Horse Racing Love Story: Hall Of Fame Jockey Celebrates Golden Anniversary At Woodbine

Robin Platts and Deb Bruce are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at Woodbine Club on Saturday. Robin is a four-time Queen's Plate-winning jockey and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1997. Deb is the daughter of Thoroughbred trainer Robert Bruce. Robin came to Canada when he was eight and rode his first winner at Greenwood Racetrack in Toronto's east end on November 18, 1966.

Deb met Robin at the Greenwood track in 1971. They started dating and got engaged on September 13, 1971, and they married in 1983. Robin won four Queen's Plates and 3,245 wins during his career. He was the recipient of the 1979 Sovereign Award as Canada's Outstanding Jockey. He won the coveted Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1992. His mounts nearly topped the $40-million mark. The most successful rider of his generation was Sandy Hawley. Victoria Song, Amber Herod, Sound Reason and Key to the Moon won Queen’s Plats. Stakes stars included Overskate, Izvestia, Frost King, Norcliffe, Carotene, Runaway Groom and Charley Barley, Play The King.