by John Siscos, WEG media

Toronto, ON — Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold and Little Brown Jug champion Astreos are on the 2011 ballot for the 18 Thoroughbred and Standardbred nominees, along with 12 racing notables, for induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

The winners in the three equine categories for each breed and the jockey/trainer, driver/trainer and builder categories will be announced on May 17. The gala induction ceremonies will be held Thursday, August 18, at the Mississauga Convention Centre on Derry Road.

Touch Gold, a Kentucky-bred colt with Canadian connections — Deputy Minister and Passing Mood — stunned a national TV audience in 1997 when he unleashed a dramatic stretch run to prevent Silver Charm’s bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The colt was owned by Aurora’s Frank Stronach and Stonerside Stable and trained by Danny Vella as a juvenile. Also nominated in the Male Horse category were two Sam-Son Farms’ multiple stakes winners, Soaring Free and Quiet Resolve.

Astreos, best remembered for his win in a race-off to take the 2000 edition of the Little Brown Jug, earned more than $1 million on the track for trainers Chris Christoforou and Brett Pelling. At stud the son of Artsplace has sired millionaires To Helen Back and Zooka. Also nominated in the male category were Majestic Son, the incredible record setting trotting sensation and winner of $1.75 million, and Wesgate Crown, the O’Brien Award and Breeders Crown champion, who earned $2.57 million.

Female Thoroughbreds nominated were Queen’s Plate and Oaks champion Dancethruthedawn, who was a multiple graded stakes winner in the U.S. She is joined in this category by Horse of the Year Arravale and three-time Sovereign Award winner One For Rose.

Burning Point, winner of $2.81 million, led the Standardbred female nominees along with the talented pacing mare Invitro and trotting mare B Cor Tamara.

One of Canada’s great broodmares, Square Angel, along with Ruling Angel and Imperial Choice head veteran Thoroughbreds. Standardbred veterans nominated were Dalyce Blue, Silver Reign and Rumpus Hanover.

The late Tammy Samuel Balaz of Sam-Son Farms’ fame led the Thoroughbred side of the Builder category. Also nominated were one of Canada’s leading owners and breeders, Aubrey W. Minshall, and Bruce Walker, one of North America’s leading race publicists and multiple Sovereign Award winning writer.

Standardbred Builders included owner/breeder Robert Burgess, Maritimes’ journalist/editor/advocate Doug Harkness and the man who built Flamboro Downs and owned world champions, Charles Juravinski.

Trainers Mark Frostad, winner of four Queen’s Plates, and Phil England, who conditioned three Horse of the Year champions, along with Eclipse and Sovereign Award winning jockey Mickey Walls, were nominated in their category.

Steve Condren, winner of more than 6,600 races, Dave Wall (7,115 wins) and PEI native and U.S. Hall of Fame inductee Wally Hennessey (7,800 wins) are nominees in the driver/trainer category.