Remarkable horses and have graced Canadian and North American horse racing. Their legacies continue to inspire. There, we delve into the lives and achievements of 4 most notable.

Dance Smartly (1988–2007)

Dance Smartly, a Canadian-bred thoroughbred mare, made history. She won the Canadian Triple Crown. She became the first Canadian-bred horse to win a Breeders' Cup race. Danzig sired her out of Classy' n Smart. Throughout her career, she demonstrated versatility and dominance. Dance Smartly won hearts on and off the racetrack. She earned over $3.2 million throughout her career. She passed away at age 19.

Pedigree: Dance Smartly was a bay mare sired by Danzig, a son of the influential Northern Dancer. Her dam was Classy' n Smart, generated by Smarten. This lineage places her in a prestigious bloodline. It has a strong foundation in Canadian horse racing history.

Dance Smartly lived from 1988 until 2007. She passed away at the age of 19 due to an irreparable injury related to an arthritic stifle​​.

Significant Races and Placements:

• At 2 Years: Won the Natalma Stakes; 2nd in the Ontario Stakes; 3rd in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (US-G1).
• At three years old, she had an undefeated season. She won the Breeders' Cup Distaff (US-G1), Molson Export Million Stakes (Can-G2), Selene Stakes, Star Shoot Stakes, Canadian Oaks, and all three races of the Canadian Triple Crown (Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes, Breeders' Stakes).
• At four years old, this racehorse won the Canadian Maturity Stakes. The horse came in second in the King Edward Gold Cup Handicap (Can-G3). It also came in 3rd in the Beverly D. Stakes (US-G1) and Arlington Breeders' Cup Handicap.

Career Earnings: $3,263,835, setting a record for a filly or mare at the time​​.

Achievements:

• Sovereign Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly (Canada) — 1990
• Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1991
• Sovereign Award Horse of the Year (Canada) — 1991
• Sovereign Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (Canada) — 1991
• Canadian Triple Crown winner — 1991​​.

Dance Smartly had an outstanding career. Her unparalleled success on the track and her influence as a broodmare marked it. She is a legendary figure in Canadian horse racing.

Owner

Dance Smartly was a notable Canadian-bred mare. Ernie Samuel established Sam-Son Farm and owned and bred the mare. Canadian horse racing recognizes this farm for its significant contributions. Dance Smartly is one of its most celebrated products. James E. Day trained her during her racing career. Dance Smartly's extraordinary achievements mark her legacy in racing. She won the Canadian Triple Crown and became the first Canadian-bred horse to win a Breeders' Cup race. Her life at Sam-Son Farm extended beyond her racing career. She also had a successful stint as a broodmare. She produced several top horses and earned the title of 2001 Canadian Broodmare of the Year.

La Prevoyante (1970–1974)

La Prevoyante was a Canadian-bred thoroughbred who won all 12 starts as a two-year-old. Her pedigree included Buckpasser and Nearctic, establishing her as a force in racing. Her life ended tragically at just four years old. She earned $572,417. She won multiple awards, including the Eclipse and Sovereign Awards.

The sire of La Prevoyante was Buckpasser, a son of Tom Fool. Her dam was Arctic Dancer, generated by the Nearctic. This pedigree places her among the elite in Thoroughbred racing. It shows lineage to influential figures in the sport.

Years of Life: La Prevoyante was born in 1970 and died in 1974. She lived only four years, and her life was tragically cut short due to a fatal heart attack after a race​​.

Significant Races and Placements:

• In 1972, when she was two years old, she had 12 wins and remained undefeated. She achieved significant victories in the Colin Stakes, Frizette Stakes, Selima Stakes, Matron Stakes, Spinaway Stakes, Schuylerville Stakes, and Gardenia Stakes.
• In 1973, at three years old, the horse won the La Troienne Stakes and Quebec Derby. It finished second in the Kentucky Oaks and third in the Canadian Oaks.
• In 1974, at four years old, he won three consecutive allowance sprints at Saratoga. He also won at Woodbine and Hialeah.

Career Earnings: $572,417 from a career comprising 39 starts with 25 wins, 5 second and three third places​​.

Achievements:

• Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly — 1972
• Sovereign Award Horse of the Year (Canada) — 1972
• Sovereign Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly (Canada) — 1972
• Sovereign Award Champion Older Female (Canada) — 1974​​.

La Prevoyante's extraordinary career marked her dominance in her juvenile season. Her consistent performances after that cemented her legacy. She is now one of the greats in Canadian horse racing.

Owner

Jean-Louis Lévesque, a notable figure in the Canadian horse racing industry, bred and owned La Prevoyante. She is a renowned Canadian-bred thoroughbred racehorse. Lévesque's contributions to the sport were significant. His ownership of La Prevoyante added to his legacy. La Prevoyante had an illustrious career. In 1972, she remained undefeated throughout her juvenile season. She won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly. She also won the Sovereign Award as Canadian Horse of the Year. Her exceptional performances and significant wins, like the Quebec Derby, highlighted her as a champion in both Canada and the United States. Jean-Louis Lévesque's stewardship of La Prevoyante's career was crucial to her success on the racetrack.

Cam Fella (1979–2001)

Cam Fella, known as "The Pacing Machine," dominated harness racing in the 1980s. He was a Canadian Standardbred horse. He was born in 1979 in Canada. He became one of North America's most celebrated harness racing horses. His outstanding performances on the racetrack have made him an iconic figure in Canadian harness racing. He had 61 wins out of 80 starts and 28 consecutive wins. Cam Fella had a successful stud career after retiring with over $2 million in earnings. He sired horses who earned over $106.7 million. He passed away at 22 due to testicular cancer​​​​​​.

Cam Fella's pedigree traces back to Most Happy Fella, a prominent figure in harness racing. His dam was Nan Cam, whose sire was Bret Hanover. This lineage ties him to some of the most influential names in standardbred racing​​.

Years of Life: Cam Fella was born in 1979 and passed away in 2001. He lived 22 years, a life celebrated for his racing and breeding achievements​​.

Significant Races and Placements:

• 1982, at three years old, he won 28 of 33 starts. He won significant races like the Cane Pace, Messenger Stakes, Queen City Pace, Prix d'Été, and Confederation Cup Pace. He also time-trialed in 1:54 at The Red Mile.
• In 1983, at four years old, he won 30 of 36 starts. He won the World Cup series at The Meadowlands. He also won the Canadian Pacing Derby, American National, and Stewart Fraser Memorial. He set multiple track records, including a career mark 1:53.1 at The Meadowlands​​​​.

Career Earnings: $2,041,367, making him the wealthiest pacer of his time​​.

Achievements:

• Harness Horse of the Year in Canada and the United States for 1982 and 1983.
• He is notable for a 28-race unbeaten streak during his career.
• They retired as the wealthiest standardbred in harness racing history in 1983​​.

Stud Career: As a stallion, Cam Fella sired 1,002 foals who collectively earned $106.7 million in prize money. His offspring included multiple million-dollar earners. They also produced Hall of Fame horses. These include Eternal Damnation, Presidential Ball, Precious Bunny, and Cam's Card Shark.

Cam Fella, known as "The Pacing Machine," left an indelible mark on harness racing. He did so both on the track and through his prodigious offspring. His legacy continued to influence the sport long after his racing days ended.

Owner

Norm Clements and Norm Faulkner purchased Cam Fella, also known as "The Pacing Machine," when he was a two-year-old. These co-owners were instrumental in guiding Cam Fella's successful racing career. Under their ownership, Cam Fella became a formidable presence in harness racing. He earned numerous accolades and set records. He had an impressive performance on the racetrack. He also made a significant impact in the breeding shed. He sired numerous notable offspring and contributed significantly to the standardbred racing lineage.

Northern Dancer (1961–1990)

Northern Dancer was the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He became one of the most successful sires of the century. He was born in the Nearctic and Natalma. His winnings included the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Northern Dancer's stud career was equally remarkable, with a stud fee of $1 million at one point. Due to declining health, they euthanized him at age 29.

Nearctic sired Northern Dancer. He was out of the mare Natalma, whose sire was Native Dancer. This esteemed lineage places him among the most prominent figures in thoroughbred racing history​​​​.

Years of Life: Northern Dancer was born in 1961 and passed away in 1990, living 29 years. People celebrate him for his achievements on the racetrack. They also celebrate his monumental impact as a stallion.

Significant Races and Placements:

• In 1963, he won 7 out of 9 starts in his two-year-old season. He won the Summer Stakes, Coronation Futurity, and Remsen Stakes.
• In 1964, during his three-year-old season, he won significant races. These included the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He set a then-record time in the Kentucky Derby. He finished third in the Belmont Stakes, narrowly missing the Triple Crown. His final career start was a dominant victory in the Queen's Plate​​​​.

Career Earnings: $580,647, with a career record of 14-2-2 from 18 starts​​.

Achievements:

• Champion 2-Year-Old Male (Canada) — 1963
• Horse of the Year (Canada) — 1964
• Champion 3-Year-Old Male in America — 1964
• Won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes — 1964
• Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1976​​.

Northern Dancer became one of the most influential sires in thoroughbred racing history. His offspring include Nijinsky II, who won the English Triple Crown. He sired 146 stakes winners and was the sire of the dams of 214 stakes winners. At one point, he increased his stud fee to $1 million but declined an offer of $40 million from a European syndicate. Northern Dancer's influence is still seen in the pedigrees of many current champions​​.

Northern Dancer, often called the "father of modern thoroughbreds," made an indelible mark on horse racing. He did this through his racing achievements. He had an extraordinary impact on breeding, influencing generations of thoroughbreds worldwide.

Owner

Edward P. Taylor, a prominent Canadian business magnate, bred and owned Northern Dancer. Northern Dancer is one of the most famous Canadian racehorses. Taylor owned Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario. Northern Dancer was born and raised there. Taylor was a visionary of the horse racing and breeding industry. He significantly influenced Canadian racing and breeding programs. The horse failed to meet the reserve price at his annual pre-priced yearling sales. His decision to keep Northern Dancer turned out to be fortunate. Northern Dancer achieved remarkable success under Taylor's ownership. The horse raced under the Windfields Farm banner. He won major races like the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Taylor's contribution to the sport extended beyond his horses. He was also the founder of Woodbine Racecourse. His efforts played a crucial role in elevating Canadian racing and breeding internationally.