Canadian Hall of Fame: Pair to be inducted in 'Legends' category

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Patrick MacMurchy and jockey John Dewhurst will be this year’s inductees in the “Legends” category for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

MacMurchy, born in Scotland in 1895, moved to the United States in 1905, and worked with some of the larger racing stables in New Jersey and Kentucky before achieving success on the Ontario circuit in the years following World War II.

His charges included Hartney, Canada’s horse of the year in 1957; Blue Light, upset winner of the Queen’s Plate in 1961; and Titled Hero, a Canadian champion at 2 and 3 who gave MacMurchy a second Queen’s Plate victory.

John Dewhurst, born in 1923, rode his first winner at age 18 in Hamilton, Ontario in 1941.

Dewhurst went on to win the Queen’s Plate with Kingarvie in 1946. His other stakes winners included Libertine, Speedy Irish, Palermo, Beau Dandy, Grand Pal, Impersonator, Hyperhelio, and Nephisto.

Injuries forced Dewhurst into retirement following the 1955 season. He died in 1972 at age 49.

The “Legends” section of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame recognizes people and horses whose accomplishments came in the decades before the organization was formed in 1976.

This year’s induction ceremony will take place at the nearby Mississauga Convention Centre on Aug. 16.