Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the venerable final leg of the North American Fall Indoor Circuit, will not be held for the second year in a row due to the “international impact” of the Covid situation.
“After considerable research and consultation, the Royal’s board of directors today made the disheartening decision to cancel the in-person 2021 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, in favor of returning to an education-focused online experience this year,” said a statement from the show.
Formal dress is part of the pomp that makes the Royal Winter Fair horse show so special. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Canada is still far more restricted than the U.S. due to the pandemic. As Royal CEO Charlie Johnstone noted, “Initially, we were optimistic that we would be able to gather at Exhibition Place this year to celebrate Canadian excellence in food, agriculture and equestrian sport. But as the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 continues to create havoc around the world, it became clear that we weren’t going to be able to host The Royal in a traditional way.
“Our exhibitors and competitors put everything they’ve got into the pursuit of a championship, and we owe them a world-class showcase for their efforts. We’re simply not in a place to guarantee the stability and assurances necessary to plan their paths forward to compete at an elite level.”
The six-horse hitch for draft horses is one of the unusual classes that makes the Royal Winter Fair a very special show. (Photo © by Lawrence J. Nagy)
There is nothing like the Royal. It reminds me of the National Horse Show during its glory days in Madison Square Garden. There’s something about formal dress that brings out the importance of an occasion, and the Royal still has its share of top hats, tail coats and evening gowns. The Royal is a place where it’s as interesting to watch the people as it is to watch the horses.
The horse show has great jumpers, but it’s so much more than that, with a variety of breeds, four-in-hands (speaking of elegance) draft horse hitches and wonderful exhibitions. It’s really a “show,” that entertains, even beyond being a sporting event.
And in the 1 million square feet of the exhibition center also hosts everything from cattle auctions and livestock competitions to fine dining, cooking demonstrations and booths selling all kinds of things, including, of course, maple syrup items of every description.
The fact that the Royal is held in Toronto, a fascinating city with great shopping, restaurants and hotels adds to its appeal. Like Devon, also cancelled for two years in a row, it will be sorely missed.
The Royal is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world, complete with livestock shows, trade shows and other attractions, and attendance of nearly 300,000 each year.
“We do not take this responsibility lightly,” stated the Royal’s board, emphasizing it, the staff and management “remain committed to creating a safe and healthy space for everyone to gather, compete and celebrate when the time is right.”
Christine Reupke, director of equestrian sport at the Royal, explained “With all of the instability and uncertainty around new (Covid) variants, indoor large-scale events and without specific details about fall and winter reopening plans, our Board did the only thing that they could do to ensure our stability and viability for the future. What we’ve sacrificed today will ensure The Royal remains stable for not only our 100th in 2022, but decades to come.”
“We’re excited to be setting our sights on 2022, which will mark The Royal’s 100th Anniversary,” commented Johnstone.
“As we approach our second century, the Royal is more relevant than ever, and it is our privilege to be Canada’s home for local food, agricultural and equestrian excellence.”
The North American Indoor Circuit begins with the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, which was truncated last year with a few classes in Tryon, N.C., where the Washington International Horse Show also relocated.
The Pennsylvania National is now back in its refurbished quarters in Harrisburg, where it will present its entire program. The Washington International will remain at Tryon this year, while the National Horse Show–which operated at the Kentucky Horse Park without spectators last year–returns to the park’s Alltech Arena for 2021.
