The 2025 $1 million King’s Plate will be held Saturday, Aug. 16, at Woodbine in Ontario, Canada. This marquee race on the Canadian racing calendar drew a talented 13-horse field of 3-year-olds. Learn more about the field for this year’s King’s Plate with our handy King’s Plate Cheat Sheet and learn more about the race itself below:

1. What is the King’s Plate?

Caitlinhergrtness became the 39th filly to win the King's Plate in 2025. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The King’s Plate is a 1 ¼-mile race for 3-year-olds who were born in Canada that is held on the all-weather main track at Woodbine. Like the Kentucky Derby in the United States, the King’s Plate serves as the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown and horses only get one shot to win it because it is restricted to 3-year-olds. 

2. What are the other legs in the Canadian Triple Crown?

The second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown is the Prince of Wales Stakes, a 1 3/16-mile dirt race at Fort Erie. The middle jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown shares the same distance as the U.S. Triple Crown’s middle jewel, the Preakness Stakes. The Prince of Wales will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

The final jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown is the Breeders’ Stakes back at Woodbine. While it shares the same 1 ½-mile distance as the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes is where the Canadian Triple Crown veers notably. It is the only race in either series held on grass. While the U.S. Triple Crown is strictly a series of dirt races, the Canadian Triple Crown tests a Canadian-bred 3-year-old’s versatility by requiring them to win on all-weather, dirt, and turf surfaces to complete the sweep. The Breeders’ Stakes will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28.

3. How does a horse qualify for King’s Plate? What does the process typically look like?

Sedburys Ghost winning 2025 Plate Trial Stakes. (Woodbine/Michael Burns photo)

The King’s Plate is restricted to 3-year-olds born in Canada, so the pool of possible runners is smaller than the Kentucky Derby, which is open to all Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds. According to The Jockey Club Fact Book, there were 1,015 foals born in Canada in 2022 who would be age 3 this year.

In order to compete in the 2025 King’s Plate, eligible racehorses had to be nominated by April 2 for a $500 fee and then an additional $1,500 nomination fee was due June 4 to maintain eligibility. Horses not nominated can be supplemented at the time of final entry for $25,000.

The field for the King’s Plate is limited to 17 runners and preference is given according to career purse earnings.

4. Why is it called the King’s Plate?

On April 1, 1859, the Toronto Turf Club petitioned Queen Victoria to grant a Plate for a race in Ontario with assistance from Sir Casimir Gzowski and Thomas Patteson, who were two influential advocates who brought the race into close association with Buckingham Palace.

Queen Victoria granted the petition of the turf club and offered as an annual prize, “a plate to the value of Fifty Guineas.” The inaugural King’s Plate was held on Wednesday, June 27, 1860, at Carleton track in Toronto, with the blessing of the royal family, and the prize was a cup (not a plate) that was donated by Queen Victoria.

The King's Plate, named in honor of the current monarch, was run as the Queen's Plate from 1952-2022 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. The race was renamed the King’s Plate for 2023 after the accession of King Charles III following his mother’s passing. This year will mark the 166^th running of the race, which is the oldest continuously run horse race in North America.

5. What are some historic traditions associated with King’s Plate?

Queen Elizabeth II at the 2010 Queen's Plate. (Michael Burns/Woodbine)

Twelve horses have swept the Canadian Triple Crown, including fillies Queensway (1932) and Dance Smartly (1991), although the Canadian Triple Crown was not officially established until 1959. The last Canadian Triple Crown winner was Wando in 2003.

Given the inaugural event came after a petition to the reigning monarch, it’s not surprising that there have been frequent royal visits for the race. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth established a royal tradition, visiting the Old Woodbine racetrack (the new Woodbine facility opened in 1956) for the 1939 edition, won by Archworth.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were in attendance for the 100^th running of the Queen’s Plate in 1959. Ever since her visit, the race has served as the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. Queen Elizabeth II attended again in 1973, 1997 and 2010.