A horse named Messier will be competing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Named after Edmonton Oilers legend Mark Messier of Edmonton, Alberta, Messier will try to be the third Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby, followed by Northern Dancer in 1964, and Sunny’s Halo in 1983. Both Northern Dancer and Sunny’s Halo were based in Oshawa, Ontario, while Messier is based in Milton, Ontario.
There are more hockey connections to the horse, Messier. That is because the horse’s owner, Tom Ryan, is the son-in-law of former Edmonton Oilers forward Pat Hughes of Calgary, Alberta. Also, the uncle of Tom Ryan’s wife Katie is former Oiler Mark Napier of Toronto, Ontario. Messier won five Stanley Cups with the Oilers in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990. Hughes won Stanley Cups with the Oilers in 1984 and 1985, while Napier won Stanley Cups with the Oilers in 1985 and 1987.
Messier is currently at +800 and has the fourth best chance of winning the 2022 Kentucky Derby behind Epicenter (+400), Taiba (+450), and Zandon (+600). Taiba was significantly behind Epicenter and Zandon for most of the week, but has received significant interest from betters on race day. It should be noted that Taiba beat Messier at the 2022 Santa Anita Derby. The Santa Anita Derby has a Canadian connection because Santa Anita Park is owned by Frank Stronach, and his daughter Belinda, of Newmarket, Ontario.
