Attfield Announces Retirement From Training

Champion conditioner Roger Attfield, who has won a record-tying eight King's Plate Stakes, including three Canadian Triple Crowns, has announced his retirement from training. "It is with a very heavy heart that I have decided to retire from training. Having hung my first shingle up when only 17, as a rider and trainer of horses I feel that 69 years later is a pretty good number of innings." Attfield shared in a letter. "All of my life I have always been a hands-on trainer and now at 86 I can no longer ride out on my pony with sets, and unable to safely inspect them in stalls. Both of these things always helped me understand my horses needs, mentally and physically to get the very best from them, no longer being able to perform these duties properly, it's time to say Hasta La Vista! "This winter I only brought 7 horses to Florida, a month ago after having a small disagreement over when and where to run them I decided to send them all to one of his other trainers. They were all very nice horses, I will miss them, but wish only the very best of luck to all. "Throughout the years I have trained for so many great owners whom I would like to say thank you to from the bottom of my heart. My intention is to continue owning and breeding, also consulting and buying. As a director of our local HBPA, I will also continue to fight for everything that will help our industry." Following a stint as a steeplechase rider and an accomplished career as an international show jumper, Roger Attfield established himself as one of the top Thoroughbred trainers in North America. Born in Newbury, England, Attfield immigrated to Canada in 1970 and took his first training job with Gateway Farms. Attfield has won the Sovereign Award for outstanding Canadian trainer eight times, trained three Canadian Triple Crown winners, six Canadian Horse of the Year winners, and won nearly two dozen races in the Canadian Triple Crown series. "The impact Roger Attfield made on Woodbine and Canadian racing as a whole is immeasurable," said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine. "His achievements speak for themselves, but it is the respect he earned from owners, peers, and fans that truly defines his legacy." In 1976, Attfield developed the colt Norcliffe into the first of his eight King's Plate (then known as the Queen's Plate) winners and his first Canadian Horse of the Year. Attfield conditioned his first Canadian Triple Crown winner, With Approval, in 1989. With Appproval also won the 1990 Bowling Green Handicap (G2T) and Tidal Handicap (G2T), both at Belmont Park. Attfield then swept the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes, and Breeders' Stakes again the following year with Izvestia, and achieved his third Canadian Triple Crown in 1993 with Peteski. In all, he has eight Plate wins, tying him for the most by a trainer. He has also found considerable success in the United States. Attfield won his first Breeders' Cup race in 2011, when Perfect Shirl took the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs. He was second in three Breeders' Cup races, the 2022 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) with Shirl's Speight, 1990 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) with With Approval, and with Play the King in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Attfield won his 2,000th career race in July 2022. He was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 1999 and the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 2012. The same year, he was also inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. He retires with 2,038 career wins and earnings of $112,119,392.