The Jockey Club Canada

43rd Annual Sovereign Awards Live Broadcast

Jockey Club of Canada seeks full-time general manager

The Jockey Club of Canada is seeking a full-time general manager.

The manager will report to the Board of Stewards. The successful applicant will be responsible for all Jockey Club of Canada related duties, including but not limited to:

Reporting to the Board of Stewards (Directors)
Organizing and Administrating Board of Stewards, Members and Committee Meetings
Serving as secretary at meetings, writing and distributing minutes
Bookkeeping, budgeting and year-end /audit preparation
Day to day operation of office: answering phone calls, emails and letter mail, as well as banking responsibilities
Maintaining duties related to the operation of the field office for The Jockey Club Registry
Compiling Canadian statistics and information for International Cataloguing Standards Committee, International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities as well as various other racing organizations
Compiling voting statistics, organizing, administering and directing the annual Sovereign Awards event
Liaising with organizations locally, nationally and internationally
Attending industry functions as a representative of The Jockey Club of Canada
Attracting, assisting and providing information for new owners and investments in the thoroughbred racing industry in Canada
Updating and maintaining The Jockey Club of Canada’s website and social media channels
Creating and distributing media releases to the industry and mainstream media

Required Skills

General knowledge of the Thoroughbred racing industry
General office and computer skills using Microsoft Office
Experience with QuickBooks or other bookkeeping software
Event planning skills are an asset
Website updating skills are an asset.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Media Finalists Announced for 2017 Sovereign Awards

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

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.

Groom, Handicapper & Special Sovereign Award Announced for 2017

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

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

The Sovereign Awards Return to Palais Royale for 2018 Awards Night

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

The Jockey Club of Canada Announces 2017 Sovereign Award Finalists and extends invitation to attend awards night

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.

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.

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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.

Jockey Club of Canada Graded Stakes Committee Announces Upgrades for 2018

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 Adds $35 Fee to Support Aftercare

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 Announces New General Manager

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

250th Anniversary of Horse Racing in Canada celebrated at Royal Horse Show

This past Friday evening, the 250^th Anniversary of Horse Racing was showcased as part of the 95^th 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 250^th celebrations along with a special limited edition copy of the history paper on pre-confederation horse racing in Canada, commissioned as a 250^th 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 250^th 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.

The Finalists for the 2017 Sovereign Award Finalists are:

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

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