Pink Lloyd (inside) takes the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes in his penultimate start (Michael Burns)
By Chris Lomon – Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— The Ontario Jockey Club Stakes will now be known as Pink Lloyd Stakes, in recognition of one of Canada’s greatest all-time sprinters.
The first edition of the Pink Lloyd, an Ontario-sired stakes for 4-year-olds and upward, contested at 6 furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta, is set for Sunday, June 4, with a purse of $100,000.
Hall of Fame conditioner Robert Tiller campaigned the champion son of Old Forester throughout an outstanding career. Highlights include 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year recognition, eight Sovereign Awards, 29 wins, 26 of them stakes, and $1,884,584 (U.S.) in earnings.
Pink Lloyd was purchased for $30,000 at the 2013 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sale by owner Frank Di Giulio, Jr., but didn’t make his first start until his 4-year-old year. The next season, he went eight-for-eight and was feted as Canada’s Horse of the Year. He won 11 consecutive stakes races between April 15, 2017, to June 3, 2018.
He was champion male sprinter in Canada every year from 2017 through 2021. He was also named champion older horse in 2017 and 2019.
Owned by Entourage Stable, Pink Lloyd capped off his racing career with a victory in the Kennedy Road Stakes on November 27, 2021, marking the third time he won the Grade 2 race. In all, the handsome chestnut compiled a record of 29-3-2 from 38 starts.
“I’m thrilled that they have named a race after him,” said Tiller. “I’ve had a lot of great horses over the years and won some very nice races. Pink Lloyd is the gems of all gems. He has a big spot in my heart. I absolutely love him, and I’ll never forget him. Dealing with the loss of my wife Gail, this news has certainly brought me some joy. I think this is so well deserved. I think the fans will be happy and I know the owners are very happy. It’s a great thing for everybody, including Woodbine.”
These days, the 11-year-old remains a racing rock star, bringing fans out in droves to see him in Hillsburgh, Ontario, where he resides at the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society farm along with dozens of other retired racehorses.
“Pink Lloyd will go down in the annals of Canadian horse racing as one of its most prolific sprinters,” said Tim Lawson, Director, Thoroughbred Racing, Woodbine Entertainment. “His phenomenal performances, far too many to note, showcased speed, savvy and competitive spirit, all of which made him a formidable foe on the racetrack and a true fan favourite for those who marvelled at his talents. We are proud to have his name associated with a race on our stakes calendar.”
The Toronto oval’s 2023 Thoroughbred season gets underway on April 22 and concludes on December 10.
