Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame releases 2010 nominees

Fifteen nominees in Thoroughbred racing are on the ballot for induction into

the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, it was announced Monday. The gala

induction ceremonies will be held August 19 at the Mississauga Convention Centre

on Derry Road.

In the Jockeys/Trainers category, the nominees are Mark Frostad, who has

saddled four Queen's Plate winners; Sovereign- and Eclipse-winning jockey Mickey

Walls; and Frank Barroby, the multi-talented ex-jockey and now B.C. Hall of Fame

trainer.

Tammy Samuel Balaz, Mel Lawson and Aubrey Minshall head the list of Builders

nominated.

Thoroughbreds nominated in the Male category include two stunning upset

winners of the Belmont S. (G1), TOUCH GOLD (Deputy Minister) and VICTORY GALLOP

(Cryptoclearance), along with FORMAL GOLD (Black Tie Affair [Ire]), who counted

three victories over U.S. Horse of the Year and three-time Eclipse champion Skip

Away.

Thoroughbreds nominated in the Female category are *LADY ANGELA (Hyperion),

SQUARE ANGEL (Quadrangle) and APELIA (Cool Victor).

Lady Angela is the dam of Nearctic, whose son, the incomparable Northern

Dancer, helped put Canada on the map as a breeding power.

Square Angel, a champion on the racetrack, became the dam and granddam of

fillies who gained fame with their exploits, fillies such as Kamar, Stellarette

and Love Smitten, and their offspring, Key to the Moon, Gorgeous, Swain, Cuddles

and Seaside Attraction.

The brilliant sprinter Apelia also had success as a broodmare, producing

champion Saoirse.

Thoroughbreds nominated in the Veterans category are LOUDRANGLE (Quadrangle),

PLAY THE KING (King of Spain) and VICTORIAN ERA (Victoria Park).

Loudrangle was one of the foundation broodmares for Sam-Son Farms with her

stakes winners Ruling Angel, Tiffany Tam, Tilt My Halo, No Louder, Slew of

Angels and Dancing with Wings.

The other two nominees were both former Canadian Horses of the Year -- the

great sprinter Play the King was accorded that title in 1988, and Victorian Era,

an 18-time stakes winner, took top honors in 1966.

Fourteen individuals are nominated on the Standardbred side. Trotter Wesgate

Crown, the late millionaire pacer Astreos, and Mister Big, the second richest

pacer in history with more than $4 million in earnings, are nominated in the

Male Horse category. The outstanding broodmare Classic Wish, dam of Bettors

Delight and No Pan Intended, is nominated in the Female Horse category along

with two outstanding performers on the racetrack, Burning Point, a winner of

more than $3 million, and Ontario-sired pacer Invitro, winner of more than $2

million.

Driver Wally Hennessey, a winner of $51 million, trainer Robert McIntosh, a

four-time O'Brien winner as Canada's Trainer of the Year, and Dave Wall, who has

driven horses who have earned more than $58 million, are the nominees in the

Trainer/Driver category.

Owner/breeder Robert Burgess, Dr. Ted Clarke, general manager of Grand River

Raceway, and owner/breeder R. Peter Heffering are nominated in the Builders

category.

Rounding out the Standardbred nominees are veterans A Worthy Lad, who was

undefeated in 30 career races, and Rumpus Hanover, winner of 34 races and more

than $721,000.  Both horses were successful sires.

The two 20-person Election Committees will declare the winners in the

respective categories and the 2010 inductees for the Hall of Fame on May 18.