Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson (pictured with trainer Ian Black) became the first woman rider in 148 years to win Canada’s most famous horse race, the $1 million Queen’s Plate, when she steered 15 to 1 longshot Mike Fox to victory Sunday, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.
Last year, Josie Carroll became the first female to train a Queen’s Plate winner, when Edenwold emerged victorious. On June 9, Rags to Riches became the first filly in over 100 years to win the famed Belmont Stakes in New York. But on June 24, it was 25-year-old Wilson’s turn to make history.
Last year, she rode in the Queen’s Plate for the first time, finishing 12th aboard Bridgecut. But she won back-to-back Sovereign Awards in 2005 and 2006 as Canada’s top apprentice, as well as a 2005 Eclipse Award for North America honors.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” said Ian Black, in just his second year as a trainer, after being farm manager for Kinghaven Farms, home of five former Queen’s Plate champions. “I’m just very honoured to be part of Emma’s great day.”
It was the biggest payday yet for Mike Fox, as he took home $600,000 for the win, his fourth victory in eight career starts. After dropping back behind the leaders in early in the stretch, the Morgan Firestone-owned colt got his second wind and nailed pacesetter Alezzandro in the closing strides to post a half-length victory in 2:05.45 for the mile and one-quarter classic.
The Queen’s Plate, inaugurated in 1860, during the reign of Queen Victoria, is North America’s oldest continuously run stakes race and the first leg of the Triple Crown for Canadian-foaled three-year-olds. Next up is the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on July 15, at 1 1/16 miles; with the 1 1/2-mile turf Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine, on August 5, as the third and final leg.
Woodbine is the only racetrack in North America capable of conducting Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing on the same day. It has a 7/8-mile harness racing surface; a one-mile dirt track; and, encircling both dirt tracks, a 1 1/2-mile turf course, that many consider the best in North America. The Grade I Canadian International, run in the fall on Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course, carries a $1.5 million purse and is a part of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship.
Hall of Fame rider Ron Turcotte, who rode Secretariat for his American Triple Crown victories, got his start at Woodbine, and Secretariat made the last start of his career at the Canadian track.