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Les Lear
Leslie Lear (August 22, 1918 – January 5, 1979) was a National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) player and coach as well as an owner and trainer of Thoroughbred race horses. Football He grew up in Manitoba, Canada, where he played guard at the University of Manitoba. Lear started his professional football career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and helped the team to two Grey Cup victories. In 1944, he signed with the Cleveland Rams of the NFL becoming the first Canadian-trained player to play in the NFL. He would play a total of 4 seasons in the NFL. After his stint in the NFL, Lear returned to Canada where he coached the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders to an undefeated season in 1948- the only CFL team to go undefeated in a season. CFL coaching record Horse racing Following his retirement from football, Les Lear became involved in Thoroughbred horse racing both as a horse trainer and an owner. Later life and de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grafton, North Dakota
Grafton is a city and the county seat of Walsh County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 4,170 at the 2020 census. making Grafton the 17th largest city in North Dakota. Grafton was founded in 1881 and US Highway 81 and North Dakota Highway 17 are the 2 major highways that run through the city. History The Grafton area was homesteaded by Nils Monson. Nils Monson was a 29-year-old bachelor who walked to the area from Winnipeg in the fall of 1878 to homestead. He was the first to deed his 160-acre homestead to the town. The Grafton area was later settled by Thomas E Cooper in early 1879. He became postmaster later that year when a post office was constructed as part of expansions in service for the Northern Pacific Railway and the Great Northern Railway. Grafton was founded in 1881. It was incorporated as a village in 1881 and then became a city in 1903. In 1881, Walsh County was established and Grafton was subsequently designated the county seat. The city was name ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saratoga Special Stakes
The Saratoga Special Stakes is an American grade II thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is for two-year-olds willing to race six furlongs on the dirt. With its first run in 1901, the Saratoga Special was a winner-take-all race until 1959 when it became a standard stakes race. The race was held at Belmont Park on the Widener Course in 1943, 1944, and 1945. There was no race in 1911 and 1912 due to the New York State legislated ban on parimutuel betting that led to the closure of all New York racetracks. There was also no race held in 2004. Since inception it has been contested at various distances: * 5.5 furlongs : 1901–1906 * 6 furlongs : 1907–1993, 2005, 2020 * furlongs : 1994–2003, 2006–2019 Only four horses have ever won all three Saratoga Racecourse events for two-year-olds. Regret (1914), Campfire (1916), Dehere (1993), and City Zip (2000) each swept the Saratoga Special, Sanford Stakes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thoroughbred Horse Racing
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and Horse industry, industry involving the Horse racing, racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in the UK and Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechasing in the US. Jump racing can be further divided into hurdling (horse race), hurdling and Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechasing. According to ''The Guardian'', the racing of Thoroughbreds has been steadily declining in popularity worldwide. Between 700 and 800 racehorses die in racing each year. Ownership and training of racehorses Traditionally, racehorses have been owned by wealthy individuals. It has become increasingly common in the last few decades for horses to be owned by syndicates or partnerships. Notable examples include the 2005 Epsom Derby winner Motivator (horse), Motivator, owned by the Royal Ascot Racing Club, 2003 Kentucky Derby winner ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Horse Trainer
A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them good behaviors and/or coaching them for events, which may include contests and other riding purposes. The level of education and the yearly salary they can earn for this profession may differ depending on where the person is employed. History Domestication of the horse, Horse domestication by the Botai culture in Kazakhstan dates to about 3500 BC. Written records of horse training as a pursuit has been documented as early as 1350 BC, by Kikkuli, the Hurrian "master horse trainer" of the Hittite Empire. Another source of early recorded history of horse training as a discipline comes from the Ancient Greece, Greek writer Xenophon, in his treatise ''On Horsemanship''. Writing circa 350 BC, Xenophon addressed Horse training, starting young horses, selecting older animals, and proper Horse groom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and five in the West Division (CFL), West Division. The CFL is the highest professional level of Canadian football in the world. The league is headquartered in Toronto. The CFL was officially established on January 19, 1958, upon the merger between the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union or "Big Four" (founded in 1907) and the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU) (founded in March 1936). The Big Four was renamed the Eastern Football Conference in 1960, while the WIFU was renamed the Western Football Conference in 1961. , the league features a 21-week season (sport), regular season in which each team plays 18 games with 3 bye (sports), bye weeks. The season traditionally runs from mid-June to early November. Following the regular seas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and the highest professional level of American football in the world. Each NFL season begins annually with a NFL preseason, three-week preseason in August, followed by the NFL regular season, 18-week regular season, which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 17 games and having one Bye (sports), bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, seven teams from each conference, including the four division winners and three Wild card (sports), wild card teams, advance to the NFL playoffs, playoffs, a single-elimination tournament, which culminates in the Super Bowl, played in early February ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sky Classic Stakes
The Sky Classic Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Raced in mid to late August on turf over a distance of miles (10 furlongs), it is open to horses three years of age and older. In recent years it has become a major prep race for local horses looking to go on to run against the best horses from around the world in Woodbine's $2 million Canadian International. Renamed in 1995 to honour Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Sky Classic, the race was first run at the Old Woodbine Racetrack in 1902 as the Jockey Club Cup Handicap. It was raced on dirt from inception until 1956 but became a turf race the following year when moved to the new Woodbine racing facility. Over the years, it has been run at various distances: On dirt: *1902–1903 : 2 miles *1904–1905 : miles *1906–1926 : miles *1927–1931 : miles *1936–1951 : miles *1952–1956 : miles On turf: *1957–1989 : miles *1990–1994 : ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toronto Cup Stakes
The Toronto Cup Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually on turf at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Run in early July, the race is open to three-year-olds and is run over a distance of miles (9 furlongs) on turf. Inaugurated in 1890 as the Toronto Cup Handicap at the Old Woodbine Racetrack, it was raced on dirt and open to older horses until 1935. From inception through 1898 it was raced at miles, then from 1899 to 1934 at miles. There was no race in 1918 and 1919 and was suspended in 1935 then revived in 1953 restricted to three-year-olds and competed at a distance of miles on dirt. Since 1958 the race has been run on the turf with the exception of 1968 when it had to be switched to the main dirt track. In 1987 the turf race was modified to its present miles except for 1994 when it was held at the Fort Erie Racetrack and run at its old -mile distance. The race was run in two divisions in 1983, 1986, and 1999. Records Speed record: * 1:47.00 – Skybound ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manitoba Derby
The Manitoba Derby is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the beginning of August at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Established in 2023, it is the first jewel of the Western Canadian Triple Crown. A Listed Race Group races, also known as Pattern races, or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are the highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing. They include most of the world's iconic races, such as the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triom ... for three-year-olds, it is contested on dirt over a distance of miles (9 furlongs). Winners since 1998 Earlier Winners *1996 - Northernprospector *1995 - Langara Island *1994 - P.C.'s Bluff *1993 - Royal Frolic *1992 - Jan Artic *1991 - Plenty Chilly *1990 - Reancy *1989 - Rough Catch *1988 - No Malice *1987 - Steady Power *1986 - Steady Effort *1985 - Kamp Out *1984 - Ten Gold Pots *1983 - Gone to Royalty *1982 - Exclusive Canadian *1981 - Regimen *1980 - Country Free *1979 - Easters Memory ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marine Stakes
The Marine Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Held in mid May, it is open to three-year-old horses and is contested over a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs) on Polytrack synthetic dirt. It currently offers a purse of $150,000. Inaugurated in 1956 at Greenwood Raceway, for Canadian-bred horses the Marine Stakes is the final prep for the Queen's Plate, Canada's most prestigious horse race. Since inception, it has been raced at various distances: * 7 furlongs : 1968–1975 at Woodbine Racetrack * miles : 1956, 1961–1962, 1965–1966 at Greenwood Raceway, 1967, 1976 to present at Woodbine Racetrack * miles 1957, 1963 at Greenwood Raceway * 1 mile 1958–1960 at Greenwood Raceway * miles : 1964 at Greenwood Raceway Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles) * 1:41.80 - Victor Cooley (1996) Most wins by an owner: * 6 - Sam-Son Farm (1974, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2013) Most wins by a jockey: * 5 - Sandy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Highlander Stakes
The Highlander Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Run in mid to late June, the Grade II race is open to horses aged three and older. Raced over a distance of six furlongs on turf, it currently offers a purse of $250,000. Inaugurated in 1954 as the Highlander Handicap at Toronto's Greenwood Raceway, it was moved to Woodbine Racetrack in 1957. The race was contested on dirt through 2003 when it was moved to the turf for the 2004 edition. It has been run at a distance of six furlongs except for 1957 and 1958 when it was run at seven furlongs. The race was upgraded to Grade II status for 2010, fell to a Grade III, and restored as a Grade II event in 2014. In 2018, the Jockey Club of Canada moved it to Grade I status. The event was downgraded to Grade II in 2022. Records Speed record: * 1:07.13 - Long On Value (2018) Most wins: * 2 - Signature Red (2010, 2011) * 2 - Stutz Bearcat (1979, 1980) * 2 - Wake At Noon (20 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers at Churchill Downs; the horses carry . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year. The winner gets $846,300 of the $1,500,000 purse, and a large garland blanket of lilies, resulting in the nickname "Lilies for the Fillies." A silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy is presented to the winner. History The first running of the Kentucky Oaks was on May 19, 1875, when Churchill Downs was known as the Louisville Jockey Club. The race was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. along with the Kentucky Derby, the Clark Handicap, and the Falls City Handicap. The Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby are the oldest continuously contested sporting events in American history. The Kentucky Oaks was modeled after the British Epsom Oaks, which has been run annually at Epsom Downs, Epsom, in Surrey sinc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
