The King’s Plate, known as the Queen’s Plate until 2023, is the first race in the Canadian Triple Crown and the oldest continuously run race in North America. It’s held every summer at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, run at 1.25 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta synthetic surface. That’s the same distance as the Kentucky Derby, and the Plate is often considered Canada’s version of the Derby.
The 2026 King’s Plate was run on August 16th, and the filly Luster won the $1 million race as the heavy favourite.
Where To Bet On The King’s Plate
- In Canada – Horse racing is one of the few forms of betting that’s been legal across Canada for decades. You can bet the King’s Plate at Woodbine and other racetracks, at teletheatres, or online through HPIbet, Woodbine’s licensed betting platform.
- In the United States – Licensed online horse betting sites such as TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing and Xpressbet carry Canadian racing in the states where they operate.
- Offshore racebooks also list Canadian races, but they are not licensed or regulated in Canada or the US.
The Plate is the biggest betting day of the year at Woodbine, so every platform that carries Canadian racing will have it.
How To Bet On The King’s Plate
- Choose a licensed racing site that’s available in your province or state.
- Make a deposit once your account is verified.
- Place your bets. Select Woodbine from the track list, go to the King’s Plate race number, and choose your bet type and horses. Set a budget before you bet and stick to it. Free help is available from ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) in Ontario and 1-800-GAMBLER in the US.
King’s Plate History
The race was first run on June 27th, 1860 at Carleton racetrack in Toronto. It moved to the original Woodbine track in 1883, and has been held at the current Woodbine Racetrack since 1956. It was renamed the King’s Plate in 2023, following the accession of King Charles III.
Learn more about the race at the King’s Plate Wikipedia page.