Hall of Fame Jockey Eddie Maple to visit Woodbine on Sunday 

Secretariat’s owner Penny Chenery, trainer Lucien Laurin and jockey Eddie Maple prepare for the 1973 Canadian International at Woodbine (Photo by Michael Burns)

Grace Martin/Woodbine Communications

TORONTO, Ont. – It’s been 50 years since Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Maple rode Secretariat to victory in the latter’s final race, the Canadian International. Coinciding with the return of the 84^th running of the Canadian International on Sunday, Maple returns to Woodbine to participate in the anniversary celebration marked by the presence of a special Secretariat exhibit.

Racing fans are invited to meet Maple for an autograph session from 12 p.m.- 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, on the 3^rd floor of the grandstand at Woodbine Racetrack.

Other highlights throughout Maple’s distinguished career include two Belmont Stakes scores, and victories in the Suburban, Met Mile, the Saranac Handicap on seven occasions, the Hempstead and the Saratoga Special five times each, the Dwyer, Carter, and Remsen four times each and the Futurity, Super Derby, Breeders’ Futurity, Manhattan, and Delaware Handicap three times each. In 1982, Maple won his second Canadian International with Majesty’s Prince. 

Maple was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award for 1995 and the Mike Venezia Memorial Award in 1998. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. 

From October 5-8, Woodbine is hosting the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s secretariat exhibit titled ‘A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown’. The exhibit features Secretariat’s 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Triple Crown trophies. 

A video component of the exhibition takes fans through Secretariat’s unique journey in which he set speed records in each of the Triple Crown races. It also tells the stories of the people who guided the horse through his remarkable career. The exhibit is open during racing hours on the 3rd floor of the grandstand. 

First post for Sunday’s outstanding card of racing is 1:15 p.m.