Channel Maker's Early Racing Career and Breakthrough at Age Three
Channel Maker, a gelding bred in Ontario by Ivan Dalos at Tall Oaks Farm, was foaled on February 11, 2014. He began his racing career in 2016 under the guidance of trainer Daniel Vella, who would later be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Channel Maker quickly showcased his potential, winning his second career start in the Vandal Stakes at Woodbine, a black-type race that marked his maiden victory. His early achievements as a 2-year-old culminated in a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Summer Stakes at Woodbine, although his season ended on a less successful note with an unplaced finish in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Park.
Channel Maker’s 3-year-old season started slowly, as he failed to place in his first two races. However, he soon found his stride, finishing second in an allowance race at Keeneland and then in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine. His breakthrough came when he finished fourth in the Queen's Plate Stakes, the first leg of Canada's Triple Crown, before capturing a dramatic nose victory in the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine, marking his first classic win. Despite some unplaced finishes in graded stakes that followed, Channel Maker concluded his 3-year-old campaign with a commendable second-place finish in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.
At age four, Channel Maker ran exclusively in Grade 1 races to start his campaign, with his best result being a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes. He soon found winning form again, sharing victory in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga after a thrilling dead-heat finish with Glorious Empire. However, Glorious Empire would later defeat him in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes. Channel Maker secured a spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf after a commanding front-running win in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes, where he fended off challenges from notable competitors like Arlington Million winner Robert Bruce. Unfortunately, his season ended with an 11th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
In 2019, as a 5-year-old, Channel Maker began his season with a fifth-place finish in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, followed by a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes. He rebounded by winning the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes, where he overcame Hunting Horn and held off late challenges from Arklow and Magic Wand. However, a series of fourth-place finishes ensued, including in the Grade 1 Manhattan and the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, before he finished second to Arklow in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes. His season closed with a disappointing last-place finish in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Triumphant Comeback and Dominance in the 2020 Turf Season
Channel Maker’s 2020 season began with three unplaced finishes, but signs of his former brilliance emerged when he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes. He then finished third in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga before ending a 10-race winless streak with a decisive front-running victory in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes. This victory secured his place in the 2020 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, where he ran a commendable third. His exceptional performances that year earned him the Eclipse Award as Champion Turf Male for 2020.
In 2021, Channel Maker’s best performance was a second-place finish in the Neom Turf Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. Although he competed against top turf runners in North America and abroad, he did not secure another win that year, with his best U.S. finish being fourth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes.
Returning as an 8-year-old in 2022, Channel Maker claimed victory in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland, setting a new stakes record for the 1 1/2-mile distance. However, his form dipped with a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes, though he bounced back to win the listed Grand Couturier Stakes at Belmont Park. Despite a subsequent seven-race losing streak, he showcased his enduring class midway through his 9-year-old season by winning the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga, marking his second victory in that race.
Retirement and Legacy
Throughout his illustrious career, Channel Maker amassed over $3.9 million in earnings, making him the third-richest Canadian-bred racehorse of all time. He competed in six Breeders' Cup races, setting a record for the most starts in the event by a single horse. His achievements include winning the 2017 Sovereign Award as Canada’s Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and the 2020 Eclipse Award as Champion Turf Male.
Channel Maker was retired after his final race in 2023, following an 11th-place finish in the Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland. He was then donated to Old Friends in Kentucky, where he now resides. His remarkable career, marked by perseverance and success at the highest levels of competition, was honoured with his induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2024.