The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame congratulates the people and horses recognized as inductees in 2023.
Introductory ceremonies for the Class of 2023 will be held in August 2023, along with those previously announced in October 2022 as the Class of CHRHF 2022. Additional details will be forthcoming. announced in May.
Class of 2023—Those introduced to the pureblood
Glenn Sikura—The Builder
Dryer Irwin—Jockey
pink -Male horse
Solemn Gold—Veterans
R. Glenn Sikura—The Builder
Owner/operator of Hill ‘n’ Dale Canada, located in King, Ont., R. Glenn Sikura has contributed to Canadian Purebred racing as a breeder, owner and dealer sales and holds key positions in organizations representing various aspects of the Canadian Purebred Industry.
Sikura has been principal manager of the Canadian Equestrian Club since 2018 and is a former president of the CTHS National and Ontario Division, former president of the Canadian Equestrian Hall of Fame, founding member and former President of OHRIA, former director of Breeders’ Cup and TOBA.
As the owner of the Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm Dealer in Toronto, he has sold 148 bet horses to date that have won over $80,000,000 and 2,500 races. In Kentucky, horses Sikura has sold include Arlington Million (G1T) winner Jambalaya, and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner and champion, Maryfield. Other successful sales graduates include Horse of the Year A Bit O’Gold, champion Dynamic Sky, Inglorious, and One for Rose. As an owner/raider, Glenn has campaigned for champion Serenading, Handpainted, Painting and many others.
As a horse breeder who raises ponies for clients across North America, it is estimated that he personally delivered the majority of the approximately 1,500 ponies at the ranch. Sikura is also the recipient of the BloodHorse Mint Julep Cup for Lifetime Contributions to the Horse Industry in 2016 and a Merit Award from CTHS Ontario. Sikura becomes the third family member to be inducted into the Canadian Equestrian Hall of Fame, ahead of his father John Sikura Jr., CHRHF Class of 2013 and brother, John G. Sikura, CHRHF Class of 2018.
Dryer Irwin—Jockey
A native of Russell, MB, Irwin Dryger began his equestrian career in 1967, aged 11, as an exercise equestrian. He then honed his skills at fairs in Western Canada, before moving on to bush tracks and eventually gaining recognition as the Assiniboia Downs in 1973, where he made his trade. until 1982. In 1979, Dryger set the Assiniboia record with 161 wins before surpassing his own record in 1980 with 180 wins. In 1981, Dryger made 214 trips to the winners’ ring, a record that stood for many years. Over the next 17 years, Dryger drove at major racetracks across Canada, winning 1,633 races for $14.6 million in earnings. Recipient of the 1998 Avelino Gomez Memorial Award, Dryger has ridden the Liz’s Pride Sovereignty Award winners, Phoenix Factor, Classy ‘n Smart, In My Cap, Gray Classic and Imperial Choice. As the daughter of the CHRHF honoree Classy ‘n Smart Dance Smart got ready to begin her racing career, Dryger had the opportunity to ride a future CHRHF Honored Member in her first start of the race. her, a 5-mile maiden race, which the pair won by a comfortable 3 1/2-length margin.
In 1990, Dryger retired and became secretary and director of the Jockeys Association of Canada, serving his first term until 2006. Under his direction, Canadian Jockey’s became the first company. first in North America to wear protective suits. Dryger is also credited with helping to install safety rails at Woodbine. From 2006 to 2018, Dryger served as director of purebred racing surfaces at Woodbine. In 2019, he returned to the Jockeys Welfare Association of Canada to once again take on the role of secretary-manager, a position he held until his retirement in 2021.
Pink Lloyd—Male horse
A foal bred in Ontario in 2012, Pink Lloyd has become one of the country’s most famous and beloved racehorses throughout her career. Missing out on the race at the ages of 2 and 3 due to growing pains, he certainly made up for it in his six years on the track, winning 29 of 38 starts and earning $2.4 million (US$1,884,584) under the guidance of Canadian athlete and Hall of Fame Coach, Robert Tiller. Bred by John Carey and owned by Entourage Stable, which includes the main owner, Frank Di Giulio Jr., gelding’s first big win came in early 2017 when he won the Jacques Cartier Stakes, a race that he will win significantly three more times. This win would be the start of an incredible career record of 26 career winnings, all achieved at Woodbine in the sprint. The perfect season with eight stake wins earned him the Sovereign Award as champion older horse, outstanding sprinter and Horse of the Year.
Over the course of the next 4 years, 5 more Sovereign Awards were won while Pink Lloyd reigned as the longtime sprint champion, often competing in record time. Pink Lloyd’s 38th and final career start in the fall of 2021 was at Kennedy Road Stakes, when the venerable 9-year-old gelding gave his best in the final and rushed out late to earned his 29th career score in front of an admiring audience. After he retired from racing, Pink Lloyd’s connections donated him to the LongRun Purebred Retirement Association, where he happily enjoys daily voter turnout and visits from coaching staff. Hall of Fame trainer and his longtime groom. Now his ties will add another prize to the title, that of an honored member of the Canadian Horse Racing.
Solemn Gold—Veterans
25 years after the end of his racing career, the Ontario-bred Formal Gold continues to rank among the top purebred dogs in North America, in terms of Beyer’s speed metrics.
Bred by Mr and Mrs. Rodes Kelly, coached by William W. Perry and owned by John D. Murphy Sr., throughout his racing career the son of Black Tie Affair has consistently received ratings. Beyer’s speed in the mid-120s. At the age of 4, when he was hit in the nose by Wills Way during Whitney (G1) in 1997, Formal Gold earned a Beyer Rating of 126; 124th for his win in Philip H. Iselin (G2) and 125th when he won Woodward Stakes (G1) that same year. For comparison, current racing superstar Flightline received a 126 Beyer Rating in the 2022 Pacific Classic (G1) and 121 for his win in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Gold officially ranks among the top handicap horses of 1997 with a hurdle attempt in two 1st place wins—Donn Handicap at Gulfstream and Woodward Stakes, beating Horse of the Year and Grand Prix member the United States Hall of Fame, Skip Away, in both races. In total, Formal Gold finished ahead of Skip Away in four of their six meetings.
At stud, Formal Gold is ranked among the top 1% with 2 year olds winning in the first place at 45% and females with a global earnings of almost $16 million (US) , including 19 bet winners. After topping out at Gainesway Ranch in Lexington, he was then transferred to Rancho San Miguel in Calif., and finally to Esquirol Ranch in Alberta, Canada.
For more information about the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, visit our website at www.horseracinghalloffame.com.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
