FE Race Track, June 25, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 21
An icon among Canada’s horse racing community, Francine Villeneuve,
passed away at the age of 61 following a battle with cancer in June.
Her lengthy career in the saddle, which saw her pick up the nickname
Queen of Fort Erie, including breaking down barriers for women in horse racing
racing, winning numerous stakes races, and surpassing numerous major
milestones.
“Francine was the undisputed Queen of Fort Erie, and her passing
leaves an irreplaceable void in our racing community,” said Drew Cady,
general manager of Fort Erie Race Track. “She brought such incredible
positive energy to every race and every interaction, lighting up the
track with her smile and unbreakable spirit. As a jockey, she was the
epitome of class: a true pioneer who rode with grace, professionalism,
and unmatched determination.”
Francine grew up surrounded by horses on the family farm in Winchester
Springs before studying equine management at Humber College. It was
during a summer job in 1984 as a hot walker at Woodbine, that her
natural talent and small stature pointed her toward a future in the
saddle.
By 1987, she had earned her jockey’s license and began a remarkable
career that would span more than 25 years and over 8,000 mounts.
Francine’s journey was filled with historic moments and hard-fought
battles. She rode Wilderness Song to a stirring second-place finish in
the 1991 Queen’s Plate. She competed in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup
Distaff, and in 2005, she guided Autumn Snow to second in the Prince of
Wales Stakes.
She would go on to become the first Canadian female jockey to reach
1,000 wins — a milestone she celebrated at Fort Erie Race Track on
October 31, 2011 — and the first to hit 1,000 second-place finishes,
1,000 third-place finishes, and a combined 3,000 top-three placements.
For her outstanding contributions to the sport, she was honoured with
the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.
Her roots in Fort Erie ran deep. In 1996, she was responsible for
reviving the tradition of the Puss N Boots infield pond jump, after
owner Robert Elkins joked that he’d jump into the pond if his horse
won, and sure enough, Francine took Dancing For Beans from last place
to first across the wire, sending Elkins into the water and spawning
the annual tradition of the Puss N Boots plunge.
In June 2012, she was proudly inducted into the Fort Erie Sports Wall
of Fame, and even after retiring from full-time riding that year, her
passion for racing never faded. In 2016, she co-founded the Sport of
Queens Racing Club alongside fellow jockey-turned-trainer Amanda
Roxborough, creating a racing syndicate that continues to open doors
for women in the sport she loved so dearly.
Francine’s grace under pressure, her fierce competitive spirit, and
her quiet kindness left an indelible mark on everyone who knew her;
from fellow riders and trainers to grooms, owners, and the many fans
who cheered her on from the stands. She broke barriers with humility
and inspired generations of young riders, especially young women, to
chase their dreams in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
A ceremony honouring her extraordinary career was hosted at Fort Erie
Race Track during racing on Sunday, June 7, which can be viewed on the
track’s YouTube channel.
