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The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair | info@royalfair.org
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mr. Moffat Dunlap, a Past President of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Moffat was a 20-year member of the Canadian Equestrian Team and showed jumpers at The Royal Horse Show in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Competing at The Royal, Moffat won several prestigious show jumping classes, including the Puissance and earned the leading Canadian rider title at the Royal Horse Show on numerous occasions.
The Dunlap Family stand with a portrait of Mrs. Jessie Donalda Dunlap at a reception in 2018 to commemorate the new Dunlap Ballroom.
(l-r: John Dunlap, Pamela Brickenden, David Dunlap, Moffat Dunlap, Daphne Dunlap, Allison Erdoddy)
Moffat continued his involvement at The Royal as a dedicated volunteer, representing The Royal Horse Show on the Board of Directors starting in 1980. Moffat would serve as Chairman of the Royal Horse Show Administrative Committee from 1982 to 1984 and then served as President and Chairman of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 1988 and 1989.
Moffat commented that the Royal Horse Show has always been about pursuing excellence in horse sport across all disciplines. The magic of the Royal is based on fan support and the tremendous dedication of the staff, volunteers, and exhibitors. We all do our part to maintain and improve this great Canadian tradition.
The Dunlap family has been involved with The Royal since its founding in 1922, with three generations of Dunlaps participating as volunteers, sponsors, and exhibitors of The Royal.
Moffat’s grandmother, Mrs. Jessie Donalda Dunlap, exhibited guernseys, poultry, Yorkshire pigs, Clydesdales, and flowers at the earliest Royals. Jessie was the first female Honorary President of the Royal from 1940-1946. The Dunlap Ballroom, located at The Royal, is named in her memory.
Moffat’s son, John Dunlap, continued the family tradition in his involvement with the Fair. He showed ponies and junior jumpers at the Royal in the 1980s. John became an active volunteer at The Royal for over 20 years, serving in various roles. John served as Royal Horse Show Chairman from 2006 to 2009 and as President and Chairman of the Royal from 2011 to 2013.
Jennifer Ward | Jump Media | jward@jumpmediallc.com
National Hunter/Jumper Championships Highlight 2023 Schedule
Having celebrated its centennial in 2022, the Royal Horse Show will continue its tradition of equestrian excellence as it prepares for this year’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to be held from November 3 to 12, 2023, at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto, ON. The CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show will continue to host international show jumping highlighted by the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto on closing night. Offering more than $1 million in prize money, this year’s Royal will also mark the debut of Great Britain’s Kelvin Bywater as show jumping course designer for national and international competition.
Ireland’s Daniel Coyle won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto riding Legacy to close out the 2022 Royal Horse Show.
Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
As the highly anticipated season finale for Canadian competitors, The Royal has once again been awarded the National Championships by Equestrian Canada for all its the hunter, equitation, and jumper divisions, including Under 25 and Junior/Amateur show jumping athletes. Following last year’s successful introduction of a Junior/Amateur National Championship at the 1.30m level, invitation modifications for this year’s 1.40m Junior/Amateur National Championship have been made to ensure the widest possible rider representation from across the country.
Opening weekend of the 10-day Royal Horse Show will feature the Canadian Show Jumping Championship, which will offer an increased purse over the two nights of competition.
Ali Ramsay of Victoria, BC, claimed her first Canadian Show Jumping Championship title at the 2022 Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.
Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography
Canadian horse sport breeding fans have long followed the entries and outcomes of the prestigious Governor General’s Cup for three-year-olds shown in hand and the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup for three-year-olds shown under saddle. The ponies will now have their turn in the spotlight with the newly introduced Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Pony Cup, featuring in hand and under saddle sections. All Cup classes, showcasing the quality of Canadian breeding, will take place in the Coca-Cola Coliseum on Saturday morning, November 11.
“The Royal continues to evolve in order to showcase the best horses and athletes in equestrian sport,” said Charlie Johnstone, CEO of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. “Having celebrated 100 years of being the place where the best of the best meet at the end of the Canadian show season, we are proud to carry the longstanding tradition into a new century. We look forward to once again hosting the future national champions across the hunter, jumper, and equitation disciplines to this year’s Royal.”
National Championship qualifying criteria are available at www.royalfair.org/horse-show/competitors/ while the full 2023 Royal Horse Show prize list will be available in late June.
In addition to the exciting competition, Royal fans will be thrilled with the return of Guy McLean, last seen in Toronto in 2018. The popular Australian horseman, entertainer, and bush poet will be performing with his team of liberty horses during select Royal Horse Show performances.
As always, The Royal offers numerous hospitality experiences which sell out quickly due to their popularity. The Royal Terrace will be available for VIP and corporate hosting while the Coliseum’s Sky Suites offer stables and groups their own private suites. The Tanbark Club will continue to be open to Gold and Platinum VIP ticket holders. Hospitality options are now on sale with returning clients being given the right of first refusal. Contact groups@royalfair.org or HSvip@royalfair.org for full details.
If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out to us directly, or fill out the form on our contact page.
