Woodbine Entertainment has unveiled the nominations for the 2026 Canadian Triple Crown of Woodbine Racecourse, with 83 Canadian-foaled three-year-olds entered for one of the nation’s most storied racing prizes.
The announcement marks the formal beginning of the road to a series that remains one of the most distinctive tests in Thoroughbred racing. From established juvenile stars to lightly raced prospects still emerging through the spring, this year’s list offers depth, intrigue and the promise of fresh contenders before the summer campaign gathers pace.
The closing date for nominations was April 1, and attention now turns to the opening leg, the 167th running of The King’s Plate, worth $1 million, at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, August 15.
The series then moves to Fort Erie Race Track for the Prince of Wales on Monday, September 7, before returning to Woodbine for the Breeders’ Stakes on Sunday, September 27.
Few championship series in world racing ask such varied questions of young horses. Canada’s Triple Crown is contested across three different surfaces, demanding adaptability as well as class. The King’s Plate is staged on All-Weather, the Prince of Wales on Dirt, and the Breeders’ Stakes on Turf.
That variety has long given the Canadian Triple Crown its own identity, rewarding not only brilliance but resilience, balance and temperament across changing conditions.
Among the most notable nominees is the unbeaten filly Corsia Veloce, winner of last September’s Grade 1 Natalma Stakes for trainer Josie Carroll. Her inclusion adds further interest to the early shape of the series, particularly given the strength shown during her two-year-old campaign.
Also among the fillies entered are the Dale Desruisseaux pair Dixie Law, already a graded stakes winner, and Piper’s Gift, successful in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
All three fillies are finalists for Champion Two-Year-Old Female at the upcoming Sovereign Awards, underlining the quality already present among the female division.
The colts are headed by Fire and Wine, winner of the Coronation Futurity for trainer Zeljko Krcmar. His juvenile form makes him one of the early names to follow as preparations continue.
Trainer Mark Casse, as so often in major Canadian events, is strongly represented throughout the entries. His team includes Sovereign Award finalist Casson, alongside several other hopefuls expected to develop as the season progresses.
With months still to run before the gates open in August, the 2026 Canadian Triple Crown nominations have provided the first proper glimpse of the horses who could shape Canada’s biggest three-year-old races. Form will change, reputations will be tested, and new stars may yet emerge, but the path to summer glory is now officially underway.
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