Willmot among Canadian Hall's class of 2005

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame will honor its 2005 inductees Thursday evening at the Toronto Congress Centre near Woodbine.

David Willmot, chairman and chief executive officer of the Woodbine Entertainment Group, is among this year's inductees on the Thoroughbred side.

Willmot races and breeds horses as Kinghaven Farm, the highly successful outfit that he built in partnership with his father, the late D.G. Willmot.

Willmot, also acclaimed for his accomplishments within the executive framework of both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing industries, will be recognized in the "builders" category.

Cool Reception, who suffered a subsequently fatal injury when he finished second in the 1967 Belmont, and Norcliffe, winner of the 1976 Queen's Plate and back-to-back Sovereign Awards, are the other Thoroughbred inductees.

The dual-breed Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, located at Woodbine, will also induct three Standardbreds: Stew Firlotte, Garland Lobell, and Glorys Comet.

In addition, the organization's veterans committee has added a Thoroughbred, Anita's Son, and a Standardbred, Armbro Omaha, to the Hall of Fame's honor rolls.

Thursday's event will begin with a reception and silent auction opening at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and the induction ceremony following.

Former National Hockey League player Dennis Hull will be the guest speaker.