Louis Cauz retires as Managing Director: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

On January 1, 2012, Hall of Fame member Louis Cauz retired as Managing Director of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, a post he held for the past 16 years.

In 1996, Lou was chosen as the managing director of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and was placed in charge of developing and locating the Hall in a space provided at the west end of Woodbine Racetrack. Woodbine also chose him to be its first archivist and historian. He was Chairman of both the election and nomination committees for 16 years. Although Lou will step down as chairman he will continue as a member on a voluntary basis.

In 1997, the Hall of Fame opened to the public showcasing restored and catalogued information, clippings, periodicals, videos, photos and other artifacts that Lou gathered and prepared.

Lou was instrumental in creating the Veterans and Legends categories and expanding the induction function to a gala evening ceremony that now serves both as a celebration and a fundraiser.

Lou was always at the forefront of the creation of the Hall. In 1973, after covering thoroughbred and standardbred racing for the Globe and Mail for seven years, he joined members of the racing media and publicity directors of Canadian racetracks in promoting a plan to properly honour the achievements of pioneers and horses who had built horse racing in Canada.

Lou is also an author of note. In 1984, his book THE PLATE, A ROYAL TRADITION was published to coincide with the 125th running of the Queen’s Plate. With this book, Lou became the first winner of a Sovereign Award for feature writing in that year. Twenty five years later, he co-authored with Beverley Smith, THE PLATE, honoring the race’s 150 continuous years.

Stephen Edwards, former president of the Hall of Fame, once said, “Lou Cauz is the Hall of Fame”. It is particularly appropriate the Mr. Cauz is a member in the same Hall Of Fame he was instrumental in building.