Thoroughbred Builder Edmonton, Alberta-born Charles Fipke, who is now based primarily in British Columbia, is a successful Canadian geologist and prospector involved in the discovery of the Ekati Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories. He entered the Canadian Thoroughbred Industry in … Continue reading
Category Archives: Builders
Vicki Pappas
Thoroughbred Builder Being recognized as a Thoroughbred Builder Inductee in 2021 is Montreal-born and Streetsville, Ontario resident Victoria (Vicki) Pappas, making her the third woman to be inducted to the CHRHF in as many years. Throughout a career spanning over … Continue reading
Jim Bullock
Standardbred Builder Erin, Ontario resident Jim Bullock has made immense contributions to the Canadian harness racing industry over the past 30 plus years as an owner, breeder, stallion syndicator, race track administrator, and organization leader. Following his purchase of Glengate … Continue reading
Sue Leslie
Thoroughbred Builder Sue Leslie has dedicated the better part of her life to the sport of horseracing — breeding, owning and training thoroughbred horses in Ontario for almost 40 years. Positions she has held, both past and current include President/Chair … Continue reading
Bory Margolus
Thoroughbred Builder In an era when the leading thoroughbred breeders in Canada included men such as E.P. Taylor, Conn Smythe, Bud Willmot and J. Louis Levesque, the honor in 1975 of earning the first Sovereign Award as champion breeder went … Continue reading
Ian Fleming
Builder Ian Fleming’s office sits in a new but modest one-story building at a rustic (but lovingly maintained) racetrack in small town Ontario. The office walls are deep green like the countryside and one framed horse picture hangs on a … Continue reading
William (Bill) Andrew
Standardbred Builder Bill Andrew is being inducted in the Builder category, but the Alberta-based owner of Meridian Farms East and West could almost fit the Hall’s Communicator category as well, having advanced creative marketing ideas across mediums and borders. … Continue reading
John G. Sikura
Thoroughbred Builder John Graham Sikura, a proud Canadian and a Toronto boy, is president of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Kentucky. His rise to the position he now possesses as one of the leading horsemen in the Thoroughbred breeding … Continue reading
Eugene Melnyk
Thoroughbred Builder Archers Bay, a colt named after an area famous for its sunsets in northwest Barbados, was the first horse Eugene Melnyk ever ran in the Queen’s Plate. He won handily, confirming his decision to spend $125,000 for the … Continue reading
Dr. Gordon Gilbertson
Standardbred Builder Originally from Hagersville, ON, Dr. Gordon Gilbertson used his extensive experience treating horses as a veterinarian, and his hands-on experience in training and driving harness horses, to fuel his idea to eliminate the use of a “thimble” placed … Continue reading