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2019 Sovereign Awards

Outstanding Groom Award Winner and Media Finalists Announced 

The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce that Michael Williams is the recipient of 2019 Outstanding Groom Award. Michael has worked on the Woodbine backstretch for over 20 years. His current employer, multiple graded stakes winning trainer, Michael J. Doyle and previous employer, Daniel J. Vella are among the accomplished trainers he has worked for over the years. Michael has groomed, 1994 Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Horse, King Ruckus and Touch Gold as a two-year-old among other successful horses.

The Jockey Club of Canada is also pleased to announce the finalists for the 2019 Sovereign Awards Media categories. The judging for the 2019 Media Awards was performed by Professors of the Journalism Program at the School of Media Studies & Information Technology, Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Listed in alphabetical order, the finalists are:

Writing Category:

  • Dave Briggs – Royal Victory for the Quintessential “small guy”
  • Chris Lomon – Thoroughbred Racing’s Beautiful Bond
  • Hayley Morrison – Walcott Worry-Free After Surviving Brain Tumour

Digital Audio/visual and Broadcast Category:

  • Horse Racing Alberta – Canadian Derby Invader
  • Horse Racing Radio Network – 160th Queen’s Plate
  • Woodbine Entertainment Group – The Queen’s Plate

Photograph Category:

  • Michael Bye – Cyclone Dan Winner of the 3rd Race J. Gomez up
  • Rebecca Brown – Lenny Seecharan, Hastings 2019
  • Alex Urosovic – Ricoh Woodbine Mile

The Jockey Club of Canada Announces 2019 Sovereign Award Finalists

The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2019 Sovereign Awards honouring Canada’s champions and recognizing their outstanding achievements in Canadian Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding. The winners of the twelve horse categories and the five human categories will be announced at the 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, ON.

2019 Sovereign Awards Finalists

Champion Two-Year-Old Female:

Curlin’s Voyage
Infinite Patience
Owlette

Champion Two-Year-Old Male:

Dotted Line
Mr. Hustle
Muskoka Gold

Champion Three-Year-Old Female: 

Amalfi Coast
Desert Ride
Hidden Grace

Champion Three-Year-Old Male:

Explode
Global Access
Tone Broke

Champion Older Main Track Female:

Here’s Hannah 
Lift Up
She’s the Berries

Champion Older Main Track Male:

Mr Ritz
Pink Lloyd
Special Forces

Champion Female Turf Horse:

Amalfi Coast
Holy Helena
Starship Jubilee

Champion Male Turf Horse:

El Tormenta
Global Access
Tiz a Slam

Champion Female Sprinter:

Amalfi Coast
Here’s Hannah
Sister Peacock
Summer Sunday

Champion Male Sprinter:

Pink Lloyd
Silent Poet
Yorkton

Outstanding Broodmare:

Avie’s Empire 
Cumulonimble
Loving Vindication

Outstanding Breeder:

Chiefswood Stables Limited 
Sam-Son Farm
Tall Oaks Farm

Outstanding Owner:

Chiefswood Stables Limited 
Sam-Son Farm
Stronach Stables 

Outstanding Trainer:

Kevin Attard 
Mark E. Casse
Norman McKnight

Outstanding Apprentice Jockey:

Shavon Belle
Daisuke Fukumoto
Kazushi Kimura  

Outstanding Jockey:

Eurico Rosa Da Silva
Rafael Manuel Hernandez 
Patrick Husbands

Horse of the Year:

Finalists to be announced during the 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony

In addition to the 17 Sovereign Awards listed above, Charles E. Fipke will be presented with the E. P. Taylor Award of Merit and Harvey Warner will be presented with the Special Sovereign Award in recognition of their outstanding commitment and dedication to the Thoroughbred Industry in Canada. 

Winners of the three 2019 Media Awards will also be presented at the 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony. The three finalists in each of the media categories will be announced on or before February 15, 2020. The Media Awards are judged by the Journalism Professors at Humber, School of Media Studies & Information Technology, in Toronto, Ontario. 

Additionally, the winner of the Award for Outstanding Groom, to be presented by Sponsor OLG, will be announced on or before February 15, 2020.

Charles E. Fipke to be honored with the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit and Harvey Warner to be honored with the Special Sovereign Award at the 2019 Sovereign Awards Ceremony

The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce that Charles E. Fipke will be presented with the E. P. Taylor Award of Merit and Harvey Warner will be presented with the Special Sovereign Award in recognition of their outstanding commitment to the Thoroughbred Industry in Canada. 

Selected by the Jockey Club of Canada’s Stewards, the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit honours those who have accomplished outstanding individual achievements and have made a significant contribution to the thoroughbred industry in Canada. Charles E. Fipke has been involved in the Canadian Thoroughbred Industry for close to forty years. Among his accomplishments he has bred and owned three Sovereign Award-winners including 2008 Champion Three-Year-Old Male and winner of the 2008 Queen’s Plate, Not Bourbon; 2010 Champion Older Female, Impossible Time; and 2003 Champion Male Turf Horse, Perfect Soul who went on to become a successful sire. Also, Mr. Fipke bred and owned a number of other successful racehorses including the winner of the 2011 Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf GI, Perfect Shirl. 

Selected by the Jockey Club of Canada’s Stewards, the Special Sovereign Award recognizes significant contribution to the Canadian Thoroughbred Industry. Harvey Warner has been actively involved in the thoroughbred industry in Canadasince 1971. Throughout this time he has served as the President of the Winnipeg Horseman’s Club, spent time as a member of the Manitoba Horse Council Board and sat on the Board of the HBPA of Manitoba. In 1994 Mr. Warner was a driving force behind the formation of the Manitoba Jockey Club which assumed ownership and operations of Assiniboia Downs. Currently, Mr. Warner is the President of the Manitoba Jockey Club and a Steward for The Jockey Club of Canada.

The Jockey Club of Canada is proud to present the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit and the Special Sovereign Award to these most deserving individuals. The 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony, honouring Canada’s Champions, will take place at Universal Eventspace, in Vaughan Ontario, on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Tickets to the 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony are $250 each, with tables of ten discounted to $2000. Early-Bird tickets are also available for a discounted price of $225 until March 15, 2020. Tickets can be purchased online at http://jockeyclubcanada.com/product/sovereign-award-tickets-2/ or by contacting the Jockey Club of Canada office at 416-675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.

The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry. The mission of The Jockey Club of Canada is to promote and maintain a high standard for Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada at a level which is recognized internationally for the benefit of all those interested in the sport including the general public by operations and services such as, but not limited to: evaluating all Graded, Listed and Black-type races in Canada annually; conducting the annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada; maintaining a field office in Canada for the Jockey Club of the United States and the Jockey Club Registry Service; and by representing Canada as a Member of the IFHA.

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For more information on The Jockey Club of Canada’s Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony contact Candice Dixon at 416-675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.

The 45th Annual Sovereign Awards will be held Thursday, April 16, 2020.

The finalist for each of the 2019 Sovereign Awards Categories will be announced in February 2020, and the winner of each category will be announced at the 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony in Woodbridge, Ontario at Universal Eventspace on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

For more information on The Jockey Club of Canada’s 45th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony contact Candice Dixon at 416-675-7756; email jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com

 

2018 Sovereign Award Winners

 

To watch a replay of the Awards Ceremony CLICK HERE

 

The Jockey Club of Canada hosted the 44th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Vaughan’s elegant Chateau Le Jardin. We are pleased to announce the 2018 Sovereign Award winners in the order in which they were presented.

 

(Media) Outstanding Photograph:
Santino Di Paola – Into the Turn  
Published, ontarioracing.com 

(Media) Outstanding Writing:
Hayley Morrison – Hail to the War Horses
Published, Canadian Thoroughbred Magazine, February 2018

(Media)Outstanding Digital Audio/Visual & Broadcast:
Horse Racing Radio Network – 159th Queen’s Plate
Published, horseracingradio.net

 

The Jockey Club of Canada Scholarship Award: Bobby Mihalik

Bobby Mihalik earned the inaugural award at the School of Media Studies and Information Technology, Humber Institute of Advanced Technology and Advanced Learning.

Mihalik’s lifelong passion for writing is driven by the enjoyment of learning about editing for both print and online. He shared that his time as editor-in-chief of his class’s summer newsroom “was also enjoyable for me as it helped develop both my editing and proofreading skills, as well as how to effectively manage others.”

 

Outstanding Groom Award:Amanda Erwin

Amanda has been working on the racetrack since she was 10-years-old on the backstretch with her father the https://good-name.org, trainer Dennis Erwin, walking hots and learning about grooming. She was a teenager when she moved to the stable of successful trainer Mike Keogh, whom she continues to work for today.

During her career, Amanda groomed Canadian stars such as the 2003 Horse of the Year Wando, who became the seventh Canadian Triple Crown winner since the series was inaugurated in 1959.  She also cared for the 1999 Queen’s Plate winner and Champion 3-year-old Woodcarver. “There is something so special about seeing a racehorse from a young age and watching them develop,” said Erwin. “I strive to keep the horses happy, calm and enjoy their job.”

 

Outstanding Handicapper: Nick Noce

Nick Noce has always been fond of Woodbine. On July 21, 2018 he finished first of 106 entries in Woodbine’s Mid-Summer Horseplayers Tournament. “I just love Woodbine. I don’t usually miss one of their tournaments,” said Noce, who first began playing contests at Penn National in the 1990s.

Nick has always been a racing fan, and the Rochester, New York resident has also worked in the industry for 25 years. He started out at Western Regional Off-Track Betting selling pari-mutuel tickets to Western New York State horseplayers, and eventually worked his way up to Chief Financial Officer.

No longer working in the industry Nick, a self-professed “weekend warrior”, still looks for any opportunity to spend a day playing the races.

 

E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: Gustav Schickedanz

Arriving in Canada at the age of 21, Gustav (Gus) Schickedanz built a successful career in land development as a bricklayer and stonemason.

Gus first purchased Canadian-bred yearlings at auction in the 1970s and prepared them to race at his Schonberg Farm in Nobleton, ON. In a matter of years he achieved his first stakes win with Victorious Answer, who also became his foundation broodmare.

Gus’ successful homebred Langfuhr, was a multiple graded stakes winner and the 1996 Champion Male Sprinter.As asire, Langfuhr produced six champions including Wando, the seventh winner of the Canadian Triple Crown and 2003 Horse of the Year and Woodcarver, Champion Three-Year-Old Male and winner of the 1999 Queen’s Plate.

Gus has bred multiple graded stakes winners including Gal In A Ruckus the only Canadian bred to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks Stakes and Jambalaya, the only Canadian bred to win the Grade 1 Arlington Million Handicap. Gus has also won multiple Sovereign Awards as an owner and breeder and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.

 

Outstanding Broodmare: In Return

Horse Chestnut (Saf) – Bartered Bride, by Shadeed
Progeny Earnings $1,953,593
Owner:  Ivan Dalos
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm

The late In Return was a winner on the track and a true gem in her breeding career. Her sons Channel Maker and Johnny Bear are both champions and Grade 1 winners. Channel Maker, 2017 Champion Three-Year-Old, won the 2018 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park and the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga. Johnny Bear won the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes in 2018 for the second consecutive year and is the 2017 Champion Turf Male.

In Return (101), Loving Vindication (86), Avie’s Empire (28)

 

Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Starts (663); Wins (104); Seconds (84); Thirds (84)
Earnings $2,451,326; Stakes win 1

It has been more than a decade since Canadian racing has had an apprentice jockey as dominant as Kazushi Kimura was in 2018. He learned to ride when he was just six-years-old at his parents training centre in Japan and polished his riding skills before arriving at Woodbine in 2018, winning his first race in June of that year. Other career highlights came with his first stakes victory in the Muskoka Stakes as well as, winning five races in one day on October 12th.

Kazushi Kimura (157), Daisuke Fukumoto (75), Lenny A. Seecharan (28)

 

Champion Older Male: Mr Havercamp

DK. B. or B. g. 4 / Sire: Court Vision / Dam: Tennessee Lamb (Medaglia d’Oro)
Trainer: Catherine Day Phillips
Owner: Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry
Breeder: Sean Fitzhenry
2018: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 1 seconds – 0 third – $513,500
Winner: Autumn S. (G2), Play the King S. (G2), Steady Growth S.

Mr Havercamp (123), Pink Lloyd (49), Tiz a Slam (38)

 

Champion Older Female:Escape Clause

B. f. 4 / Sire: Going Commando / Dam: Danger Pay (Circulating)
Trainer: Don Schnell
Owner: Don Schnell, Barry Arnason and True North
Breeder: Cam Ziprick & Arnason Farms
2018: 13 Starts – 9 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $265,419
Winner: Kathryn Crosby S., CTHS Sales S., Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff H., Manitoba Matron S., City of Edmonton Distaff H., Distaff S., Winnipeg Sun S., Allowance Optional Claiming, La Verendrye S.

Escape Clause (102), Gamble’s Ghost (81), Starship Jubilee (45)

 

Outstanding Trainer: Mark Casse

Starts (Can) 517; Wins (106); Seconds (81); Thirds (74)
Earnings $5,812,969; Stakes wins 22

A 10-time winner of this award, Mark Casse had another blockbuster season in 2018 with 106 Canadian winners and an incredible 22 stakes wins. Wonder Gadot stood at the top of her game winning the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. Casse completed the series with Neepawa’s win the Breeder’s Stakes. Also, among Casse’s stakes winners is Lookin to Strike and Shamrock Rose, the winner of the La Lorgnette Stakes who went on to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Mark Casse (134), Norman McKnight (70), Kevin Attard (29)

 

Champion Male Turf Horse: Mr Havercamp

DK. B. or B. g. 4 / Sire: Court Vision / Dam: Tennessee Lamb (Medaglia d’Oro)
Trainer: Catherine Day Phillips
Owner: Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry
Breeder: Sean Fitzhenry
2018: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 1 seconds – 0 third – $513,500
Winner: Autumn S. (G2), Play the King S. (G2), Steady Growth S. 

Mr Havercamp (126), Johnny Bear (75), Tiz a Slam (61)

 

Champion Female Turf Horse: Starship Jubilee

B. f. 4 / Sire: Indy Wind / Dam: Perfectly Wild (Forest Wildcat)
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Blue Heaven Farm
Breeder: William P. Sorren
2018: 8 Starts– 3 wins – 1 second – 0 third – $319,400
Winner:Canadian S. (G2), Starter Optional Claiming, Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf S.

Starship Jubilee (143), Niigon’s Eclipse (37), Dixie Moon (32)

 

Outstanding Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm

Starters 48; Winners 27
Earnings $2,957,008
Starts (280); Wins (49); Seconds (32); Thirds (31)

A three-time finalist in this category, Tall Oaks Farm, owned by Ivan Dalos had another stellar season with nine stakes horses and five are 2018 Sovereign Award finalists. Dalos, bred two Grade 1 winners, Channel Maker winner of the 2018 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Invitational and Johnny Bear, the winner of the 2017 and 2018 Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes. Tall Oaks Farm campaigned homebreds Avie’s Flatter, Avie’s Mineshaft and Gamble’s Ghost in 2018.

Tall Oaks Farm (85), Adena Springs (64), Chiefswood Stables Limited (60)

 

Champion Two-Year-Old Male: Avie’s Flatter

B. c. 2 / Sire: Flatter / Dam: Avie’s Empire (Empire Maker)
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Ivan Dalos
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm
2018: 4 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 0 third – $328,800
Winner: Coronation Futurity S., Cup and Saucer S., MSW

Avie’s Flatter (143), Solidify (59), War of Will (50)

 

Champion Two-Year-Old Female:Bold Script

GR/RO. f. 2 / Sire: Speightstown / Dam: Original Script (Malibu Moon)
Trainer: Stuart Simon
Owner:            Chiefswood Stables
Breeder: Chiefswood Stables Limited
2018: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $267,000
Winner: Princess Elizabeth S., MSW

Bold Script (93), My Gal Betty (86), Tiz Breathtaking (69)

 

Outstanding Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

Starts (Can) (856); Wins (237); Seconds (173); Thirds (119)
Earnings $8,345,386; Stakes wins 29

With a record-breaking season in 2018, he won his fourth consecutive Woodbine riding title and reached a career milestone winning his 2,000thrace in September. Da Silva finished the season with 237 wins beating the previous record of 221 wins set in 1991. Among Da Silva’s racing stars is Sovereign Award finalists Avie’s Flatter, Pink Lloyd and Dixie Moon winner of the 2018 Woodbine Oaks.

Eurico Rosa Da Silva (160), Rafael Hernandez (50), Luis Contreras (30)

 

Champion Male Sprinter: Pink Lloyd

Ch. g. 6 / Sire: Old Forester / Dam: Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
Trainer:  Robert P. Tiller
Owner:  Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
2018: 8 Starts– 5 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third – $385,750
Winner: Kenora S., Vigil S. (G3), Achievement S., New Providence S., Jacques Cartier S.

Pink Lloyd (123), Yorkton (57), Ikerrin Road (49)

 

Champion Female Sprinter: Moonlit Promise

B. m. 5, by Malibu Moon – Smart Surprise (Smart Strike)
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. (J. G. Sikura) and Windsor Boys Racing
Breeder: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc.
2018: 9 Starts– 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $226,563
Winner: Bessarabian S. (G2), Sweet Briar Too S.

Moonlit Promise (112), Code Warrior (54), Escape Clause (43)

 

Outstanding Owner:Chiefswood Stables Limited

Starts (146); Wins (31); Seconds (23); Thirds (25)
Earnings $2,586,506 Stakes wins 6

Winner of this award in 2017, Robert and Mark Krembil and their Chiefswood Stables had their most successful season to date in 2018. Surpassing their 2017 purse earnings by over $300,000, with six stakes wins, they finished on top of the owner’s standings at Woodbine by earnings. Chiefswood Stables and their five stakes winners were all up for 2018 Sovereign Awards including Bold Script 2018 Champion Two-Year-Old Female, Neepawa, Niigon’s Eclipse, Yorkton andmultiple graded stakes winner Tiz a Slam.

Chiefswood Stables (100), Ivan Dalos (56), Gary Barber (53)

 

E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: William D. Graham

Bill became hooked on horse racing after his honeymoon trip to Gulfstream Park with his late wife Valerie. Destined for success, Bill set out to purchase top class fillies. His early acquisitions were yearlings that went on to become talented racehorses and successful broodmares. For close to 50 years in the industry, Bill built Windhaven Farms in Caledon, ON and Lexington, KY, into one of the most respected and successful breeding operations in North America.

Winning his first Sovereign Award in 1989, Bill continued his success with the 2012 Sovereign Award for Outstanding Breeder. Over the years, Bill owned and bred multiple champions including Conquest Harlanate and Uncaptured.

Bill was involved in many industry organizations over the years and was the founder of the Canadian company, Graham Brothers Construction, the builders of Woodbine’s E. P. Taylor Turf Course. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.

Bill Graham passed away on January 15, 2019 at the age of 81 and is dearly missed by his family, friends and the North American Thoroughbred community.

 

Champion Three-Year-Old Male: Sky Promise

B. c. 3 / Sire: Sky Mesa / Dam: Maddie’s Promise (Dehere)
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Owner: Rick Wiest, Clayton Wiest, R 6 Stable and Norman Tremblay
Breeder: Normandy Farm LLC
2018: 11 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 third – $280,714
Winner: British Columbia Derby (G3), Canadian Derby (G3), Manitoba Derby

Sky Promise (111), Lookin to Strike (55), Neepawa (33)

 

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly: Wonder Gadot

DK. B or B. f. 3 / Sire: Medaglia d’Oro / Dam: Loving Vindication (Vindication)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.
2018: 11 Starts – 2 wins – 4 seconds – 3 thirds – $1,403,200
Winner: Prince of Wales S., Queen’s Plate S.

Wonder Gadot (160), Dixie Moon (75), Here’s Hannah (19)

 

Horse of The Year:Wonder Gadot

DK. B or B. f. 3 / Sire: Medaglia d’Oro / Dam: Loving Vindication (Vindication)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.
2018: 11 Starts – 2 wins – 4 seconds – 3 thirds – $1,403,200
Winner: Prince of Wales S., Queen’s Plate S.

Wonder Gadot (136), Mr Havercamp (30), Pink Lloyd (30)

 

The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry. The mission of The Jockey Club of Canada is to promote and maintain a high standard for Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada at a level which is recognized internationally for the benefit of all those interested in the sport including the general public by operations and services such as, but not limited to: evaluating all Graded, Listed and Black-type races in Canada annually; conducting the annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada; maintaining a field office in Canada for the Jockey Club of the United States and the Jockey Club Registry Service; and by representing Canada as a Member of the IFHA.

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For more information on The Jockey Club of Canada’s 44thAnnual Sovereign Awards Ceremony contact Candice Dixon at 416-675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.

 

 

The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the Media Sovereign Award categories for 2017.

The judging for the 2017 Media Sovereign Award categories was performed by Professors of the Journalism Program at the School of Media Studies & Information Technology, Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Listed in alphabetical order, the finalists are:

Writing Category:

• Tom Ferry – “Where Champions Dance”

• Perry Lefko – “Former Breeders’ Stakes champ finding the stable life at last”

• Emily Shields – “How Secretariat gave the Canadians something to remember forever”

Digital Audio/visual and Broadcast Category:

• Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame/ Standardbred Canada/ Woodbine Broadcast Department – The Evolution of Horse Racing in Canada

• Horse Racing Alberta – Super Trooper

• Talkin’ Horse Racing – Episode 9

Photograph Category:

• Jeffrey Bowen – Morning Silhouette

• Dave Landry – Dirt Storm

• Alex Urosivic – Eureka Eurico

The Jockey Club of Canada will announce the winners of each Sovereign Award at the 43rd Annual Awards Ceremony to honour Canada’s Champions of 2017 on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Tickets to the 43rd Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony are $250 each, with tables of ten discounted to $2000. Early-Bird tickets are also available for a discounted price of $225 until March 15, 2018.

You can purchase tickets online at http://jockeyclubcanada.com/2017-sovereign-awards/ or by contacting The Jockey Club of Canada by email jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com or by phone 416-675-7756.

Current Sovereign Award Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:
OLG | Woodbine | CTHS Ontario Division | HBPA Ontario

Silver Sponsors:
Ontario Racing

Bronze Sponsors:
Assiniboia Downs | The Jockey Club | Casse Racing | Windways Farm | Tall Oaks Farm | Anderson Farms

The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry. The mission of The Jockey Club of Canada is to promote and maintain a high standard for Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada at a level which is recognized internationally for the benefit of all those interested in the sport including the general public by operations and services such as, but not limited to: evaluating all Graded, Listed and Black-type races in Canada annually; conducting the annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada; maintaining a field office in Canada for the Jockey Club of the United States and the Jockey Club Registry Service; and by representing Canada as a Member of the IFHA.

The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the winners of three Sovereign Awards, the Groom Award, the Handicapper Award and The Special Sovereign Award for 2017.

The 2017 Groom Award will go to Alfredo Ramos. Alfredo was born on November 10, 1953 in Nicaragua. He came to Canada in the late 1980s and began working with horses in 1989. He has since worked for Rod Wright, Rita Schnitzler, Tino and Kevin Attard, and has been employed by Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield since 2008.

The Sovereign Handicapper Award has been won by Michael Eisen. The former Microsoft Canada Chief Legal Officer, Michael won Woodbine’s 2017 Player of the Year Award, securing him this year’s Sovereign Handicapper of the Year.

“For me, that Sovereign Award is more than just the icing on the cake,” said Eisen. “It is really special and carries a value that transcends the other prizes. Not to equate myself with the great achievers in the sport, but handicappers certainly do play a critical role in the industry.”

Finally, the last award winner to be announced before the awards night, the Special Sovereign Award winner is Sam Lima. Nominated by the Jockey Club of Canada’s Stewards, the Special Sovereign Award recognizes someone who has significantly contributed to the horse racing industry in Canada. Sam has been a dedicated horseman, HBPA official and a driving force of the Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club for countless decades.

The Jockey Club of Canada will celebrate the winners of each Sovereign Award at the 43rd Annual Awards Ceremony to honour Canada’s Champions of 2017 on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Tickets to the 43rd Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony are $250 each, with tables of ten discounted to $2000. Early-Bird tickets are also available for a discounted price of $225 until March 15, 2018.

You can purchase tickets online at http://jockeyclubcanada.com/2017-sovereign-awards/ or by contacting The Jockey Club of Canada by email at jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com or by phone at 416-675-7756.

Current Sovereign Award Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:
OLG | Woodbine | CTHS Ontario Division | HBPA Ontario

Silver Sponsors:
Ontario Racing

Bronze Sponsors:
Assiniboia Downs | The Jockey Club | Casse Racing | Windways Farm | Tall Oaks Farm |  Anderson Farms

The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry. The mission of The Jockey Club of Canada is to promote and maintain a high standard for Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada at a level which is recognized internationally for the benefit of all those interested in the sport including the general public by operations and services such as, but not limited to: evaluating all Graded, Listed and Black-type races in Canada annually; conducting the annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada; maintaining a field office in Canada for the Jockey Club of the United States and the Jockey Club Registry Service; and by representing Canada as a Member of the IFHA.

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For more information contact Camille Casse at 416-675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com. 

The Jockey Club of Canada will host the 43rd Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony to honour Canada’s Champions of 2017 at one of Toronto’s premier venues, The Palais Royal, located at 1601 Lake Shore Blvd West.

The night will take place Thursday, April 19, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. and you’re invited. Tickets to the 43rd Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony are $250 each, with tables of ten discounted to $2000. Early-Bird tickets are also available for a discounted price of $225 until March 15, 2018.

Tickets are available for purchase online at http://jockeyclubcanada.com/2017-sovereign-awards/. You can also purchase program ad space and tickets by contacting The Jockey Club of Canada at 416-675-7756 or by email jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.

 

Current Sovereign Award Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:
OLG | Woodbine | CTHS Ontario

Bronze Sponsors:
Assiniboia Downs | The Jockey Club | Ontario Racing | Casse Racing | HBPA Ontario | Windways Farm

The Jockey Club of Canada will host the 43rd Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony to honour Canada’s Champions of 2017 on Thursday, April 19, 2018, and you’re invited.

Tickets to the 43rd Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony are $250 each, with table of ten discounted to $200. Early-Bird tickets are also available for a discounted price of $225 until March 15, 2018.

To be eligible to receive a Sovereign Award in each divisional category a horse must have raced in Canada at least three times for all horses three-years-old and up and two times for all two-year-olds. For the Owner, Trainer, Breeder, Jockey and Apprentice Jockey categories, a minimum of 10 starts in Canada must be made.  The Outstanding Broodmare Award is a lifetime achievement award. The mare must have a Canadian-bred Stakes horse (by, definition, the horse must have come first, second or third in a Stakes race) in the current year and must have produced a different Canadian-bred stakes horse in a previous year.

Tickets are available for purchase online at http://jockeyclubcanada.com/2017-sovereign-awards/. You can also purchase program ad space and tickets by contacting The Jockey Club of Canada at 416-675-7756 or by email jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.

The Sovereign Awards has also transitioned to three finalists, excluding categories that included ties, for 2017.

The Finalists for the 2017 Sovereign Award Finalists are:

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly:

Dixie Moon
Dream It Is
Wonder Gadot

Champion Two-Year-Old Male:

Admiralty Pier
Archaggelos
Be Vewy Vewy Quiet

Champion Three-Year-Old Female:

Daz Lin Dawn
Enstone
Holy Helena
Inflexibility

Champion Three-Year-Old Male:

Channel Maker
Mr Havercamp
Tiz a Slam

Champion Older Female:

Ami’s Mesa
Moonlit Promise
Gamble’s Ghost

Champion Older Male:

Gigantic Breeze
Melmich
Pink Lloyd

Champion Female Turf Horse:

Enstone
Inflexibility
Starship Jubilee

Champion Male Turf Horse:

Channel Maker
Johnny Bear
Tower of Texas

Champion Female Sprinter:

Ami’s Mesa
Jennifer Lynnette
Moonlit Promise

Champion Male Sprinter:

Ikerrin Road
Pink Lloyd
Yorkton

Outstanding Broodmare:

Keen Victory
Loving Vindication
Miss Crissy
Victorious Ami

Outstanding Breeder:

Adena Springs
Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.
Tall Oaks Farm

Outstanding Owner:

Chiefswood Stable
Ivan Dalos
Stronach Stables

Outstanding Trainer:

Josie Carroll
Mark Casse
Catherine Day Phillips
Norman McKnight

Outstanding Apprentice Jockey:

Ridge Balgobin
Brandon A. Duchaine
Rey Williams

Outstanding Jockey:

Luis Contreras
Eurico Rosa Da Silva
Rico W. Walcott

The finalists for 2017 Horse of the Year will be announced on the night of awards ceremony.

The judging for the 2017 Media Sovereign Award categories will be performed by the Journalism Professors at Humber, School of Media Studies & Information Technology, in Toronto, Ontario. The three finalists in each of the three media categories will be announced on or before March 1, 2018.

The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry. The mission of The Jockey Club of Canada is to promote and maintain a high standard for Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada at a level which is recognized internationally for the benefit of all those interested in the sport including the general public by operations and services such as, but not limited to: evaluating all Graded, Listed and Black-type races in Canada annually; conducting the annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada; maintaining a field office in Canada for the Jockey Club of the United States and the Jockey Club Registry Service; and by representing Canada as a Member of the IFHA.

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For more information on The Jockey Club of Canada’s annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony contact Camille Casse at 416-675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.

 

The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes in Canada and will have several upgrades for 2018.

The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by Committee Chair, Ross McKague and accompanied by all Committee Members as well as the attending race advisors, Jason Teague, Stuart Slagle, Steve Lym, Tim Lawson, Paul Ryneveld and Tom Cosgrove.

After reviewing the NARC figures for all Graded and Listed races in Canada, the Committee determined that the following races would be upgraded in 2018:

 

The Summer Stakes will be upgraded from a G2 to G1
The Highlander Stakes will be upgraded from G2 to G1
The Royal North Stakes will be upgraded from G3 to G2
The Trillium Stakes will move from Listed Status to G3

 

Along with the upgrades, the Speed to Spare Stakes did not receive sufficient RQS numbers in 2017 and therefore will lose its Black-Type status in 2018, disqualifying it from Listed Status.

The Jockey Club of Canada Graded Stakes Committee evaluates and reviews the Graded Stakes in Canada annually and determines whether races should be upgraded, downgraded or remain the same. The Committee bases their decisions on the cumulative NARC ratings for five consecutive years.

Graded Stakes for 2018 in Canada:

Name of Stakes Race G/L/R Dist Track Age/Sex
Current G1s        
Canadian International (Pattison) G1 12T WO 3up
Woodbine Mile (Ricoh) G1 8T WO 3up
Northern Dancer Turf G1 12T WO 3up
E.P. Taylor Stakes G1 10T WO 3up f/m
Natalma Stakes G1 8T WO 2yof
Summer Stakes G1 8T WO 2yo
Highlander Stakes G1 6T WO 3up
Current G2s
Sky Classic Stakes G2 11T WO 3up
Nijinsky Stakes G2 10T WO 3up
Play The King Stakes G2 7T WO 3up
King Edward Stakes G2 8T WO 3up
Autumn Stakes G2 8.5 WO 3up
Kennedy Road Stakes G2 6 WO 3up
Nearctic Stakes G2 6T WO 3up
Connaught Cup Stakes G2 7T WO 4up
Eclipse Stakes G2 8.5 WO 4up
Nassau Stakes G2 8T WO 3up f/m
Dance Smartly Stakes G2 10T WO 3up f/m
Canadian Stakes G2 9T WO 3up f/m
Bessarabian Stakes G2 7 WO 3up f/m
Royal North Stakes G2 6T WO 3up f/m
Current G3s
Grey Stakes G3 8.5 WO 2yo
Mazarine Stakes G3 8.5 WO 2yof
Marine Stake G3 8.5 WO 3yo
BC Premiers H. G3 11 HST 3up
Seagram Cup Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3up
Dominion Day Stakes G3 10 WO 3up
Singspiel Stakes G3 12T WO 3up
Durham Cup Stakes G3 9 WO 3up
Valedictory Stakes G3 14 WO 3up
Bold Venture G3 6.5 WO 3up
Vigil Stakes G3 7 WO 4up
Ballerina Stakes G3 9 HST 3up f/m
Ontario Fashion Stakes G3 6 WO 3up f/m
Seaway Stakes G3 7 WO 3up f/m
Maple Leaf Stakes G3 10 WO 3up f/m
Ontario Matron Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3up f/m
Whimsical Stakes G3 6 WO 4up f/m
Hendrie Stakes G3 6.5 WO 4up f/m
British Columbia Derby G3 9 HST 3yo
Canadian Derby G3 11 NP 3yo
Ontario Derby G3 9 WO 3yo
Selene Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3yof
Ontario Colleen Stakes G3 8T WO 3yof
Trillium Stakes G3 8.5 WO 3up f/m

For complete information visit: http://jockeyclubcanada.com/2018-graded-stakes-in-canada/

The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry.  The mission of

The Jockey Club of Canada is to promote and maintain a high standard for Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada at a level which is recognized internationally for the benefit of all those interested in the sport including the general public by operations and services such as, but not limited to: evaluating all Graded, Listed and Black-type races in Canada annually; conducting the annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada; maintaining a field office in Canada for the Jockey Club of the United States and the Jockey Club Registry Service; and by representing Canada as a Member of the IFHA.

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For more information contact:
Camille Casse
The Jockey Club of Canada
P.O. Box 66, Stn. B
Toronto, ON
M9W 5K9
416-675-7756
jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com
www.jockeyclubcanada.com

The Jockey Club today announced that beginning with the 2018 breeding season, it will charge $35 for each mare reported bred by a stallion on the annual Report of Mares Bred form. The fee will supplement the industry support already provided by The Jockey Club for Thoroughbred aftercare initiatives, including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.).

“The Jockey Club has examined its rate structure, and a fee for mares reported bred is consistent with fees required by other Thoroughbred breed registries worldwide,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “We are pleased to announce that proceeds of this fee will be used to support a host of aftercare initiatives.”

“These funds will augment the great work already being done by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which now accredits and grants funds to dozens of aftercare organizations each year,” said John Phillips, owner of Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., president of TAA, and a member of the board of stewards of The Jockey Club.

“Thoroughbred Charities of America strives to help Thoroughbreds throughout their lives by providing grants to aftercare facilities, employee programs, therapy programs, and equine research,” said Mike McMahon, president of TCA. “Thoroughbreds are my livelihood, and it is my duty and ours as an industry, to ensure they are cared for at every point of their careers, whether they are in training, in the breeding shed, or enjoying a second career or retirement.”

“The Thoroughbred Incentive Program has done a tremendous job in furthering the careers of Thoroughbreds by giving owners and riders a goal to strive toward,” said Dell Hancock, Thoroughbred owner and breeder and initiator of T.I.P. “We should all be proud to support initiatives such as T.I.P., TAA, TCA, and any program that betters the lives of Thoroughbreds.”

In coordination with The Jockey Club of Canada, funds raised from Canadian customers of The Jockey Club will be directed to Canadian Thoroughbred aftercare organizations to supplement their efforts, and likewise, funds from Puerto Rico will be dedicated to support Thoroughbreds at recognized programs in that commonwealth.

The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce that Camille Casse will take over as General Manager of The Jockey Club of Canada, effective immediately.

With a family immersed in the industry, Camille has grown with a love for horses and thoroughbred racing. The Jockey Club of Canada looks forward to working with Camille and believes she will be an asset to our organization

 

The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry. The mission of The Jockey Club of Canada is to promote and maintain a high standard for Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada at a level which is recognized internationally for the benefit of all those interested in the sport including the general public by operations and services such as, but not limited to: evaluating all Graded, Listed and Black-type races in Canada annually; conducting the annual Sovereign Awards for outstanding achievement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Canada; maintaining a field office in Canada for the Jockey Club of the United States and the Jockey Club Registry Service; and by representing Canada as a Member of the IFHA.

This past Friday evening, the 250th Anniversary of Horse Racing was showcased as part of the 95th Annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto

Under the lights and glamour of the Royal Horse Show, an exhibition celebrating the racing industry’s milestone anniversary included a combination of video, current and retired racehorses, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame members and a special presentation to the president of the RAWF.

Three thoroughbreds and four Standardbreds completed an eight-lap commemorative mile while iconic race caller Dan Loiselle provided biographies about each horse’s race and post-race career, highlighting the versatility of the breeds and the importance of re-purposing once race careers conclude.

Post-race activities ranged from show horse careers, including the 2017 Royal, for thoroughbreds, Highland Bay, Man Cave and Maple Tints competing in Thoroughbred confirmation and under saddle classes; and current road horse competitor Standardbred Rachel Lauren; pacer Spago Hall currently engaged with OHHA’s Hands On Horses/Wanna Drive program, providing opportunities for race track patrons to experience what it is like to ride behind a race horse; Calamar and Debi O’Brien-Moran, both familiar faces at tracks leading post parades; and trotter Lets Leavem who is still an active racing participant in both RUS and in harness for owner Sarah Town, including a win and new season mark at Flamboro the night following his trip to the Royal.

Riders and drivers presenting the horses included Sheena Ryan, 2014 Sovereign Award winner as Apprentice Jockey, and Ron Waples, member of both the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the US Harness Racing Hall of Fame. 

The performance concluded with introductions of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame members highlighting all aspects of the racing industry:  harness driver Bill O’Donnell, jockey Sandy Hawley, builder Lou Cauz, communicators Bill Galvin and Jim Bannon, Mrs. Lenore Armstrong, wife of the late H. Charles Armstrong, representing Armstrong Brothers and Mark Samuel, representing Sam-Son Farms. CHRHF president John Stapleton, presented a certificate acknowledging the Royal’s participation in the 250th celebrations along with a special limited edition copy of the history paper on pre-confederation horse racing in Canada, commissioned as a 250th anniversary initiative by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, to Royal Agricultural Winter Fair president Andrew McKee.

Spearheaded by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, funding for the 250th Anniversary of Horse Racing in Canada initiatives has been provided by:  Standardbred Canada, Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, HBPA Ontario, Central Ontario Standardbred Association, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Ontario Racing, OLG, Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, Harness Racing BC, The Jockey Club as well as individual donations.