Prince of Wales Stakes to run in September again
The Prince of Wales Stakes, the signature event on the Fort Erie Race Track racing calendar, will again be running in September.
For the second year in a row, the second jewel in Canadian thoroughbred racing’s triple crown will be moved from its traditional date — usually, the end of July — to midseptember.
This year the $400,000, 1 ⁄ -mile 3
16 race on dirt for three-year-olds bred in Canada will be taking place Tuesday, Sept. 14, pending approval from the Ontario government and public health regulators.
It’s too early to say predict if spectators will be allowed for the 86th running of the race on Fort Erie’s dirt track. Last year, there were no fans in the stands when jockey Daisuke Fukumoto rode one-eyed Mighty Heart, the Queen’s Plate winner, to victory for owner Lawrence Cordes and trainer Josie Carroll.
Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium general manager Drew Cady hopes this year’s field will be able to hear the roar of the crowd.
“Although we were able to safely host a racing season last year, it wasn’t the same without fans,” he said. “We hope that, in the upcoming season, we will once again be able to open our grandstand to our loyal fans, especially for our signature day.”
Bookending the Prince of Wales Stakes are the Queen’s Plate and the Breeders’ Stakes, run on artificial synthetic and natural turf, respectively, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. This year’s Queen’s Plate is tentatively set for Sunday, Aug. 22.
A date has yet to be set for the Breeders’ Stake, which normally takes place about three weeks after the Prince of Wales Stakes.
Fort Erie’s 124th season is scheduled to start Tuesday, June 1, with a 4 p.m. post time.
A 40-program meet ending Tuesday, Oct. 19, will run primarily Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as the occasional Sunday.