Updates from Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

At a recent Board meeting of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the following committee updates were approved in advance of the CHRHF 2025 Nominations and Elections.

Standardbred Committee Updates:

Nova Scotia born and now a resident of Alberta, Fred Gillis, who has participated in the Standardbred industry throughout Canada as a successful trainer, driver and executive, fills the position on the Standardbred Nomination Committee previously held by highly respected Kent Oakes, who passed away earlier in 2024.

Quebec-based Richard Veilleux becomes a voter on the Standardbred Election Committee following the retirement from the Committee by his father Alain Veilleux. Appreciation is extended to Alain Veilleux for his time as a Committee member and voter.

Thoroughbred Committee Updates:

R. Glenn Sikura, CHRHF 2023 Thoroughbred Builder Inductee has been appointed Thoroughbred Nomination Committee Chair. In addition to being an active owner-breeder in the Canadian Thoroughbred industry, Glenn has held significant leadership roles with industry organizations including the Jockey Club of Canada, CTHS National, CTHS Ontario and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The CHRHF thanks Honoured Member Sue Leslie, the outgoing chair of this Committee, for her time and leadership and appreciates her continued involvement as a member of the Thoroughbred Nomination Committee.

Robert Landry, CHRHF 2014 Jockey Inductee becomes a member of the Thoroughbred Nomination Committee to fill the position previously held by Tom Cosgrove. Roles held by Mr. Cosgrove during his tenure with the Thoroughbred Nomination Committee include that of Committee Chair for several years. The CHRHF extends gratitude to Tom Cosgrove for his time and commitment to the CHRHF throughout his many years of involvement with the organization.

Updates to the Thoroughbred Election Committee include a New Committee Chair, and two new members.

A member of the CHRHF Thoroughbred Election Committee since 2019, Ontario-based Thoroughbred trainer, and Jockey Club of Canada Steward Catherine Day-Phillips becomes that Committee’s Chair, filling the role previously held by CHRHF 2015 Communicator Inductee, Jim Bannon. Jim will continue as a voter, and the CHRHF extends appreciation for his time and contributions as Committee Chair.

To reduce duplication on Nomination and Election Committees, both Glenn Sikura and Sue Leslie will step down from the Election Committee, as they continue as members of the Thoroughbred Nomination Committee. Joining the Thoroughbred Election Committee is 2021 Thoroughbred Builder Inductee Vicki Pappas, Chairperson of Long-Run Thoroughbred Retirement Society. Additionally, Thoroughbred Trainer Inductee Dan Vella, two-time Sovereign Award recipient and twice the trainer of Queen’s Plate winning horses, will be joining the Thoroughbred Election Committee.

A complete list of committee members can be found here.

As a primarily volunteer based organization, the CHRHF thanks all Committee members for their service to the nomination and election process as they participate in the process of determining those who will become Honoured Members of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

2025 Nominations and Elections:

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (CHRHF) invites the public to participate in the nomination of people and horses who have made a significant contribution to Canadian Standardbred or Thoroughbred horse racing, for induction to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, as part of the CHRHF Class of 2025.

Nominations are being sought in the following categories:

• PERSON: Trainers, Drivers, Jockeys.
• BUILDERS: Includes, but not limited to Breeders, Owners, Officials, and others.
• COMMUNICATORS: Includes, but not limited to Writers, Broadcasters, Photographers, Announcers, Bloggers.
• VETERAN PERSON: Trainers, Drivers, Jockeys whose careers have been concluded for 20 years, but less than 50 years.
• MALE HORSE: Colts, geldings or stallions whose significant contribution to Canadian racing as racehorses and/or as sires has occurred in the past 20 years.
• FEMALE HORSE: Fillies and mares whose contribution to Canadian racing as racehorses and/or broodmares occurred in the past 20 years.
• VETERAN HORSE: Horses whose careers have been concluded for 20 years, but less than 50 years.

All nominations received before the nomination deadline of March 7, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST, that meet the eligibility criteria, will be considered by the Nomination Committee of the appropriate breed. Complete Nomination and Election Criteria, process details and nomination forms are available at 2025 Nominations and Elections.

Founded in 1976, The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, is a registered charity with a mission to honour and preserve the history and majesty of horse racing in Canada, by celebrating and bestowing recognition for excellence achieved by those who have significantly contributed to horse racing in Canada, a sport with a legacy of over 250 years.

From the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame