Competition at its Best

You look at this photo.
You feel the race.

Two Thoroughbreds stretch for the wire at Fort Erie Racetrack.
Two jockeys ride low and hard.
Every muscle fires.
Every stride counts.
The finish is moments away.

The 90th running of the Prince of Wales Stakes.
Date: September 9, 2025.
Track: Fort Erie.
Distance: 1 3/16 miles on dirt.
Status: Second jewel of the 2025 Canadian Triple Crown.

On the inside, you see Mansetti, the King’s Plate winner, with jockey Pietro Moran.
On the outside, you see Runaway Again finishing strongly under jockey Ryan Munger.

Runaway Again surges late.
Mansetti digs in.
The image shows pure competition.
Nothing easy.
Nothing guaranteed.

You want to know who truly wants it.
This photo gives you that answer.

About the Prince of Wales Stakes

The Prince of Wales Stakes first ran in 1929.
It became the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown in 1959 when it moved to Fort Erie.

The Canadian Triple Crown Explained

The Canadian Triple Crown is the most formidable three-race challenge in North American Thoroughbred racing.

It is open to Canadian-bred three-year-olds and features three different surfaces.

The test is unique in Canada.
One series. Three surfaces.

King’s Plate – 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta at Woodbine.
Prince of Wales Stakes – 1 3/16 miles on dirt at Fort Erie Racetrack
Breeders’ Stakes – 1 1/2 miles on turf at Woodbine

The surface changes make the series uniquely challenging. Horses must show versatility, stamina, and mental toughness to compete at a high level across all three races.

Different horses respond in various ways.
That is what makes this series so compelling.

Past Canadian Triple Crown champions who won the Prince of Wales Stakes include:

New Providence in 1959
With Approval in 1989
Izvestia in 1990
Dance Smartly in 1991
Peteski in 1993
Wando in 2003

Each horse proved adaptable.
Each horse showed class under pressure.
The Prince of Wales Stakes helped make their legend.

The 2025 Running of the Prince of Wales Stake

Mansetti arrived at Fort Erie as the 2025 King’s Plate winner (watch YouTube video).
Expectations followed him to the border oval.
Pietro Moran kept him focused and moving forward.
Mansetti responded all the way.

Runaway Again ran for trainer Sid Attard and Stronach Stables.
Ryan Munger stayed composed.
He waited.
He timed the move.
He asked for one more effort when it mattered most.

Race coverage reported Munger explaining that Runaway Again can be a quirky horse who responds best when ridden with patience and respect.
Trainer Sid Attard described the horse as feeling sharp heading into the race.
These details match what you see in the frame.
Calm hands.
Strong finish.
Horse and rider working together.

You do not need the result to feel the tension.
The photograph tells the story.
Late outside run.
Inside, the rival refuses to yield.
Pressure from both sides of the rail.

Why the Photo Works

Great racing photography is honest.
It captures truth in motion.

This image works because it shows:

Two horses at full extension
Two jockeys are fully committed
A finish that is still alive
Dirt flying from the Fort Erie surface
Emotion without exaggeration

You see focus in the horses’ eyes.
You see strength in the riders’ posture.
You see effort from the first pixel to the last.

There is no posing.
No coasting.
Only work.

You ask yourself.
Who gets there first?
Who keeps responding under pressure?
Who finds more in the final strides?

That is horse racing at its best.

Fort Erie’s Role in Canadian Racing

Fort Erie Racetrack hosts the biggest race of its year with the Prince of Wales Stakes.
Fans travel.
Horsepeople prepare for this specific challenge.
Dirt at 1 3/16 miles asks fundamental questions of fitness and timing.

The track rewards riders who judge pace well.
The turns come fast.
The stretch demands courage.
A small mistake becomes a big one.

The 90th running respected that history.
You see it in the photo.
Two horses answering those questions in real time.

What This Moment Means

This is sport.
This is pressure.
This is commitment.

You see Mansetti.
Plate winner.
Inside.
Still giving everything.

You see Runaway Again.
Outside.
Momentum building.
Responding to every cue.

The photo is titled:

Competition at its best.

It deserves it.
You cannot fake this level of effort.
You cannot stage this kind of finish.

You feel the crowd holding its breath.
You feel the lungs burning.
You feel the wire coming.

Then the moment freezes forever in this frame by photographer Mary Jane Sibbitt.

Why This Photo Belongs in Canadian Racing History

You want images that define the sport.
Images that show what it takes to win.
Images that respect both the victor and the rival.

This photo does that.

It respects:

• The horses
• The riders
• The race
• The moment

It also highlights why the Prince of Wales Stakes remains one of the most important races in Canada.
History meets performance.
Tradition meets competition.

The call to you

If you care about racing, you care about effort.
You care about fairness.
You care about the story behind every finish.

This photo gives you that story at a glance.

You see Canadian Triple Crown racing in real life.
Not polished.
Not softened.
Real.

Competition at its best.

Photo Credit

Race Results: Prince of Wales Stakes 2025

Position	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
1st	Runaway Again	Ryan Munger	Sid Attard	Stronach Stables
2nd	Mansetti	Pietro Moran	Mark Casse	Gary Barber
3rd	Faber	Sahin Civaci	Kevin Attard	Ulwelling, Al and Bill

Runaway Again produced a strong late run to defeat King’s Plate winner Mansetti in a dramatic finish at Fort Erie Racetrack.

Recent Winners: Prince of Wales Stakes (2016–2025)

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer
2025	Runaway Again	Ryan Munger	Sid Attard
2024	Velocitor	Kazushi Kimura	Kevin Attard
2023	Athens Time	Gary Boulanger	Mark Casse
2022	Duke of Love	Justin Stein	Josie Carroll
2021	Haddassah	Gary Boulanger	Kevin Attard
2020	Mighty Heart	Daisuke Fukumoto	Josie Carroll
2019	Tone Broke	Ricardo Santana Jr.	Steve Asmussen
2018	Wonder Gadot	John Velazquez	Mark Casse
2017	Cool Catomine	Gary Boulanger	John Ross
2016	Amis Gizmo	Luis Contreras	Josie Carroll

This list highlights the ten (10) most recent Prince of Wales champions and shows the quality of horses and riders who compete at Fort Erie.

Records and Notable Achievements

Fastest time at the current distance (1 3/16 miles): 1:53.80 by Golden Choice (1986)
Most wins by a jockey: Sandy Hawley and Chris Rogers (5 wins each)
Most wins by a trainer: Arthur H. Warner (4 wins)
Most wins by an owner: Frank Stronach and Windfields Farm share multiple victories

These records reflect the depth of history and talent associated with the Prince of Wales Stakes.

Attendance, Community Impact, and Wagering

The Prince of Wales Stakes is Fort Erie’s biggest racing event of the year. The racetrack regularly reports strong attendance figures, community engagement, and increased wagering activity on race day.

Local businesses, hotels, and tourism benefit from race week activity. Fans travel to be part of the atmosphere at the border oval and experience one of Canada’s most historic racing traditions.

For official attendance and wagering figures, see Fort Erie Racetrack news releases and annual reports.