Canadiana was no looker, but she was a case of “pretty is as pretty does.” The first of E. P. Taylor’s Canadian champions to be a good stakes competitor in the United States as well, she was as tough as she was homely, competing for four seasons. She was less successful as a broodmare than she had been as a racer.
Race record
62 starts, 20 wins, 9 seconds, 11 thirds, US$173,116 (includes Canadian earnings)
1952:
1953:
1954:
1955:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American-raced 2-year-olds of 1952, 2 pounds below Sweet Patootie (the official champion juvenile filly) and Bubbley.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced 3-year-olds of 1953, 5 pounds below champion 3-year-old filly Grecian Queen.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced fillies and mares of 1954, 10 pounds below co-champion handicap female and champion 3-year-old filly Parlo (a 3-year-old).
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced fillies and mares of 1955, 16 pounds below co-champion handicap female Parlo and 14 pounds below the other co-champion, Misty Morn (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A sway-backed, leggy, hammer-headed bay mare with an ewe neck, Canadiana was described by artist Richard Stone Reeves as “the ugliest horse, stallion or mare, that I have ever painted.”
As a producer
Canadiana produced six named foals, of which five started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Canadiana was bred and owned by E. P. Taylor and raced in the colors of his Windfields Farm. She was trained by Gordon “Pete” McCann in Canada and by Charley Shaw in the United States. She was ridden to her Queen’s Plate triumph by Eddie Arcaro. After her death in 1971, Canadiana was buried at Windfields; later, the great Northern Dancer would be interred next to her.
Pedigree notes
Canadiana is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winners Bennington (by Boswell) and Britannia (by Bunty Lawless; dam of Canadian stakes winner Myanna, by Chop Chop). Canadiana is also a half sister to Victoriana (by Windfields), dam of 1960 Canadian Horse of the Year Victoria Park (by Chop Chop), two-time Canadian champion filly Northern Queen (by Nearctic), and multiple Canadian stakes winners Bull Vic (by Bull Page) and Victoria Regina (by Ménétrier). The last-named mare is the dam of 1968 Canadian Horse of the Year Viceregal and 13-time Canadian champion sire Vice Regent, both by Northern Dancer. Through other daughters, Victoriana is also the second dam of 1983 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Northern Blossom and English Group 3 winner Imperial March and the third dam of Grade/Group 2 winners Explicit and Jape and Grade 3 winner Flying Victor.
Canadiana and her siblings are out of Iribelle (by four-time Canadian champion sire Osiris II), a full sister to 1938 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Mona Bell. Produced from the King James mare Belmona, Iribelle is also a full sister to Lady Mona, dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Acadian (by Teddy Wrack). The female line traces back to the English import Bella-Donna, dam of the great Beldame.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 28, 2021
Race record
62 starts, 20 wins, 9 seconds, 11 thirds, US$173,116 (includes Canadian earnings)
1952:
- Won Miss Cleveland S. (first divisionv) (USA, 5.5FD, Randall Park)
- Won Princess Elizabeth Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine)
- Won Cup and Saucer Handicap (CAN, 8F+70yD, Long Branch)
- Won Coronation Stakes (CAN, 8F+70yD, Woodbine)
- Won Mid-Summer Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Hamilton)
1953:
- Won Queen's Plate (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- Won Test Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Laurel Sprint Handicap (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Gazelle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Comely Handicap (first division) (USA, 8.5FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Step Lightly Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Autumn Day Handicap (USA, 6FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Gallorette Stakes (USA, 9FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Cleopatra Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
1954:
- Won Vagrancy Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Canadian Maturity Stakes (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Sport Page Handicap (CAN, 6FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Barbara Frietchie Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bowie)
- 3rd Mermaid Handicap (USA, 7FD, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Correction Handicap (first division) (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
1955:
- Won Wild Mink Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Long Branch)
- Won Jacques Cartier Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine)
- Won Highlander Handicap (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Champlain Handicap (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Connaught Cup Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Correction Handicap (first division) (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Distaff Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1978)
- Canadian Horse of the Year (1952)
- Canadian champion 2-year-old filly (1952)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American-raced 2-year-olds of 1952, 2 pounds below Sweet Patootie (the official champion juvenile filly) and Bubbley.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced 3-year-olds of 1953, 5 pounds below champion 3-year-old filly Grecian Queen.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced fillies and mares of 1954, 10 pounds below co-champion handicap female and champion 3-year-old filly Parlo (a 3-year-old).
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced fillies and mares of 1955, 16 pounds below co-champion handicap female Parlo and 14 pounds below the other co-champion, Misty Morn (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A sway-backed, leggy, hammer-headed bay mare with an ewe neck, Canadiana was described by artist Richard Stone Reeves as “the ugliest horse, stallion or mare, that I have ever painted.”
As a producer
Canadiana produced six named foals, of which five started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- All Canadian (1957, by Windfields; a gelding) won three Canadian stakes races in a career spanning 127 starts.
- Cailey Jane (1970, by Right Combination) placed in six stakes races. She is the dam of 1980 Grand Prix de Deauville (FR-G2) winner Glenorum (by Prove Out) and Grade 2-placed Canadian stakes winner North Downs (by Hoist the Flag). She is also the third dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Medalha Milagrosa.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Canadiana was bred and owned by E. P. Taylor and raced in the colors of his Windfields Farm. She was trained by Gordon “Pete” McCann in Canada and by Charley Shaw in the United States. She was ridden to her Queen’s Plate triumph by Eddie Arcaro. After her death in 1971, Canadiana was buried at Windfields; later, the great Northern Dancer would be interred next to her.
Pedigree notes
Canadiana is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winners Bennington (by Boswell) and Britannia (by Bunty Lawless; dam of Canadian stakes winner Myanna, by Chop Chop). Canadiana is also a half sister to Victoriana (by Windfields), dam of 1960 Canadian Horse of the Year Victoria Park (by Chop Chop), two-time Canadian champion filly Northern Queen (by Nearctic), and multiple Canadian stakes winners Bull Vic (by Bull Page) and Victoria Regina (by Ménétrier). The last-named mare is the dam of 1968 Canadian Horse of the Year Viceregal and 13-time Canadian champion sire Vice Regent, both by Northern Dancer. Through other daughters, Victoriana is also the second dam of 1983 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Northern Blossom and English Group 3 winner Imperial March and the third dam of Grade/Group 2 winners Explicit and Jape and Grade 3 winner Flying Victor.
Canadiana and her siblings are out of Iribelle (by four-time Canadian champion sire Osiris II), a full sister to 1938 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Mona Bell. Produced from the King James mare Belmona, Iribelle is also a full sister to Lady Mona, dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Acadian (by Teddy Wrack). The female line traces back to the English import Bella-Donna, dam of the great Beldame.
Fun facts
- Canadiana's dam Iribelle was sent to Trafalgar Stud to be bred to Boswell in 1949, but the stallion died before service could be carried out. Apparently without anyone's consulting Taylor, Bosworth's stablemate Chop Chop (then struggling to gain traction as a stallion) was substituted, and Canadiana was the offspring of that chance mating.
- Canadiana was the first Canadian homebred to earn more than CAN$100,000 and more than US$100,000. She was Canada’s leading money winner at the time of her retirement.
- Canadiana was the first of four Queen’s Plate winners sired by Chop Chop, who was also responsible for Lyford Cay (1957), Victoria Park (1960), and Blue Light (1961).
Last updated: December 28, 2021