# King's Plate

The King's Plate (known as the Queen's Plate from 1860 to 1901 and 1952 to 2022) is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race and the oldest continuously run race in North America, having been founded in 1860. It is run at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2 kilometres) for a maximum of 17 three-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada.
The race is the first in the Canadian Triple Crown, typically taking place each summer at Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario. The event was scheduled in June or July until 2020, when it was postponed to September, due to government-imposed restrictions in place through the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, Woodbine ran the Queen's Plate, and now runs the King's Plate, in August.
The race's name reflects the title of the reigning Canadian monarch, following on Queen Victoria's donation of the first cup. The Woodbine Entertainment Group, which owns and operates the event, announced in December 2022 the race would be renamed the King's Plate, following the accession of King Charles III on 8 September 2022.

## History

In 1859, the then-President of the Toronto Turf Club, Sir Casimir Gzowski, petitioned Queen Victoria to grant a plate for a new race in the Canada West (today Ontario). With the monarch's approval, the first Queen's Plate was run on 27 June 1860, at the Carleton racetrack in Toronto, with the prize of "a plate to the value of 50 guineas". Despite the name, the winning owner is presented with a gold cup, rather than a plate.
The race was originally restricted to three-year-olds bred in Canada that had never won a stakes race and was run in heats, with a horse having to win two heats to be declared the winner. The race conditions have since evolved; heat racing was discontinued in 1879 and, around the same time, the race was opened to stakes winners (some early records are incomplete). For many years, the race was open to older horses and, in the early 1900s, was even open to two-year-olds. The King's Plate is currently restricted to three-year-olds foaled in Canada. The owner must pay a nomination fee ($500 in 2018) in February, a second subscription fee ($1,500 in 2018) in May, and a final entry fee ($10,000) prior to the race.
The first four renewals were run at Carleton racetrack. After that, the Queen's Plate became a "movable feast", with politicians from all over modern-day Ontario vying to host the race in their constituency. Fifteen different race tracks hosted the race over the next two decades, with distances varying from one to two miles. In 1883, the race moved to Old Woodbine, located in eastern Toronto along Lake Ontario. The race continued to be held at Old Woodbine until that track was replaced by "New" Woodbine in northern Toronto in 1956. The race has been run at Woodbine ever since. In 2006, Woodbine changed the track surface for the main track from natural dirt to a synthetic surface known as Polytrack. In 2016, the surface was changed to Tapeta. Because of the change in racing surfaces, Woodbine maintains several sets of track and stakes records. The fastest time for the race on the original dirt surface at the current 1+1⁄4 mi (2 km) distance is 2:01 4/5, set by Kinghaven Farms' Izvestia in 1990. The current stakes record (the fastest all-time) is 2:01.48, set by Moira in 2022 on Tapeta.
In 1902, the year after Victoria's death, the race became the King's Plate, after her successor, Edward VII. It became the Queen's Plate again during the reign of Elizabeth II (1952–2022). In 2022, it reverted to the King's Plate upon the accession of Charles III.
Horses owned by Windfields Farm have won the Plate eleven times, but the most successful was the stable owned by Joseph E. Seagram, a prominent distiller from Waterloo, Ontario. Seagram's stable won the Plate on twenty occasions between 1891 and 1935 including eight times in a row between 1891 and 1898, and ten times in eleven years from 1891 to 1901.
At the 1925 King's Plate, W. A. Hewitt and his son Foster Hewitt called the first horse race broadcast on radio.
In 1964, Northern Dancer, the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby, also won the Queen's Plate in his final race.
In 2006, Josie Carroll became the first woman trainer to win the Queen's Plate. The following year, Emma-Jayne Wilson became the first female jockey to win the race.
The 2004-2013 Plate winners had little success in their subsequent racing careers. This compares unfavourably to the 1990s when a number of Plate winners had considerable success thereafter, including With Approval, Izvestia, Dance Smartly and Awesome Again. The more recent Queen's Plate winners have also been successful, including Lexie Lou (who became a multiple graded stakes winner in Canada and the US after winning the Plate in 2014) and Shaman Ghost (a Grade I winner in America after winning the Plate in 2015).
Nick Eaves, former President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Group, announced during the 2012 Queen's Plate post position draw that Woodbine Racetrack might be forced to close in April 2013 due to the cancellation of Slots at Racetrack program partnerships between Ontario's racetracks and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Eaves said that if Woodbine is not open, "there won't be a Queen's Plate." A new funding agreement was put in place in March 2013, which ensured the continuation of horse racing at Woodbine.
39 fillies have won the Plate, beginning with Brunette in 1864. The 2017 running was won by filly Holy Helena, while the 2018 running was won by Wonder Gadot. Two chestnut fillies both by the name of Wild Rose have won the Queen's Plate, in 1867 and 1886. They were the daughter and great-great-granddaughter respectively of Yellow Rose, who also produced the first Queen's Plate winner Don Juan.
The latest filly to win the Queen's Plate was Caitlinhergrtness in 2024.
The race has been held at a variety of distances:
* 1860–1867: 1-mile (1.6 km) heats
* 1868–1870: 2 miles (3.2 km)
* 1871: 1+3⁄4 miles (2.82 km)
* 1872–1886: 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)
* 1887–1923: 1+1⁄4 miles (2.01 km)
* 1924–1956: 1+1⁄8 miles (1.811 km)
* 1957-: 1+1⁄4 miles (2.01 km)

### Triple Crown dispute with Fort Erie Race Track

Since 2021, a year after the Queen's Plate was moved to September from its usual June or July spot due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Woodbine has run the race in August. As a result, Fort Erie Race Track, which runs the second of Canada's Triple Crown races, the Prince of Wales Stakes, moved their race to after the King's Plate. In April 2023, a few months after Woodbine announced that the 2023 King's Plate would again be run in August, Fort Erie filed a grievance with the Canadian Trade Commission over what it called business practices that were "unfair and clearly predatory." A member of the Fort Erie Council suggested that the COVID pandemic was over and that the King's Plate should move back to June, adding that continuing to run the race in August would not be in Fort Erie Race Track's best economic interests, as it would result in the Prince of Wales Stakes being run after Labour Day, when the key summer tourism season is over. Woodbine responded that Fort Erie's allegations are "baseless and without merit" and that they would defend themselves if requested by the Trade Commission.

## Royal patronage

As King of Canada, Charles III is patron of the event. Various other members of the Canadian royal family have attended, beginning with John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, and his wife, Princess Louise, in 1881, when Lorne was serving as governor general of Canada and the couple was touring Ontario. Queen Elizabeth II's fourth and final visit to the race was in early July 2010.

## Records

Stakes Record
* Dirt – Izvestia — 2:014⁄5 (1990)
* Synthetic dirt - Moira – 2.01.48 (2022)
Winningest Jockeys:
* 4 – Avelino Gomez (1957, 1960, 1966, 1969)
* 4 – Sandy Hawley (1970, 1971, 1975, 1978)
* 4 – Robin Platts (1972, 1974, 1977, 1984)
Winningest Trainers:
* 8 – Harry Giddings Jr. (1911, 1913, 1914, 1920, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1942)
* 8 – Roger Attfield (1976, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2008)
* 6 – John R. Walker (1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896)
* 6 – Gordon J. "Pete" McCann (1940, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1959, 1963)
* 6 - William H. Bringloe (1923, 1926, 1928, 1933, 1936, 1937)
Winningest Owners:
* 20 - Seagram Stables
* 11 - Windfields Farm

## Winners

* 2012 winner, Strait of Dover
* 2013 winner, Midnight Aria
* 2014 winner, Lexie Lou
* 2015 winner, Shaman Ghost
* 2016 winner, Sir Dudley Digges
* 2017 winner, Holy Helena
* 2018 winner, Wonder Gadot
* 2019 winner, One Bad Boy
* 2021 winner, Safe Conduct
* 2023 winner, Paramount Prince
* 2024 winner, Caitlinhergrtness
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2024 | Caitlinhergrtness † | Rafael M. Hernandez | Kevin Attard | Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC | 2:03.45 |
| 2023 | Paramount Prince | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Michael J. Langlois & Gary Barber | 2:01.93 |
| 2022 | Moira † | Rafael M. Hernandez | Kevin Attard | X-Men Racing LLC, Madaket Stables LLC & SF Racing LLC | 2:01.48 |
| 2021 | Safe Conduct | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Philip M. Serpe | WellSpring Stables | 2:02.85 |
| 2020 | Mighty Heart | Daisuke Fukumoto | Josie Carroll | Lawrence P. Cordes | 2:01.98 |
| 2019 | One Bad Boy | Flavien Prat | Richard Baltas | Sayjay Racing | 2:02.98 |
| 2018 | Wonder Gadot † | John R. Velazquez | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber | 2:02.26 |
| 2017 | Holy Helena † | Luis Contreras | James A. Jerkens | Stronach Stables | 2:02.87 |
| 2016 | Sir Dudley Digges | Julien Leparoux | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey | 2:04.09 |
| 2015 | Shaman Ghost | Rafael M. Hernandez | Brian A. Lynch | Stronach Stables | 2:03.45 |
| 2014 | Lexie Lou † | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber | 2:03:94 |
| 2013 | Midnight Aria | Jesse M. Campbell | Nicholas Gonzalez | Tucci Stables | 2:04.72 |
| 2012 | Strait of Dover | Justin Stein | Danny Vella | Canyon Farms | 2:01.99 |
| 2011 | Inglorious † | Luis Contreras | Josie Carroll | Donver Stable | 2:02.63 |
| 2010 | Big Red Mike | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Nicholas Gonzalez | Terra Racing Stable | 2:04.89 |
| 2009 | Eye of the Leopard | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:03.84 |
| 2008 | Not Bourbon | Jono Jones | Roger Attfield | Charles E. Fipke | 2:03.59 |
| 2007 | Mike Fox | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Ian Black | D. Morgan Firestone | 2:05.45 |
| 2006 | Edenwold | Emile Ramsammy | Josie Carroll | Jim & Alice Sapara | 2:05.30 |
| 2005 | Wild Desert | Pat Valenzuela | Robert J. Frankel | Daniel Borislow & Partners | 2:07.37 |
| 2004 | Niigon | Robert Landry | Eric Coatrieux | Chiefswood Stable | 2:04.72 |
| 2003 | Wando | Patrick Husbands | Michael Keogh | Gus Schickedanz | 2:02.48 |
| 2002 | T J's Lucky Moon | Steve Bahen | Vito Armata | Molinaro Stable | 2:06.88 |
| 2001 | Dancethruthedawn † | Gary Boulanger | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:03.78 |
| 2000 | Scatter the Gold | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:05.53 |
| 1999 | Woodcarver | Mickey Walls | Michael Keogh | Gus Schickedanz | 2:03.13 |
| 1998 | Archers Bay | Kent Desormeaux | Todd Pletcher | Melnyk & Bristow | 2:02.10 |
| 1997 | Awesome Again | Mike E. Smith | David Hofmans | Frank Stronach | 2:04.20 |
| 1996 | Victor Cooley | Emile Ramsammy | Mark Frostad | Windways Farm | 2:03.80 |
| 1995 | Regal Discovery | Todd Kabel | Roger Attfield | No. 1 Stable | 2:03.80 |
| 1994 | Basqueian | Jack Lauzon | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 2:03.40 |
| 1993 | Peteski | Craig Perret | Roger Attfield | Earle I. Mack | 2:04.20 |
| 1992 | Alydeed | Craig Perret | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:04.60 |
| 1991 | Dance Smartly † | Pat Day | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 2:03.40 |
| 1990 | Izvestia | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:01.80 |
| 1989 | With Approval | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:03.00 |
| 1988 | Regal Intention | Jack Lauzon | Jim Day | Sam-Son Farm | 2:06.20 |
| 1987 | Market Control | Ken Skinner | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:03.60 |
| 1986 | Golden Choice | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | Michael Tammaro | Dick Sanderson | 2:07.20 |
| 1985 | La Lorgnette † | David Clark | Macdonald Benson | Windfields Farm | 2:04.60 |
| 1984 | Key to the Moon | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | B. K. Y. Stable | 2:03.80 |
| 1983 | Bompago | Larry Attard | John Cardella | Carl Cardella & Partners | 2:04.20 |
| 1982 | Son of Briartic | Paul Souter | Jerry G. Lavigne | Paddockhurst Stable | 2:04.60 |
| 1981 | Fiddle Dancer Boy | David Clark | James C. Bentley | John B. W. Carmichael | 2:04.80 |
| 1980 | Driving Home | William Parsons | Glenn Mangusson | CFCW Racing Stable | 2:04.20 |
| 1979 | Steady Growth | Brian Swatuk | John J. Tammaro Jr. | Kinghaven Farms | 2:06.60 |
| 1978 | Regal Embrace | Sandy Hawley | Macdonald Benson | Windfields Farm | 2:02.00 |
| 1977 | Sound Reason | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 2:06.60 |
| 1976 | Norcliffe | Jeffrey Fell | Roger Attfield | Norcliffe Stable | 2:05.00 |
| 1975 | L'Enjoleur | Sandy Hawley | Yonnie Starr | J. Louis Lévesque | 2:02.60 |
| 1974 | Amber Herod | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 2:09.20 |
| 1973 | Royal Chocolate | Ted Colangelo | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 2:08.20 |
| 1972 | Victoria Song | Robin Platts | Larry Grant | Green Hills Farm | 2:03.20 |
| 1971 | Kennedy Road | Sandy Hawley | James C. Bentley | Helen G. Stollery | 2:03.00 |
| 1970 | Almoner | Sandy Hawley | Jerry G. Lavigne | Parkview Stable | 2:04.80 |
| 1969 | Jumpin Joseph | Avelino Gomez | Robert S. Bateman | Warren Beasely | 2:04.20 |
| 1968 | Merger | Wayne Harris | Roy Johnson | Golden West Farms | 2:05.20 |
| 1967 | Jammed Lovely † | Jim Fitzsimmons | Yonnie Starr | Conn Smythe | 2:03.00 |
| 1966 | Titled Hero | Avelino Gomez | Patrick MacMurchy | Peter K. Marshall | 2:03.60 |
| 1965 | Whistling Sea | Tak Inouye | Roy Johnson | Olivier Ranches | 2:03.80 |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Hartack | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:02.20 |
| 1963 | Canebora | Manuel Ycaza | Gordon J. McCann | Windfields Farm | 2:04.00 |
| 1962 | Flaming Page † | Jim Fitzsimmons | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:04.60 |
| 1961 | Blue Light | Hugo Dittfach | Patrick MacMurchy | Col. K. R. Marshall | 2:05.00 |
| 1960 | Victoria Park | Avelino Gomez | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 2:02.00 |
| 1959 | New Providence | Bobby Ussery | Gordon J. McCann | Windfields Farm | 2:04.80 |
| 1958 | Caledon Beau | Al Coy | Yonnie Starr | Conn Smythe | 2:04.20 |
| 1957 | Lyford Cay | Avelino Gomez | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 2:02.60 |
| 1956 | Canadian Champ | David Stevenson | John Passero | William R. Beasley | 1:55.00 |
| 1955 | Ace Marine | George Walker | Yonnie Starr | Larkin Maloney | 1:52.40 |
| 1954 | Collisteo | Chris Rogers | Richard Townrow | Bur-Fit Stable | 1:52.00 |
| 1953 | Canadiana † | Eddie Arcaro | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 1:52.20 |
| 1952 | Epigram | Gil Robillard | Stanley V. Bowden | Three V's Stable | 1:58.60 |
| 1951 | Major Factor | Alf Bavington | Gordon J. McCann | E. P. Taylor | 1:53.00 |
| 1950 | McGill | Chris Rogers | Pete Keiser | Vincent J. Sheridan | 1:52.40 |
| 1949 | Epic | Chris Rogers | Bert Alexandra | E. P. Taylor | 1:52.20 |
| 1948 | Last Mark | Howard R. Bailey | Jim G. Fair | Jim G. Fair | 1:52.00 |
| 1947 | Moldy | Colin McDonald | Arthur Brent | Parkwood Stable | 1:54.20 |
| 1946 | Kingarvie | Johnny Dewhurst | Arthur Brent | Parkwood Stable | 1:55.60 |
| 1945 | Uttermost | Robert B. Watson | Cecil Howard | Harry C. Hatch | 1:53.80 |
| 1944 | Acara | Robert B. Watson | Cecil Howard | Harry C. Hatch | 1:54.80 |
| 1943 | Paolita † | Pat Remillard | William Thurner | Charles H. Hemstead | 2:02.60 |
| 1942 | Ten to Ace | Charles W. Smith | Harry Giddings Jr. | Harry Giddings Jr. | 1:57.80 |
| 1941 | Budpath | Robert B. Watson | Loyd Gentry Sr. | Harry C. Hatch | 1:56.80 |
| 1940 | Willie the Kid | Ronnie Nash | Gordon J. McCann | Mildred A. Kane | 1:55.80 |
| 1939 | Archworth | Sydney Denny Birley | Mark Cowell | C. George McCullagh | 1:54.40 |
| 1938 | Bunty Lawless | John W. Bailey | Jack Anderson | Willie F. Morrissey | 1:54.40 |
| 1937 | Goldlure | Stirling Young | William H. Bringloe | Harry C. Hatch | 1:55.40 |
| 1936 | Monsweep | Danny Brammer | William H. Bringloe | Harry C. Hatch | 1:55.00 |
| 1935 | Sally Fuller † | Herb Lindberg | Johnny Thorpe | Seagram Stables | 1:55.40 |
| 1934 | Horometer | Frankie Mann | Harry Giddings Jr. | Col. Samuel McLaughlin | 1:54.20 |
| 1933 | King O'Connor | Eddie Legere | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 1:56.40 |
| 1932 | Queensway † | Frankie Mann | Harry Giddings Jr. | Robert W. R. Cowie | 1:55.20 |
| 1931 | Froth Blower | Frankie Mann | Harry Giddings Jr. | Robert W. R. Cowie | 1:59.20 |
| 1930 | Aymond | Henry Little | Jack Hutton | Ryland H. New | 1:57.20 |
| 1929 | Shorelint | J. D. Mooney | Fred H. Schelke | Thorncliffe Stable | 1:57.60 |
| 1928 | Young Kitty † | Lester Pichon | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 1:57.00 |
| 1927 | Troutlet † | Francis Horn | John Nixon | Ryland H. New | 1:55.80 |
| 1926 | Haplite | Henry Erickson | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 1:59.60 |
| 1925 | Fairbank † | Chick Lang | Jack Givens | James C. Fletcher | 1:56.40 |
| 1924 | Maternal Pride | George Walls | William G. Wilson | Hugh S. Wilson | 1:57.60 |
| 1923 | Flowerful | Terry Wilson | William H. Bringloe | Seagram Stables | 2:11.00 |
| 1922 | South Shore † | Kenny Parrington | Fred H. Schelke | Thorncliffe Stable | 2:12.00 |
| 1921 | Herendesy | James H. Butwell | George Walker | Brookdale Stable | 2:10.00 |
| 1920 | St. Paul | Roxy Romanelli | Harry Giddings Jr. | Harry Giddings Sr. | 2:09.00 |
| 1919 | Ladder of Light † | Lawrence Lyke | Joseph H. Doane | George W. Beardmore | 2:09.40 |
| 1918 | Springside | Lee Mink | Ed Whyte | George M. Hendrie | 2:08.80 |
| 1917 | Belle Mahone † | Frank Robinson | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:08.80 |
| 1916 | Mandarin | Arthur Pickens | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:12.00 |
| 1915 | Tartarean | Harry Watts | John Nixon | Charles Millar | 2:09.20 |
| 1914 | Beehive | Guy Burns | Harry Giddings Jr. | Harry Giddings Sr. | 2:10.60 |
| 1913 | Hearts of Oak | Johnny Wilson | Harry Giddings Jr. | Harry Giddings Sr. | 2:09.20 |
| 1912 | Heresy | Robert Small | John Nixon | Brookdale Stable | 2:11.00 |
| 1911 | St. Bass | Eddie Dugan | Harry Giddings Jr. | Harry Giddings Sr. | 2:08.80 |
| 1910 | Parmer | Johnny Wilson | John Nixon | Valley Farm Stable | 2:12.40 |
| 1909 | Shimonese † | Clifford Gilbert | John Nixon | Valley Farm Stable | 2:10.40 |
| 1908 | Seismic | Charles Fairbrother | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:11.00 |
| 1907 | Kelvin | James Foley | Charles Phair | T. Ambrose Woods | 2:12.60 |
| 1906 | Slaughter | John K. Treubel | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:11.60 |
| 1905 | Inferno | H. Kelly Phillips | Barry Littlefield | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:12.00 |
| 1904 | Sapper | Jimmy Walsh | John Dyment Jr. | Nathaniel Dyment | 2:12.00 |
| 1903 | Thessalon | Quintin Castro | John Dyment Jr. | Nathaniel Dyment | 2:15.50 |
| 1902 | Lyddite † | Sam Wainwright | Ed Whyte | William Hendrie | 2:15.00 |
| 1901 | John Ruskin | Harry Vititoe | Harry Blair | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:18.75 |
| 1900 | Dalmoor | Harry Lewis | Harry Blair | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:14.00 |
| 1899 | Butter Scotch † | R. J. Mason | Eddie Whyte | William Hendrie | 2:15.50 |
| 1898 | Bon Ino † | Tiny Williams | Charles Boyle | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:15.50 |
| 1897 | Ferdinand | Harry Lewis | Charles Boyle | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:13.00 |
| 1896 | Millbrook | Harry Lewis | John R. Walker | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:19.00 |
| 1895 | Bonniefield | Alf Brooker | John R. Walker | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:17.50 |
| 1894 | Joe Miller | Frank Regan | John R. Walker | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:28.50 |
| 1893 | Martello | Harry Blaylock | John R. Walker | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:14.00 |
| 1892 | O'Donohue | F. Horton | John R. Walker | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:22.00 |
| 1891 | Victorious | Michael Gorman | John R. Walker | Joseph E. Seagram | 2:14.50 |
| 1890 | Kitestring † | Fred Coleman | Daniel Curtin | Thomas D. Hodgens | 2:22.00 |
| 1889 | Colonist | Richard O'Leary | Richard O'Leary | J. D. Matheson | 2:16.00 |
| 1888 | Harry Cooper | Richard O'Leary | Richard O'Leary | J. D. Matheson | 2:18.50 |
| 1887 | Bonnie Duke | Charlie Wise | William E. Owen | Robert Bond | 2:19.00 |
| 1886 | Wild Rose † | Charles Butler | Charles Butler | David Watson Campbell | 2:48.25 |
| 1885 | Willie W. | William Jamieson | Erastus Burgess | Erastus Burgess | 2:58.00 |
| 1884 | Williams | A. Martin | A. Martin | John Halligan | 2:50.75 |
| 1883 | Roddy Pringle | Jacob Smith | Charles Boyle | Charles Boyle | 2:52.50 |
| 1882 | Fanny Wiser † | Allie Gates | W.E. Owen | Arthur Abingdon Stable | 2:51.00 |
| 1881 | Vice Chancellor | Mr. Brown | Erastus Burgess | John White | 2:53.00 |
| 1880 | Bonnie Bird † | Richard O'Leary | Erastus Burgess | John Forbes | 2:47.00 |
| 1879 | Moss Rose † | Allie Gates | Jonathan Scott | John White | 2:54.50 |
| 1878 | King George | Allie Gates | Richard O'Leary | Col. John Peters | 2:49.50 |
| 1877 | Amelia † | Charles Phair | Jonathan Scott | John White | 2:56.50 |
| 1876 | Norah P. † | Mr. Cook | Daniel Curtin | Col. John Peters | 2:52.00 |
| 1875 | Young Trumpeter | Unknown | Daniel Schoff | R. Ellison & C. Horton | 2:52.50 |
| 1874 | The Swallow † | John Hazard | William H. Hannon | Dr. Robert Thompson | 2:51.75 |
| 1873 | Mignonette † | Unknown | Jacob Smith | Roddy Pringle | 2:57.00 |
| 1872 | Fearnaught | Richard O'Leary | Richard O'Leary | Alex Simpson | 2:54.50 |
| 1871 | Floss † | James Lee | Robert T. Davies | Robert T. Davies | 3:21.00 |
| 1870 | John Bell | John Bennett | Charlie N. Gates | Charlie N. Gates | 3:54.50 |
| 1869 | Bay Jack | Abe Robinson Jr. | James Berry | Edward S. Bilton | 3:50.00 |
| 1868 | Nettie † | Archie Fisher | Jonathan Scott | James & John White | 3:55.00 |
| 1867 | Wild Rose † | Alex McLaughlin | Mr. Fagan | James & John White | 1:50.50 |
| 1866 | Beacon | Johnny Gagen | Johnny Gagen | Peter D. McKellar | 1:54.00 |
| 1865 | Lady Norfolk † | Unknown | John Sheppard | John Sheppard | Ukn |
| 1864 | Brunette † | Unknown | Dr. George D. Morton | Dr. George D. Morton | 2:00.00 |
| 1863 | Touchstone | William Small | James White | James & John White | 1:59.00 |
| 1862 | Palermo | Charles S. Littlefield | Charles Boyle | George C. Chalmers | 2:03.00 |
| 1861 | Wild Irishman | Ben Alcott | George Cameron | George Henderson | 2:00.00 |
| 1860 | Don Juan | Charles S. Littlefield | James White | James White | 1:58.00 |
† indicates a filly