Queen's Plate Royal Visits

Canadian Representatives of the Monarchy since 1976
2006 - The Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Madame Bartleman
2005 - Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson
2004 - The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, James K. Bartleman and Madame Bartleman
2003 - Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson and Mr. John Ralston
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2002 - Royal Highnesses Prince & Princess Michael of Kent
2001 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Hilary M. Weston
2000 - Chief Justice of Ontario, The Honourable R. Roy McMurtry
1999 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Hilary M. Weston
1998 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Hilary M. Weston
1996 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, H.N.R. “Hal” Jackman
1996 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, H.N.R. “Hal” Jackman
1995 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, H.N.R. “Hal” Jackman
1994 - Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, The Right Honourable Ramon J. Hnatyshyn
1993 - P.C. Chief Justice of Canada, The Right Honourable Antonio Lamer
1992 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, H.N.R. “Hal” Jackman
1991 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Lincoln M. Alexander
1990 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Lincoln M. Alexander
1986 - Governor General of Canada, The Honourable Jeanne Sauve
1984 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, John B. Aird
1983 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, John B. Aird
1982 - Governor General of Canada, The Honourable Edward Schreyer
1980 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Dr. Pauline McGibbon
1977 - Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Dr. Pauline McGibbon
1976 - Governor General of Canada, Jules Leger

Visiting Reigning Monarchs
1997 - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were on hand to witness their third Queen’s Plate. The 138th running was won by Frank Stronach’s Awesome Again. The son of Deputy Minister was trained by David Hofmans and ridden to victory by Mike Smith.

1973 - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip witnessed their second Queen’s Plate, attending the 114th running, won by Royal Chocolate. The winner was owned by Stafford Farms, trained by Gil Rowntree and ridden by Ted Colangelo.

1959 - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip witnessed the 100th running at Woodbine, won by New Providence, owned by Windfields Farm, trained by Gordon McCann and ridden by Bobby Ussery.

1939 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth established a royal visit tradition, charming the Old Woodbine crowd at the 1939 Plate, won by Archworth, owned by C. George McCullagh, trained by Mark Cowell and ridden by Denny Birley.

Visiting Representatives of the Monarchy
2002 - Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were the first visiting “representatives” of the Monarchy to witness a Queen’s Plate since 1989 (Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were at Woodbine in 1997). They watched T J’s Lucky Moon cross the wire first in the 143rd edition of the Royal Race.

1989 - Her Majesty Queen Mother Elizabeth celebrated the 50th anniversary of her first visit to Toronto and the Royal Race. The Queen Mother presented the Gold Cup to With Approval’s proud owner, Mr. “Bud” Willmot.

1988 - Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret witnessed the 129th running of The Queen’s Plate.

1987 - Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of York Prince Andrew and Lady Sarah witnessed the 128th running of The Queen’s Plate.

1985 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother made her sixth appearance at Woodbine in 1985. She made the presentation to Charles Taylor, of Windfields Farm, whose brilliant filly, La Lorgnette won handily. La Lorgnette is the second filly in history to capture both the Canadian Oaks and The Queen’s Plate.

1981 - The Queen Mother congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Jack Carmichael, trainer Jim Bentley and jockey David Clark after Fiddle Dancer Boy eked out a nose decision.

1979 - Queen Mother Elizabeth made her fifth visit to The Queen’s Plate in 1979. This time she attended the 120th running of the three-year-old classic and watched Kinghaven Farms’ Steady Growth defeat Windfields Farm’s Bold Agent over a sloppy track.

1978 - Earl of Westmorland, Master of the Queen’s Horse, was on hand in 1978 to witness jockey Sandy Hawley and Regal Embrace stride under the wire first in the 119th edition of The Queen’s Plate. Trainer Mac Benson and owner E.P. Taylor met the regal ambassador in the winner’s circle after the race.

1975 - The Duke and Duchess of Kent made an appearance, honouring owner Jean-Louis Levesque, trainer Yonnie Starr and jockey Sandy Hawley with their presence in the winner’s circle for the 116th renewal of The Plate.

1974 - Queen Mother Elizabeth attended the 115th running of The Queen’s Plate, her fourth official visit to an Ontario race track. The Queen’s Plate was won by Amber Herod, owned by Stafford Farms and trained by Gil Rowntree. He was ridden by Robin Platts.

1965 - Queen Mother Elizabeth attended the 106th running won by Whistling Sea, owned by Paul Olivier of Calgary and ridden by Tak Inouye. Whistling Sea was the first Western-bred horse to win The Plate.

1962 - Queen Mother Elizabeth attended the 103rd running won by Flaming Page, owned by Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Taylor, trained by Horatio Luro and ridden by Jim Fitzsimmons.