Todd Kabel
Encyclopedia
Todd K. Kabel is a Canadian
Thoroughbred
horse racing
jockey
. He began his career riding at Assiniboia Downs
in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in 1987 started competing at tracks in Ontario
, moving to Toronto
permanently in 1991.
Riding out of Woodbine Racetrack
, Todd Kabel won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey
in Canada in 1992 and 1995, and four years running from 2003 to 2006. In the 1997 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
at Hollywood Park Racetrack, Kabel rode 78-1 long shot Dawson's Legacy to a second place finish behind 1997's American Horse of the Year
, Favorite Trick
. In 2003 he became the first Canadian-based jockey to earn more than $10 million in purses, and in 2004 he tied the record of 36 graded stakes race
wins in a season set by the late Hall of Fame jockey, Avelino Gomez
.
Among Kabel's major wins he rode Regal Discovery
to victory in the 1995 Queen's Plate
, the country's most prestigious race and that was his big break. In 2000, aboard Scatter The Gold, he earned his second victory in the Queen's Plate then won the Prince of Wales Stakes
, both of which were run on dirt. However, Kabel and Scatter The Gold missed winning the Canadian Triple Crown
when they finished third in the Breeders' Stakes
on turf
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
. He began his career riding at Assiniboia Downs
Assiniboia Downs
Assiniboia Downs is a Canadian horse race track opened in June 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The main track is a six-and-one-half furlong oval....
in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in 1987 started competing at tracks in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, moving to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
permanently in 1991.
Riding out of Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
, Todd Kabel won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey
Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey
The Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey is a Canadian thoroughbred horse racing honor given annually since 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada. Part of the Sovereign Awards, the "Outstanding Jockey" laurel is similar to the Eclipse Award given to jockeys in the United States.Honourees:*1975 : Hugo...
in Canada in 1992 and 1995, and four years running from 2003 to 2006. In the 1997 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
at Hollywood Park Racetrack, Kabel rode 78-1 long shot Dawson's Legacy to a second place finish behind 1997's American Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
, Favorite Trick
Favorite Trick
Favorite Trick was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1997 became the first 2-year-old in twenty-five years to be voted United States Horse of the Year....
. In 2003 he became the first Canadian-based jockey to earn more than $10 million in purses, and in 2004 he tied the record of 36 graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
wins in a season set by the late Hall of Fame jockey, Avelino Gomez
Avelino Gomez
Avelino Gomez was a Cuban-born Hall of Fame jockey in American and Canadian thoroughbred horse racing.Born in Havana, Gomez began a career as a jockey at the urging of a family member...
.
Among Kabel's major wins he rode Regal Discovery
Regal Discovery
Regal Discovery was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1995 Queen's Plate, Canada's most prestigious race and North America's oldest annually run stakes race....
to victory in the 1995 Queen's Plate
Queen's Plate
The Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
, the country's most prestigious race and that was his big break. In 2000, aboard Scatter The Gold, he earned his second victory in the Queen's Plate then won the Prince of Wales Stakes
Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and three sixteenths . In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the...
, both of which were run on dirt. However, Kabel and Scatter The Gold missed winning the Canadian Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
when they finished third in the Breeders' Stakes
Breeders' Stakes
The Breeders' Stakes is a Canadian stakes race for Thoroughbred race horses first run in 1889. Since 1959 it has been the third race in the Canadian Triple Crown for three-year-olds...
on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
.