Thorncliffe Stable is a defunct Thoroughbred and Standardbred horse racing and breeding operation established in 1888 in Toronto, Ontario by businessman Robert T. Davies. The stable was based at Davies' Thorncliffe Farm in the Don River Valley in what is now known as Thorncliffe Park.
When Robert Davies died in 1916 his sons, Robert, George, Wilfred and Melville took over the racing operation but sold the Thorncliffe farm property to a group of investors from Baltimore, Maryland who built Thorncliffe Park Raceway.
During its existence, Thorncliffe Stable won numerous important races in Ontario including the:
The stable's final success came in 1935 when the Thorncliffe-bred filly Sally Fuller won the King's Plate for Seagram Stables.
The King's Plate is Canada's oldest Thoroughbred horse race, having been founded in 1860. It is also the oldest continuously run race in North America. It is run at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles for a maximum of 17 three-year-old Thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer at Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario. It is the first race in the Canadian Triple Crown.
Greenwood Raceway was a horse racing facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Thorncliffe Park is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in the former Borough of East York.
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, Canadian Club won the 1967 Pan-American Games Individual Jumping Gold medal and was a member of the 1968 Team Gold Medal for Canada at the Mexico Olympics ridden by Jim Day. Sam-Son continued to send entries to International show jumping, dressage and three ay venting events including the 1972 and 1976 Olympics and thereafter. In 1971 it became home to its first Thoroughbred race horse and officially entered racing in 1972.
Roger L. Attfield is a Canadian thoroughbred horse trainer and owner and an inductee of both the Canadian and United States horseracing Halls of Fame.
Kinghaven Farms is a horse racing stable that was founded in 1967 by Donald G. "Bud" Willmot. Located in King City, Ontario, north of Toronto, the success of the stable would see it expand to the United States with the acquisition of a 660-acre (2.7 km2) farm and training center near Ocala, Florida. In 1974, Bud's son David S. Willmot began managing the farm's racing/breeding programs. In 2004, David Willmot announced that Kinghaven was shutting down its Thoroughbred operation, although he would continue to race a handful of horses in the following years.
The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to only three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 1+3⁄16 miles. In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the second race in the Canadian Triple Crown series. It follows the June running of the King's Plate and precedes the Breeders' Stakes in August.
Golden West Farms was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm at Okotoks, Alberta owned by Frank McMahon and Max Bell.
Stronach Stables is the North American racing arm of Thoroughbred horse racing owner and breeder, Frank Stronach, who also owns the horse breeding operation Adena Springs. Stronach is also the CEO of the Stronach Group which owns racetracks that include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park
Bull Page was a Canadian Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse and an important sire.
Knob Hill Stable was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation established by Toronto, Ontario businessman Steve Stavro. Stavro’s interest in horse racing began in 1967 when he acquired a pair of yearlings – Boy Bandit and Danforth Dan. They were conditioned by J. C. Meyer. However, It wasn’t until the early 1980’s that Stavro became passionate about thoroughbreds. As his passion grew, he founded Knob Hill Stable in Newmarket Ontario. At the peak of Knob Hill Stables, there were more than 60 horses which included 15 or more racers at Woodbine Racetrack. Stable standouts were Molson Million winner Benburb, Canadian International Stakes winner Thornfield, Sovereign Award champion Leonnatus Anteas and Prince of Wales Stakes winner Alezzandro
Thorncliffe Park Raceway was a Toronto-area racetrack that operated from 1917 until 1952. It was located east of Millwood Road, south of Eglinton Avenue East and the CPR's railroad tracks. It was the first home of the Prince of Wales Stakes. The name is retained today by the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood.
Robert T. Davies was a Canadian businessman, as well as a Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorse owner and breeder.
Southern Maid was a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse and successful broodmare who raced in Canada and the United States. Bred by John E. Madden, one of the most influential breeders in American horse racing history, her sire was the 1898 Kentucky Derby winner, Plaudit. Grandsire Himyar was also the sire of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Domino.
Swynford was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred at the 16th Lord Derby's stud in Lincolnshire, England he was sired by John O'Gaunt, a son of Isinglass, winner of the British Triple Crown in 1893. His dam was Lord Derby's foundation mare and 1896 Epsom Oaks winner Canterbury Pilgrim who also produced Chaucer, the 1927 and 1933 Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland.
Dufferin Park Racetrack was a racetrack for thoroughbred horse races located on Dufferin Street in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was demolished in 1955 and its stakes races moved to Woodbine Racetrack as part of a consolidation of racetracks in the Toronto area. The track was owned by Abe Orpen and his family after his death. Only 0.5 miles (0.80 km) in length, it was also called Little Saratoga. The site is now a shopping centre.
Thomas J. Healey was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer.
William Henry "Bill" Bringloe was a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses who was the 1927 Canadian and United States Champion trainer by earnings and a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee.
Roy J. Waldron was a batboy for the St. Louis Browns before he turned to training Thoroughbred racehorses. He is best known for winning the 1940 Kentucky Derby with Gallahadion, a colt he race conditioned for Ethel V. Mars of chocolate bar fame.
Lester Mark Fator was the 1922 American National Champion jockey in Thoroughbred racing.