Canadian Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Finalists

As the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary, the nomination committees of the organization have determined the induction categories to be recognized in 2026, along with the finalists for each category. The individuals for consideration by the Thoroughbred Election Committee and Thoroughbred Legend Committee are listed below. The individual receiving the most votes in each category will be named a 2026 Inductee. A total of the 14 individuals, consisting of people and horses, will be inducted as part of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, 50th anniversary class, to be announced April 8. The Thoroughbred categories selected for 2026 include Builder, Communicator, Trainer, Jockey, Male Horse, and Female Horse. The three Thoroughbred Builder finalists are John Burness, Dr. Robert McMartin DVM, and Stanley Sadinsky. John Burness (Brnjas) has been involved in the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry for over 50 years and continues to operate his Ontario-based Colebrook Farms, which is currently standing five stallions. The 350-acre facility provides complete cycle of breeding services extending to foaling out mares, weaning, breaking, boarding and state of the art on-site training facilities. His operation extends from Canada to the United States, purchasing and claiming horses. He is a co-owner of grade 1 winner Johnny Bear. In 2025, Colebrook Farms celebrated their 700th career victory. Dr. Robert McMartin DVM has devoted more than four decades to the advancement of racing in Canada as a racetrack veterinarian, equine surgeon, industry leader, and mentor. His career has been defined by clinical excellence, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare and performance of the racehorse. His expertise has been sought by many of Canada's prominent breeding and racing operations. Beyond his practice has made a lasting contribution to equine research and industry advancement, including as co-chair and trustee of the E.P. Taylor Equine Research Fund. Chair of the Ontario Racing Commission for nine years, Stanley Sadinsky was commissioned by the Ontario government to review and recommend industry governance producing the "Sadinsky Report". As a key advisor during the cancellation of Slots at Racetrack Program, he met with politicians and advised the Board of OHRIA on numerous issues. A retired professor at his first alma mater, Queen's University, his extensive legal knowledge and understanding of gambling led to his current appointment as the chair of the Accreditation Panel of the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada. Sadinsky has spoken all over Canada and the U.S. on both the horse racing and gaming industries. He has been internationally recognized for his contributions, receiving the Joan Pew Award from the Association of Racing Commissioners International in 2002 and the Distinguished Service Award from Harness Tracks of America in 2003. He continues to be the Chair of the Horse Racing Appeals Panel, a position he has held for nine years. The three Thoroughbred Trainer finalists for voter consideration include Gerald Bennett, Dale Saunders, and Laurie Silvera. Gerald Bennett, originally from Springhill, Nova Scotia, began his training career in 1976, earning a reputation for having success with horses formerly injured or that had gone off form. He has trained horses that have earned over $48 million, with 4,200 plus trips to the winner's circle. In 2021, Bennett became the winningest Canadian-born trainer of all time. Bennett may be best known for his work with the Ontario-bred Bold Ruckus horse Beau Genius, who won the 1990 Philip Iselin (G1) at Monmouth Park and the Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap (G2). Other top horses include Secret Romeo and Fast Flying Rumor. Much of his career has been spent in the U.S. and is currently 16th for trainers in all-time win standings. Alberta-based Dale Saunders began his career as a Thoroughbred trainer in the mid-1960s, racking up 2,177 wins in 12,915 starts and purse earning of over $17.5 million. Named the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit winner by the Jockey's Club of Canada in 2022, Saunders has been Alberta's leading trainer a total of eight times and was named that province's Horseperson of the Year in 2012. Some of his victories came from many of the top Thoroughbreds in Alberta racing history, including Dark Hours, Shady Remark, Highland Leader, Fair March, and Mandalero, to name a few. The late Laurie Silvera began racing on the Ontario circuit after migrating to Canada from Jamaica, and continued training until his passing at age 89. He would eventually carve out a niche as a perennial leader at the Greenwood spring meet, topping the standings three years in a row. He also established himself as having a keen eye around a sales ring, purchasing yearlings that would prove to have a high earning to purchase ratio. Career stats include over 1,000 wins in Canada and earnings of almost $26 million. Among his stakes winners were Free At Last, November Snow, Ariana D, Solo Guy, Parisinthespring, Tusayan, Demaloot Demashoot and Hawk In Flight. Apart from training, Silvera contributed to the racing community by serving as an HBPA director in the 1990s. The Male Horse Finalists are Fatal Bullet, Joshua Tree, and Rahy's Attorney Fatal Bullet, bred by Adena Springs, owned by Danny Dion's Bear Stables, and trained by Hall of Fame trainer Reade Baker, was one of Canada's fastest sprinters in recent decades. He was voted Canada's Horse of the Year in 2008 on the strength of being named Canada's Outstanding Sprinter that year. He captured 12 career races including five stakes and earned $1,377,256. Winning his first career start as a juvenile in 2007, his 3-year-old year included three early-season wins at Woodbine and track-record performances at Woodbine in the Bold Venture Stakes, Presque Isle Downs in the Tom Ridge Stakes, and at Turfway Park in the Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes (G3)—earning a trip to the Breeder's Cup Sprint (G1) where he placed second behind heavily favored Midnight Lute. Irish-bred Joshua Tree's career statistics feature earnings of $3,851,594 in 37 starts (7-7-4). The son of Montjeu, from the Sadler's Wells branch of Northern Dancer's pedigree, made three trips to Woodbine, winning the Canadian International Stakes (G1T) in 2010, 2011, and 2013, making him the first, and still only horse, to achieve that milestone. Interestingly, his Canadian accomplishment was achieved with three different jockeys and for three different trainers: jockey Colm O'Donoghue and trainer Aidan O'Brien in 2010; jockey Frankie Dettori and trainer Marco Botti in 2011; and jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Ed Dunlop in 2013. Other graded stakes wins for this world traveler include the Qatar International Invitation Cup (G1) in 2011, the Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) at Ascot in 2009 and the Prix Kergorly (G2) in 2009. Rahy's Attorney was an underdog that just wouldn't quit. The result of a $3,000 mating by a small Canadian breeder, Rahy's Attorney defied all expectations and became one of the country's most enduring fan favorites, all while earning $2,120,208. In 2008, he landed a shocker of a victory in the $1 million Woodbine Mile (G1T) over Kip Deville, a Breeders' Cup winner and the continent's best miler. That win contributed to Rahy's Attorney being named Canada's champion grass horse of 2008. In 2009, he set a course record for 1 1/8 miles clocking in at 1:44.73 in the King Edward Handicap (G2T) at Woodbine. He also won the Nijinsky Stakes (G2T) and was a three-time winner of the Bunty Lawless Stakes. In 41 starts he won 14 races, with 10 seconds and four thirds. Voters will select from Careless Jewel, Hard Not To Like, and One For Rose in the Female Horse category. Careless Jewel, sired by Tapit, reeled off five wins in her sophomore season for Alberta-based owners Donver Stables and CHRHF conditioner Josie Carroll. Her highlights that year included a 7 1/4 length victory in the Delaware Oaks (G2) and an 11-length win in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Careless Jewel completed her win streak in the Cotillion Stakes (G2) at Philadelphia Park. She earned $1,013,346 with a race record of 5-0-1 from 7 starts. Bred in Ontario by Garland Williamson, well-travelled Hard Not to Like won at five of the eight tracks she visited during 22 starts over five years. She earned more than $1.2 million while accumulating eight victories. Her wins included the 2014 Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland, the 2015 Diana Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga, and the Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park the same year for three grade 1 turf scores at three different tracks. The striking grey filly by Hard Spun and out of Tactical Cat mare, Like a Gem, (herself a multiple graded stakes winner), was indeed bred for success. Three-time Canadian champion filly or mare, One For Rose was bred by John Sikura's Hill 'N' Dale Farm, owned by the Tucci Stables of Toronto and trained by Hall of Fame Inductee Sid Attard during her lengthy career. During her career, she twice beat the boys in the Seagram Cup (G3) and had repeat wins in the Algoma Stakes, Maple Leaf Stakes (G3), and Ontario Matron. She was named the Sovereign Award recipient as Canada's Older Female Horse in 2003, 2004, and 2005. As a broodmare, she produced five winners from six foals, including two million-dollar-plus earners. The 2026 Jockey finalists include Richard Dos Ramos, George HoSang, and Emile Ramsammy. Richard Dos Ramos was the senior member of the Woodbine Jockeys' Room in terms of years of service when he retired in 2013. The classy veteran began his riding career in the spring of 1981 at Greenwood. He claimed the rider's title at both the Woodbine and Greenwood Autumn meets that same year, as well as being named top apprentice jockey for the first of two consecutive years. It was during the following decade that two of his finest riding accomplishments came for HOF owner, Steve Stavro, and his HOF trainer, Phil England. In 1992, he steered Benburb to a huge upset win over A.P. Indy in the Molson Export Million (G2). In 1999, he guided longshot Thornfield to victory in the $1.5 million Canadian International. In 2002, Dos Ramos was honored with the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award before winning the Woodbine Oaks with Ginger Gold. Career statistics include 18,645 races with 2,159 wins, 2,242 seconds, 2,206 thirds and nearly $61 million in purse earnings. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, George HoSang rode extensively in Canada during the 1980s and 1990s, producing some of the highest volume and highest earning seasons of his career. His Canadian years are best known for large seasonal books of mounts, consistent in-the-money performances and several stakes-level victories. His most notable Canadian mounts include Minnedoso, Ginger Snap, Morning Native, and Celtic Deer. At the time of his retirement in 1997, at the age of 53, he had won a total of 1,395 races, including 49 stakes and was twice Ontario's leading rider. Emile Ramsammy, considered a true gentleman and champion, began his career as a jockey in Trinidad in 1980. He achieved 500 wins and was named Caribbean Barbadian Champion jockey in 1986 and 1989, winning the Barbadian Gold Cup in 1985, 1987 and 1988. In 1990, Ramsammy started riding in Canada. He was awarded the Sovereign Award as Outstanding Jockey in 1996 and 1997 and received the Avelino Gomez Award 2011. His resume includes Queen's Plate victories with Victor Cooley in 1996 and Edenwold in 2006 and he achieved stakes success with Wake at Noon, One for Rose, and many others. Career statistics include 18,805 starts (2283-2284-2250) and earnings of $89,102,028. In the Communicator category, the finalists are Michael Burns Jr., Neil Campbell, and Bill Tallon. Following in the footsteps of his father, CHRHF Honored Member Michael Burns Sr., Michael Burns Jr. joined his dad's photography business in the late 1970s. He is the official photographer of Woodbine Racetrack. He has shot photos at 24 Breeders' Cups for various media organizations and publications. His contribution to horse racing has been recognized with multiple Sovereign Awards, O'Brien Awards, and Dan Patch Awards. In addition to his horse racing coverage, Michael's work has included telling the story of multiple national and international sports competitions. In 2022, Michael Burns, Jr. was inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame. Writer Neil Campbell fell in love with horse racing at an early age and utilized that passion when he began covering the sport for the Globe in Mail where from 1983 to 1987, he wrote several weekly columns and features for the publication, all while overseeing the work of other staff writers. Campbell's coverage extended to telling the stories of the first 10 Breeders' Cups. In 1986, Campbell won a Sovereign Award from the Jockey Club of Canda for Outstanding Writing. A prolific horse racing writer, an avid handicapper, and a fan of traveling to the world's biggest races, Bill Tallon's work could be read in the Daily Racing Form for a span of 35 years. During his tenure with DRF, Tallon held the positions of writer and editor while covering racing at Woodbine and other Canadian tracks. In 1995, he won the Sovereign Award in the Outstanding Feature Writing category. The 2026 Thoroughbred Legend finalists include Kemo Inamsu, Osborn Morton, Eva Ring, Alfred Tarn, and Kathleen Taylor. Those included in the Legend Category include horses and people whose impact on Canadian horse racing at least 50 years prior to election with a particular focus on individuals considered "Unsung Heroes" and "Trailblazers" whose contributions helped shape the sport in Canada. Kemo Inamasu was born in Japan in 1879 and left his home country as a teenager to seek his fortune, eventually finding his way to the Klondike in 1898, before becoming a restaurateur. Perhaps the trip was a failure, but he compensated for it later when he claimed the 5-year-old mare Duchess of York for $1,000 in 1928. The mare was bred by Charlie Yeadle, who had purchased her dam, Lady Kilmarnock in foal to Yorkshire Lad. The mare won 31 more races at tracks in Toronto, New Orleans, California, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Regina. Born a slave in the Southern United States, Osborn Morton came to the Montreal area through the Underground Railroad, eventually becoming a jockey, a horse owner, and the owner of a livery stable on Montreal's Bonaventure Street. Records from 1875 show that a horse name Aerolite, owned by Morton, won the second race of the day for a purse of 300 at Blue Bonnets. In 1877, Morton was described as working as a jockey at St. Charles Racecourse. Eva Ring was among the first female jockeys to ride and train winning racehorses in Western Canada during the 1930s-1940s. It was a time in North American history when women were not permitted to obtain a jockey license or ride in flat races alongside their male counterparts, but Ring was a trailblazer and managed to overcome many of the obstacles of her time. In 1949, she obtained her trainer's license from the Prairie Thoroughbred Breeders Racing Association. Alfred Tarn was described as a self-made and thoroughly enthusiastic sportsman. He was the leading winning owner in 1927 and 1930, runner-up in 1926 and 1929. In six seasons on the old prairie circuit, he pocketed over $70,000. By 1930, Alf had built a solid reputation as an owner, trainer of Thoroughbreds, with racing columns across North America referring to him as "well-known owner," "clever horseman," "shrewd campaigner," and "possessor of a powerful stable". In 1936, he purchased Rushaway for $10,000 from multi-millionaire Joseph Early Widener. Rushaway won the Louisiana Derby in 1936 with his son-in-law Johnny Longden up. That same year, Tarn was the second leading trainer in North America. Kathleen Taylor, who was often referred to by her nickname "Bill" was the eldest daughter of Austin and Kathleen Taylor. Austin is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, being inducted in the organization's inaugural class in 1976. In the mid-1930s, Kathleen's name became prominent within West Coast racing circles as she ran her own stable. One of her great passions in life was horse racing which she managed to fit in among her philanthropic pursuits.