Canadian HOA Inductee Sid Attard
Having received his training license in 1977, Sid Attard can add Canadian Hall of Fame inductee to his list of achievements and honors in his long and illustrious career in Canadian horse racing….
The biography presented with his induction refers to him as having a positive work ethic, honesty and integrity, and being one of the hardest-working trainers in the Canadian horse racing industry. His achievements include winning more than 70 stakes races, with earnings totaling more than $53 million. He has regularly featured in the top ten trainers of the year, claiming the top honors five times. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 Attard was a Sovereign Award finalist for top trainer, with the horses he has trained winning five Sovereign Awards, three of which went to One for Rose.
Attard has spent most of his career close to home in Canada, venturing into the United States on occasion where his trainee Heavenly Punch won the 1996 Million Dollar Distaff, with his brother Larry in the saddle. Of the many champion horses Attard has trained, Numerous Times stands out as special. Bought by Bob Harvey at the Keeneland yearly sales for US$156,000, at three-years-old the colt won all three of his starts, keeping the winning streak in motion for three more starts in 2001 and crossing the line in first place for the $1 million Atto Mile, winning the Sovereign Award for turf male.
Born in Birkirkara, Malta, on September 29, 1950, Sid Attard immigrated with his family to Canada in 1960s. His brothers Tino and Joseph pursued careers in racehorse training, while his brother Larry went on to become one of Canada’s top jockeys and an inductee into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Married to Janice, with whom he has three children, Attard’s sons Paul and Jamie are also racehorse trainers.
Other Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductees include Thoroughbred trainer Phil England; Standardbred trainer Carl Jamieson; and Thoroughbred jockeys John Dewhurst and Russell Baze. Builders category inductees are: Jack Hood, Samuel Johnston, William Rowe and John Sikura Jr.
