THERE was a major honour across the Atlantic recently for popular Irishman Mike Doyle, who has been inducted into the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame.

The youngest of the four Doyle brothers, alongside John, Paul and Peter, Mike has enjoyed considerable success as a trainer in North America, while also being credited for helping develop top horsepeople who have worked for him.

Son of trainer and bloodstock agent Jack, the Dublin-born handler has had an extensive career in Canada and reached a landmark 1,000th winner in 2014.

He first found work in the jurisdiction at the famed Gardiner Farms, but it wasn’t long before he was drawn to Woodbine and got a job with trainer Jim Bentley. In 1978, Doyle was hired as trainer for George Frostad’s Bo-Teek Stable and saddled his first winner that same year. Mike’s stable grew quickly from there, and among his new clients was the quickly-expanding Eaton Hall Farm.

In 1984, he purchased top-class filly Bessarabian, a multiple graded winner who helped him win the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer in Canada. Throughout her career, Bessarabian won 17 races, earned over $1 million and was named Canada’s Champion Older Mare in 1986.

Mike trained for Bill Graham’s powerful Windhaven and won the 1989 Canadian Oaks at Woodbine with his Blondeinamotel. One of the trainer’s most memorable seasons came in 1993 when he guided Wild Gale through the American Triple Crown. A longshot in the Kentucky Derby, Wild Gale was viewed as unlucky not to have won after missing getting a run up the inside that eventual winner Sea Hero grabbed on his way to victory. The same horse was also third in the Belmont Stakes.

Doyle accepted the position of racing manager for Frank Stronach in 1994 and worked in that capacity for three years. In that time, the stable moved up in the owner standings each year, winning the 1994 Queen’s Plate with Basqueian (trained by Daniel Vella).

Doyle returned to training in 1997 after completing his contract with Stronach; he has consistently been among the top Woodbine trainers through the years. He also notably helped kickstart the training career of Josie Carroll, a three-time King’s Plate winner and a member of the Hall of Fame.

For the last few years, Mike returned briefly to the Stronach Stable fold to manage the racehorses. Today, the popular figure has a small stable of runners for himself and long-time clients such as Bill Duffy.