Nominees announced for Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

May 07, 2008

A total of 22 nominees have been put forward by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame's Thoroughbred and Standardbred nominating committees including four Standardbred horses, six Thoroughbred horses, and 12 people.

On the Standardbred side, nominated in the female horse category were trotting star Peaceful Way, a four-time O'Brien Award winner and Canada's richest trotter in history with over $3.2 million to her credit, along with outstanding broodmare Rich N Elegant, the dam of winners of over $8.6 million, including such standouts as Rock N Roll Hanover, Red River Hanover and Royalflush Hanover.

Pacing sensation Real Desire, Canada's Horse of the Year and North America's Horse of the Year in 2002 with over $3.2 million in purse earnings and the sire of Tell All, Canada's co-horse of the Year in 2007, was nominated in the male horse category. Also nominated was the exceptional trotter Wesgate Crown, a winner of $2.5 million and a two-time Breeders Crown champion who has sired the winners of almost $12.6 million.

Three trainer-drivers are nominated in the people category.

Keith Clark, 47 of De Winton, Alberta, one of the most recognizable names in Western Canadian harness racing; Phil Pinkney, 70 of Nova Scotia, regarded as one of the best developers of young horses in the Atlantic region; and Dave Wall, 52, of Komoka, ON, a veteran campaigner on the WEG and Ontario circuits are nominated for induction into the Hall of Fame.

Clark has driven horses to in excess of $26 million and trained winners of $18 million while Wall has driven horses to earnings in excess of $56 million. Pinkney has driven winners of over $2 million lifetime and has campaigned numerous stakes and invitational winners in the Atlantic Provinces throughout the years.

Nominated in the Veterans/Builders Category were owner-breeder Robert Burgess from Campbellville, ON, who has also been actively involved in several industry associations over the years; Quebec-based breeder Pierre Levesque, founder, owner and operator of Angus Farm; and the late Cliff Chapman Jr., former owner and publisher of The Canadian Sportsman as well as race secretary, bid spotter, legal bookmaker and trainer.

The two 20-person Election Committees will declare the winners in the respective categories and they will be announced on May 20. The Induction Ceremony will be hosted at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Thursday, August 28. Guest speaker will be television and movie star Nicholas Campbell.

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