Veteran trainer Roger Attfield announces retirement from thoroughbred racing

TORONTO – Its been quite a run for Roger Attfield.

The decorated thoroughbred trainer announced his retirement from racing Wednesday. It capped a stellar career that saw him win a record-tying eight King’s Plates and three Canadian Triple Crowns.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I have decided to retire from training,” Attfield said in a letter to Woodbine Entertainment. “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.”

The 86-year-old Attfield, a native of Newbury, England, said the time has come to step away from racing.

“All of my life, I have always been a hands-on trainer,” he said. “And now at 86, I can no longer ride out on my pony with sets, and am 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!”

Attfield, a resident of Nobleton, Ont., was Canada’s top trainer eight times. Of the seven horses that have won the Canadian Triple Crown, three were trained by Attfield (With Approval in 1989, Izvestia in 1990 and Peteski in 1993). 

Attfield-conditioned horses won a total of 20 Triple Crown races. The others included the Prince of Wales Stakes (five times) and the Breeders’ Stakes (seven times).

In 2008, Attfield won the Plate for the eighth time with Not Bourbon. That tied the record that had been set by Harry Giddings, Jr.

“The impact Roger Attfield made on Woodbine and Canadian racing as a whole is immeasurable,” said Woodbine CEO Michael Copeland. “His achievements speak for themselves, but it is the respect he earned from owners, peers, and fans that truly defines his legacy.”

Overall, Attfield has trained nearly 40 champions, six of which were named Canadian Horse of the Year.

“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,” Attfield said. “My intention is to continue owning and breeding, also consulting and buying.

“As a director of our local (Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association), I will also continue to fight for everything that will help our industry.”

Attfield originally got into racing as a steeplechase rider and enjoyed an accomplished career as an international show jumper before immigrating to Canada in 1970. His first training job was with Gateway Farms and developed colt Norcliffe, which won the 1976 Queen’s Plate. 

Among Attfield’s other notable wins were the Woodbine Mile (1990, 1993), Woodbine Oaks (three times) and E.P. Taylor Stakes (2011).

Attfield also found success south of the border, winning his first Breeders’ Cup in 2011 when Perfect Shirl took the Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs. He won his 2,000th career race in July 2022.

Attfield was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1999 and entered the U.S. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012. That same year, Attfield was enshrined in the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2026.

Note to readers:This is a corrected version. A previous version said Attfield was capping a stellar “year” instead of “career” in para 2