Larry and Sharon Ross among those elected to Washington Racing Hall of Fame

Trainers Larry and Sharon Ross head the list of people and horses who were elected to the Washington Racing Hall of Fame.

Jockey Jack Leonard and breeder Robert L. Edwards were also voted into the Hall of Fame by representatives of the Washington Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, Emerald Downs, and media.

An induction ceremony will be held at Emerald Downs on Washington Cup Day, Aug. 28, with inductees to be honored in the winner’s circle between races.

Equine stars Loto Canada and Flamme will also be honored.

Among the many stakes winners the Rosses trained are Stryker Phd and Chum Salmon. Stryker Phd won the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in 2014 and 2015. He is a possible starter in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Classic on Washington Cup Day. The 7-year-old son of Bertrando won the race in 2013 and 2015.

Chum Salmon won nine stakes, including the 1985 Mile.

“It was a real surprise because we hadn’t seen the nominations,” said Sharon Ross. “It is a very special honor. We appreciate the acknowledgement of a career filled with good horses, good owners, and good help. We want to say thank you to all the people who have supported us through the years that helped make this possible.”

Jack Leonard, a native of Renton, Wash., was the leading rider at Longacres in 1969 and was among the national leaders in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He won the Longacres Mile with Sparrow Castle in 1961 and Praise Jay in 1969.

Robert L. Edwards bred many stakes winners, including local champions Sprink, the 1982 older handicap male; Unpossible, the top 3-year-old filly in 1978; and Question, who was the leader of the 1982 2-year-old colts-and-geldings division.

Loto Canada won six stakes, including the 1979 Joe Gottstein Futurity. He finished second by a head to Pappy in the 1980 Longacres Derby and was third in the 1981 Longacres Mile. The son of Saltville was purchased for $5,000 with part of the $1 million Patti and Lee Brauer won in a Canadian lottery. He was trained by Len Kazmerski for most of his career. His first stakes win came at Hastings, then called Exhibition Park, for trainer Chuck Findlay.

Flamme was the local champion 2-year-old filly in 1977 and champion older filly or mare in 1982. She won a total of 13 stakes. Bob McMeans was her trainer for most of her 20 lifetime wins.