Cinquieme Essai (2006, 2007) Most wins by an owner: * 4 - Sa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Star Shoot Stakes
The Star Shoot Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Run in mid April, it is the first stakes race of the Woodbine racing season. An ungraded stakes race contested on dirt over six furlongs, it is open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1956 at Greenwood Raceway, and named for Star Shoot, the sire of Sir Barton, the race was hosted by the Fort Erie Racetrack from 1967 through 1975 before moving to its present location at Woodbine Racetrack in 1976. Since inception it has been contested at various distances: * 6 furlongs : 1956, 1967 to present * 6.5 furlongs : 1957 * 7 furlongs : 1958–1966 The Star Shoot Stakes was run in two divisions in 1961, 1979, 1986, and in 1999. Records Speed record: * 1:10.00 Happy Victory (1972) Most wins by an owner: * 5 – Windfields Farm (1958, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1969) Most wins by a jockey: * 5 – Sandy Hawley (1971, 1972, 1974, 1989, 1996) Most wins by a trainer: * 5 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mazarine Stakes
The Mazarine Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A Grade III race, it is open to two-year-old fillies. Contested over a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs) on Polytrack synthetic dirt, it currently carries a purse of approximately $114,045. Run annually in October, the Mazarine Stakes is a prep race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Inaugurated in 1965 at Greenwood Raceway, in 1980 it was moved to its present location at Woodbine Racetrack. From 1975 through 1979 it was contested at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs). It was run in two divisions in 1979. Records Speed record: * 1:43.15 - Knights Templar (2005) (at current distance of miles) Most wins by an owner: * 4 - Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a Thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms located in Milton, Ontario, Canada and Ocala, Florida. Originating in the 60's by Ernie Samuel, it began as a home for competition hunter/jumper horses. One Sam-Son horse, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Longfellow Stakes
The Longfellow Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run each year in early June at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. A six furlong sprint for either gender aged three and up, the ungraded Longfellow offers a purse of $70,000 and a trophy. The race, inaugurated in 1952, began as an eight furlong event. From 1963 to 1967 it went off at eight and a half furlongs. In 1968 it stretched out to nine furlongs and remained at that distance until 1996. In 1997, it became a six furlong race. The Longfellow is named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Longfellow, one of America's great racehorses as well as one of the great stallions of the 19th century. Records In 2000, Delaware Township set a new stakes record of 1:07.84 while equaling the track record set in 1992 by Gilded Time. Winners since 2000 Earlier winners * 1999 - My Jeffs Mombo * 1998 - Buffalo Dan * 1997 - Basqueian * 1996 - Ops Smile * 1995 - Boyce * 1994 - Winnetou * 1993 - First An ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ontario Matron Stakes
The Ontario Matron Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Held during the third week of July, it is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. Once an ungraded stakes, it is now a Grade III and raced over a distance of miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt, the race currently offers a purse of $115,635 with an addition $50,000 for Ontario bred horses from the Ontario Thoroughbred Improvement Program (T.I.P.). The Ontario Matron Stakes was first run in 1979. Until 2006 it was known as the Ontario Matron Handicap. Records Speed record: * 1:42.70 - La Tia (2014) Most wins: * 2 - La Voyageuse (1979, 1980) * 2 - Spanish Play (1990, 1991) * 2 - Santa Amelia (1997, 1998) * 2 - One For Rose (2004, 2005) Most wins by an owner: * 3 - Tucci Stables (2004, 2005, 2006) Most wins by a jockey: * 6 - Todd Kabel (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003) Most wins by a trainer: * 5 - Roger Attfield (1987, 1992, 1994, 2002, 201 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Canada)
The Princess Elizabeth Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in mid October, the stakes race currently offers a purse of CAN$250,000, the richest race of the year for Canadian-foaled two-year-old fillies. It is contested at a distance of miles on Tapeta synthetic dirt. Inaugurated in 1946 as a six furlong sprint race at Toronto's Greenwood Raceway, the Princess Elizabeth Stakes was named in honor of Britain's future Queen, the then Princess Elizabeth. Since inception it has been raced at three different distances: * 6 furlongs : 1946–1956 at Greenwood Raceway * 7 furlongs : 1957–1958 at Greenwood Raceway and 1959–1960 at Woodbine Racetrack * 8.5 furlongs : 1961 to present at Woodbine Racetrack Records Speed record: * 1:43.48 – Ginger Gold (2001) (at current distance of miles) Most wins by an owner: * 6 – Sam-Son Farm (1976, 1984, 1986, 1990, 2000, 2006) Most wins by a jockey: * 3 – Avelino G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canadian Stakes
The Canadian Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Run in mid September, it is a Grade II event open to fillies and mares, three years of age and older. It is raced on turf over a distance of "about" miles. Known as the Canadian Handicap until 2006, it was inaugurated at the now defunct Greenwood Raceway in 1955 as a mile race on dirt and was open to horses of either sex, aged three and older. In 1964, the event was transferred to Woodbine Racetrack where in 1970 it became a race on the grass for fillies and mares only. In 1996, the race was run on dirt and was split into two divisions in 1982 through 1985 and again in 1989. Records Most wins: * 2 - Classic Stamp (2004, 2005) * 2 - Starship Jubilee (2018, 2019) Most wins by an owner: * 5 - Sam-Son Farm (1989, 1991, 1998, 2014, 2020) Most wins by a jockey: * 5 - Robin Platts (1975, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986) Most wins by a trainer: * 2 - Ted Mann (1965, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toronto Cup Stakes
The Toronto Cup Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually on turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Run in early July, the race is open to three-year-olds and is run over a distance of miles (9 furlongs) on turf. Inaugurated in 1890 as the Toronto Cup Handicap at the Old Woodbine Racetrack, it was raced on dirt and open to older horses until 1935. From inception through 1898 it was raced at miles, then from 1899 to 1934 at miles. There was no race in 1918 and 1919 and was suspended in 1935 then revived in 1953 restricted to three-year-olds and competed at a distance of miles on dirt. Since 1958 the race has been run on the turf with the exception of 1968 when it had to be switched to the main dirt track. In 1987 the turf race was modified to its present miles except for 1994 when it was held at the Fort Erie Racetrack and run at its old -mile distance. The race was run in two divisions in 1983, 1986, and 1999. Records Speed record: * 1:47.00 – Skybound ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |