Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame has announced the finalists for its 2025 induction class, with champion stallion Ghostzapper headlining the thoroughbred nominees.
The Hall of Fame’s Standardbred and Thoroughbred Nomination Committees revealed their selections Tuesday, setting the stage for the final voting process. The Class of 2025 will include six inductees from each breed, with committees having the option to select two individuals in a single category if needed.
A 20-person Election Committee for each breed will now determine the final inductees, with results scheduled for announcement on Wednesday, April 23. Formal induction ceremonies will take place August 6.
The Thoroughbred Nominating Committee has organized its 2025 ballot into six categories: Builder, Female Horse, Jockey, Male Horse, Trainer and Veteran (Person or Horse).
In the Male Horse category, Ghostzapper stands as the marquee nominee alongside Fatal Bullet and Rahy’s Attorney. Ghostzapper, photographed by Sarah Andrew, has established himself as a top stallion following his illustrious racing career.
The Female Horse category features Careless Jewel, Hard Not To Like, and Marketing Mix as finalists.
Jockey nominees include Richard Dos Ramos, Emile Ramsammy, and Perry Winters, each having made significant contributions to Canadian racing.
For the Builder category, John Burness, Ivan Dalos, and Phil Kives have been recognized for their impact on the industry’s development.
The Trainer category highlights the careers of Michael (Mike) Doyle, Dale Saunders, and Laurie Silvera.
Rounding out the thoroughbred nominations are the Veteran category finalists: Bessarabian, Andy Smithers, and Storm Bird.
The standardbred finalists were also announced but details were not included in the original report.
