Ghostzapper Leads Canadian Hall of Fame Inductees

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Election Committee has voted and ratified its class of 2025, which includes Ivan Dalos, Builder; Marketing Mix, Female Horse; Perry Winters, Jockey; Ghostzapper, Male Horse; Mike Doyle, Trainer; and Storm Bird, Veteran. Inductees from Prince Edward Island, Ontario, and Alberta are scheduled to be formally inducted Aug. 6. Induction Gala details and ticket information will be announced May 1. Builder: Ivan Dalos For almost 50 years, 2025 Thoroughbred Builder inductee Ivan Dalos has been part of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry, establishing himself as one of Canada's most successful owner/breeders. After claiming his first racehorse in 1978, with a dream to become a breeder of champions, his Tall Oaks Farm was born. Learning everything he could about pedigrees and nicking, what originally was a handful of broodmares has grown to a band of several dozen mares, five stallions, and close to 150 horses, all exclusively Tall Oaks Farm homebreds. Among his farm's success stories are CHRHF inductees Victory Gallop and Channel Maker. In 2021, Ivan was awarded the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit for his many contributions to racing and breeding. Female Horse: Marketing Mix Female Thoroughbred inductee Marketing Mix is an Ontario-bred Medaglia d'Oro mare bred by Sean Fitzhenry. A $150,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase in 2009, her 21-race career for Glen Hill Farm of Ocala, Fla., under the tutelage of trainer Tom Proctor, includes stats of more than $2 million in earnings and 10 wins, including stakes victories in the 2012 editions of the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T), Nassau Stakes (G2T), Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) and the 2013 Gamely Stakes (G1T) as well as second-place finishes in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) and the 2013 Rodeo Drive. Jockey: Perry Winters The 2025 Thoroughbred Jockey inductee is Edmonton, Alberta-born Perry Winters, who started his career in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1980. By 1984, he was riding with the "big boys" in Edmonton and Calgary on the province's "A" circuit. During a 33-year career, which concluded in 2012, he reached $22 million in purse earnings. His win total of 2,984 races ranks him second among Alberta-born jockeys, exceeded only by CHRHF member Gary Belanger. Seven-time Alberta leading jockey, Winters' best year was 1991 when he won 241 races with his mounts earning $1,249,568. Winters' stats also include more than 100 stakes wins, including the Canadian Derby in 1983 with Cozy Grey. He had his first 100-win season in 1986—a feat he would repeat the next 10 years in a row, Male Horse: Ghostzapper Thoroughbred male horse inductee Ghostzapper reached North American racing's highest level in 2004, winning the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). In addition to being recognized as the Eclipse Award-winning older horse, he also was the Horse of the Year for 2004 and honored as the world's top-rated horse. His pedigree carries Canada's best paternal influences through his sire Awesome Again, his grandsire Deputy Minister, his great-grandsire Vice Regent as well as great-great-grandsire Northern Dancer, all CHRHF members. As a sire himself, Ghostzapper's offspring include Canadian-breds Judy the Beauty and Shaman Ghost, both CHRHF members, as well as Queen's Plate-winning daughters Holy Helena and Moira. Trainer: Mike Doyle Thoroughbred trainer inductee Mike Doyle, trainer of dozens of stakes winners, contributed to the success of owners such as Bo-Teek Farms, Eaton Hall Farms, Windhaven Farms, Dura Racing, Scott Abbott Racing Stable, and many other exceptional local and international connections. Outstanding winners include champions Wavering Girl and Bessarabian, as well as black-type winners Wild Gale (third in the 1993 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1)), Canadian Silver, Ada Prospect, Tee Game, and Blondeinamotel. Doyle's training talent attracted Stronach Stables which led to him being hired as their racing manager. Mike Doyle's training statistics include a 1,172-1,260-1,209 record in 19,039 starts and career earnings of $43,934,360. Veteran: Storm Bird The 2025 Thoroughbred veteran inductee, Storm Bird, was foaled in 1978 at E.P. Taylor's Windfields Farm. The Northern Dancer-sired son was sold at the 1979 Keeneland July Sale for $1 million. Trained in Ireland by Vincent O'Brien, Storm Bird's 2-year-old race season was unblemished over five starts, resulting in him being named the champion 2-year-old colt in England and Ireland. Due to injury and illness, Storm Bird's sophomore year was abbreviated before being retired to stallion service in Kentucky, where he sired 63 stakes winners, including notables Balanchine, Storm Cat, and Summer Squall. In the 1999 Kentucky Derby (G1), Storm Bird was responsible for the top three finishers—Charismatic, by Summer Squall; Menifee, by a Storm Cat son; and Cat Thief, by Storm Cat. Storm Bird's daughters produced more than 100 stakes winners, including 2004 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner, Birdstone.