E.L. (Ernie Samuel)
Hall of Fame Inductee, 1998
(Reprint of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)

An owner of thoroughbreds since 1971, Ernest Lionel (Ernie) Samuel has arguably been one of the most influential and powerful forces in horse racing in Canada during the 1980s and '90s.

His list of achievements, both in Canada and the United States, are remarkable. The first Canadian owner to capture coveted Breeders' Cup races, with Dance Smartly in 1991 and Chief Bearhart in 1997, Samuel had been honored with almost every award possible in thoroughbred racing. Named Canada's Man of the Year in 1991, his horses established a world record that year when they earned more than $6.8 million in purses.

Owner of Sam-Son Farm, which had two divisions - a training centre in Ocala, Florida and a broodmare operation in Ontario - Samuel had a broodmare band of approximately 30 mares, including Dance Smartly, a member of the Hall of Fame and winner of a Breeders' Cup Championship and Canada's Triple Crown. No Class, who died in 1993, was the wonderful foundation mare of Samuel's nursery, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Samuel, born in 1930, was vice-president and a Trustee of the Ontario Jockey Club, steward of the Jockey Club of Canada, member of The Jockey Club (New York) and a director of the Breeders' Cup. He had received 35 Sovereign Awards, winning Horse of the Year honors five times, leading owner five times and Breeder of the Year twice. In 1991 he received an Eclip0se Award in the United States as Owner of the Year. His Eclipse Award winners are Dance Smartly, Sky Classic (both members of Canada's Horse Racing hall of Fame) and Chief Bearhart. He also won the Queen's Plate with Regal Intention and Dance Smartly.

Award the Order of Canada in 1998, Samuel is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of an internationally- competitive steel company. A generous benefactor to many institutions in the Toronto cultural and health sectors, Samuel supported Canada's international equine jumping team for many years.