Canadian Hall of Fame adds two categories

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame is introducing two new categories and updating its eligibility criteria this year.

The new categories, in the fields of both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, are for human veterans of racing, to recognize those whose careers and impact on racing took place a minimum of 20 years ago, and communicator, which will honor people including broadcasters, announcers, writers, and photographers.

The existing categories are male horse; female horse; builder; people – jockeys/drivers/trainers; and veteran horses.

The new eligibility criteria broaden the base for the existing categories.

“The board of directors felt that our previous eligibility criteria may have excluded horses because of where they were bred and where their owners reside, and horsepeople because of their citizenship or place of residency,” said Kathy Wade Vlaar, director of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Racing Hall of Fame and chairman of the Standardbred election committee, in a press release.

“In revising the eligibility criteria, we wanted to ensure that there is an opportunity, when warranted and deserved, that all horses and horsepeople that have made outstanding contributions to Canadian horse racing are eligible for induction, regardless of where they are from.”

Public nominations for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, which is located at Woodbine, will be accepted until Wednesday, March 6.

Complete eligibility information and details on the nominating process are available at canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com.

The final list of 2013 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductees will be announced April 9.