Loiselle, Sikura, Baker inducted into Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Popular track announcer Dan Loiselle, breeder John G. Sikura, and trainer Reade Baker were among the 2018 inductees into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Mississauga Convention Center on Wednesday night.

Loiselle’s career in horse racing spanned nearly five decades. He replaced Daryl Wells as Woodbine’s Thoroughbred announcer in 1986, and held the position until his retirement in May 2015. He called 28 runnings of the prestigious Queen’s Plate and five Triple Crown winners – With Approval (1989), Izvestia (1990), Dance Smartly (1991), Peteski (1993), and Wando (2003). His puns were his trademark, as well as his “picture time” line whenever a win photo was necessary.

“I’m honored and humbled,” said Loiselle. “To make it into the Hall of Fame, after taking entries in the racing office at Garden City Raceway when I was 15 years old, is beyond comprehension.”

Canadian-born Sikura is the longtime owner and president of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, Ky., which stands several of the top stallions in North America, including Curlin and Kitten’s Joy. His farm has consigned 95 horses that sold for at least $1 million, most notably Better Than Honour, who fetched $14 million in 2008, which was a world record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect. John’s father, John Sikura Jr., was posthumously inducted into this hall of fame in 2013.

Reade Baker captured the 2005 Sovereign Award for outstanding trainer. He conditioned Canadian Horses of the Year Fatal Bullet (2008) and Biofuel (2010), along with a host of Canadian champions, including Bear Now and Tu Endie Wei.

Shaman Ghost and Judy the Beauty, both offspring of Ghostzapper, were the two Thoroughbreds among the class of 2018.

Stronach Stable’s Shaman Ghost was Canada’s champion male 3-year-old in 2015, when he won the Queen’s Plate and Grade 3 Marine Stakes. He went on to take the Grade 1 Woodward in 2016 and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in 2017. He retired as a winner of 8 of 17 starts, with earnings of over $3.8 million, and was recently moved from California to Kentucky to continue his stud career.

Judy the Beauty won the Eclipse Award for champion female sprinter in 2014, when she captured the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint for owner-trainer Wesley Ward. She won 9 of 22 outings, with earnings of just over $1.8 million.

The Standardbred inductees were William Andrew (builder), photographer Dave Landry (communicator), driver/trainer James Doherty, and horses Blissful Hall and Chancey Lady.