Prince of Wales

2026 Prince of Wales Stakes

Labour Day Weekend

Monday, September 7, 2026

Fort Erie Race Track is thrilled to announce that the 91st running of the prestigious Prince of Wales Stakes will take place on Labour Day, Monday, September 7. This marquee event serves as the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, showcasing Canada's top three-year-old thoroughbreds in a thrilling test of speed and stamina on our world-class dirt track.
The Prince of Wales Stakes carries a $400,000 purse, making it the richest prize offered for any dirt track horse race in Canada. Restricted to Canadian-bred three-year-olds and contested over a distance of 1 3/16 miles, the race follows the King's Plate and precedes the Breeders' Stakes, offering contenders a coveted path toward Triple Crown glory.
"Fort Erie Race Track continues to be the proud home of this iconic Canadian racing tradition," said the track’s general manager Drew Cady. "The Prince of Wales Stakes not only highlights the exceptional talent in Canadian thoroughbred racing but also delivers one of the most exciting days on the North American horse racing calendar. And by moving the race back to a holiday long weekend, we expect this year’s Prince of Wales Stakes to be the biggest and best in several years. We look forward to welcoming fans, owners, trainers, and horsemen for what promises to be another unforgettable edition."
The Prince of Wales Stakes has long been a cornerstone of Canadian racing since its inception, drawing top competitors and passionate crowds to the scenic border oval. Fans can expect family-friendly festivities, live racing action, exceptional cuisine in the Prince of Wales Dining Room, and the opportunity to witness history in the making.
For more information, visit www.forterieracing.com or follow Fort Erie Race Track on social media.

Prince of Wales Stakes Draw

The Draw for the 90th Prince of Wales Stakes will be held on Thursday, September 3 at noon.

Click here to watch live.

Wager Online  

Wagering is available in Ontario through HPIBet.com.  Membership is free and secure.

Home of the Prince of Wales Stakes

Fort Erie Race Track is home to the Second Jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. Every Summer crowds converge on the Border Oval to take in the excitement of live thoroughbred racing, but the crowds really swell when the majesty of Canada's premier horses take to the stage and compete for one of racing's most sought after prizes.

Since 1959, The Prince of Wales Stakes has been Fort Erie's premier race. The second jewel in Canada's Triple Crown of Racing. The Prince of Wales is a glowing centrepiece to the Queen's Plate and The Breeders' Stakes, both of which are contested at Woodbine. The Prince of Wales Stakes features Canada's top three year olds at a distance of one mile and three-sixteenths on the main track.

Many past Canadian champions have performed at Fort Erie in the classic event. Mr. E.P. Taylor's New Providence won the first running at Fort Erie in 1959. That year, The Canadian Triple Crown was introduced and New Providence won the inaugural series. Four years later, Canebora was hailed a Triple Crown champion. Canebora was also a product of Mr. Taylor's Windfields Farm.

Twenty-six years passed before another Triple Crown champion emerged. Kinghaven Farms' brilliant grey, With Approval, survived two photo-finishes to win The Plate, then The Prince of Wales, before he cake-walked to victory in The Breeders' Stakes.

Triple Crown winners came in quick succession after With Approval ended the drought. In 1990, another grey from Kinghaven Farms, Izvestia was named the top three-year-old in the country winning the three-race series. The most popular winner of the Prince of Wales waltzed to victory in 1991, super filly Dance Smartly, 'kicked sand at the boys' as she became the first and only lady to win the Canadian Triple Crown. In 1993, the immensely talented Peteski peaked in all three races. There was not another Triple Crown winner until Wando completed the trick in 2003.

In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the marquis event on the Fort Erie racing calendar. That was also the year the race became the second jewel in Canada's Triple Crown of Racing.

The first edition of the Prince of Wales Stakes was held at Thorncliffe Park in Toronto on June 3, 1929. During the 1930's, the race was restricted to 3 year olds foaled in Canada, utilizing the same format as both the Queen's Plate and the Breeders' Stakes, the other two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Over the years the purse structure has soared to over $500,000 from its initial running in 1929, which was worth $7,500. Until 1953, the race was known as the Prince of Wales Plate, but the size of the purse was dramatically less. After the first two runnings, the purse for the Prince of Wales was dropped to just $2,500 added as the country was in the midst of a depression.

1959 New Providence
1960 Bulpamiru
1961 Song of Evan
1962 King Gorm
1963 Canebora
1964 Canadillis
1965 Good Old Mort
1966 He's A Smoothie
1967 Battling
1968 Rouletabille
1969 Sharp-Eyed Quillo
1970 Almoner
1971 New Pro Escar
1972 Presidial
1973 Tara Road
1974 Rushton's Corsair
1975 L'Enjoleur
1976 Norcliffe
1977 Dance in Time
1978 Overskate
1979 Mass Rally
1980 Allan Blue
1981 Cadet Corps
1982 Runaway Groom
1983 Archdeacon
1984 Val Dansant
1985 Imperial Choice
1986 Golden Choice
1987 Coryphee
1988 Regal Classic
1989 With Approval
1990 Izvestia
1991 Dance Smartly
1992 Ben Burb
1993 Peteski
1994 Bruce's Mill
1995 Kiridashi
1996 Stephanotis
1997 Cryptocloser
1998 Archers Bay
1999 Gandria
2000 Scatter the Gold
2001 Win City
2002 Le Cinquieme Essai
2003 Wando
2004 Bit O'Gold
2005 Ablo
2006 Shillelagh Slew
2007 Alezzandro
2008 Harlem Rocker
2009 Gallant
2010 Golden Moka
2011 Pender Harbour
2012 Dixie Strike
2013 Uncaptured
2014 Coltimus Prime
2015 Breaking Lucky
2016 Amis Gizmo
2017 Cool Catomine
2018 Wonder Gadot
2019 Tone Broke
2020 Mighty Heart
2021 Haddassah