Gordon J. McCann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gordon J. (Pete) McCann was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer for E. P. Taylor. He was born in East York, now part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
McCann began his horse training career in the late 1930's after having been a jockey. His first mentor was Willie Morrissey who gave him a colt called "Willie the Kid" who won the Queen's Plate in 1940.
McCann was hired by E. P. Taylor as head trainer at Windfields Farm in 1950. He trained five Queen's Plate winners: Major Factor, 1951; Canadiana, 1953; Lyford Cay, 1957; New Providence, 1959; and Canebora, 1963. Additionally, New Providence and Canebora Canada's Canadian Triple Crown. With six, he ranks third in having trained the most winners of the prestigious Queen's Plate. He also is tied for having trained the most winners with three in the Canadian International Stakes, Bunty Lawless (1941), Bull Page (1951), and Navy Page (1953).
In 1971 McCann retired from training after Taylor divided the stable into Canadian and United States divisions under separate head trainers. In 1979 he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
