April 14, 2023
The Jockey Club of Canada hosted the 48th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony through a live presentation on the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023. The evening began with a commemoration of the club’s 50th anniversary and recognition of the founding members from 1973. A replay of the ceremony can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlSiBZdaE58.
The top three finalists in each category are determined by the online ballots of The Jockey Club of Canada’s knowledgeable voters. The media category award finalists were determined by media professionals within the industry selected from across North America.
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the 2022 Sovereign Award winners in the order in which they were presented.
E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: DALE SAUNDERS
In Alberta, they affectionately call him “The Colonel,” but it wouldn’t be far off to consider trainer Dale Saunders a king in Thoroughbred racing in Canada, in particular his home province of Alberta. The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to honour Dale with the coveted E. P. Taylor Award of Merit, presented to an individual who has accomplished outstanding lifetime achievements in Canadian thoroughbred racing and made significant contributions to the industry in this country.
Through more than half a century of training horses, Dale is among an elite group of Canadian horsepeople, his 2,177 winners putting him sixth on the list of all-time leading trainers. Dale is only the second trainer to win more than 2,000 races while running exclusively in Alberta, along with Canadian Horse Racing Hall Fame of Fame inductee Ron ‘Red’ Smith. Dale has won the Alberta trainer’s title eight times and through 2022 his horses collected more than $17 million in earnings. In 2012, he was named Horseperson of the Year at the Alberta Thoroughbred Awards and in 2016, the town of Bowden presented Dale with a plaque for his 2,000th winner and his contributions to the community.
Outstanding Writing: GEORGE WILLIAMS
Derby winner has a Manitoba mother
Published May 8, 2022 on WinnipegFreePress.com
Outstanding Photograph (tie):
ALLAN DE LA PLANTE
The Catch
Published December 27, 2022 on CanadianThoroughbred.com
JULIE WRIGHT
On Cloud Nine – 2022 E. P. Taylor Champions
Published December 12, 2022 on DRF.com
Outstanding Audio Visual/Digital Broadcast: WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT
The Queen’s Plate
Aired on CTV/TSN on August 21, 2022
Outstanding Grooms:
AMBER HUTCHINSON
Amber Hutchinson was just 15 years old when she got her first job on the backstretch at Woodbine. Born in Barrie, Ontario, Amber was in love with horses from a young age. Her mother signed her up for riding camps as a child and one fateful day, when her daughter saw an ad for grooms wanted at Woodbine, she signed her daughter’s racing commission license, allowing her to work during the summers and on weekends.
That first job at the track, with trainer Jim Hutchison and his daughter Julie, paved the way for Amber to be honoured as an Outstanding Groom at this evening’s Sovereign Awards ceremony. Amber worked her way up from hot-walker to groom, also doing some pony riding along the way when outrider Wayne Green was absent.
She found her dream job some 17 years ago when she started working for 1984 Sovereign Award-winning trainer Mike Doyle, and has been there ever since.
RICARDO NICHALSON
Ricardo Nichalson has always been seeking a challenge. Hard work and being a team player come easily to the 41-year old who will be honoured this evening with the Outstanding Groom award. He was nominated by his boss of almost 18 years, trainer Ian Black, who hired Ricardo soon after opening a successful public stable.
Ricardo and his family moved from Jamaica to Toronto when he was 11 and it would be some time before he even got close to a horse. Throughout school, “Ricky” concentrated on getting good grades and preparing for the workforce. After Grade 12, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, an architect, and began working in construction for a local union. One day, some high school friends told him about jobs at Woodbine racetrack where they worked with horses, and, in his first visit to the barn area at the Etobicoke track, he was put right to work.
Champion Two-year Old Female: CAIRO CONSORT
Trainer: Nathan Squires
Owner: Maple Lane Farm LLC
Breeder: Frankfort Park Farm
GR./RO. F. 2, by Cairo Prince – Absolutely Awesome (Street Cry *Ire)
2022: 6 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $266,149
Winner: Catch a Glimpse S., MSW
Stakes Placings: 2nd Johnnie Walker Natalma S. (G1), 3rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1)
Cairo Consort (118), Last Call (72), Renegade Rebel (22)
Champion Two-year Old Male: PHILIP MY DEAR
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Raroma Stable
Breeder: Adena Springs
DK. B./BR. C. 2, by Silent Name *Jpn – Involuntary (City Zip)
2022: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds – $305,762
Winner: Cup and Saucer S., Soaring Free S., MSW
Stakes Placings: 3rd Pattison Summer S. (G1), 3rd Coronation Futurity
Philip My Dear (112), Poulin in O T (60), Velocitor (43)
Champion Three-year Old Female: MOIRA
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC
Breeder: Adena Springs
B. F. 3, by Ghostzapper – Devine Aida (Unbridled’s Song)
2022: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $819,267
Winner: Queen’s Plate S., Stella Artois Fury S., Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser
Moira (134), Souper Hoity Toity (53), Sister Seagull (25)
Champion Three-year Old Male: SIR FOR SURE
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Heste Sport Inc.
Breeder: Norse Ridge Farms
B. G. 3, by Sligo Bay *Ire – Serena’s Rose (My Way Only)
2022: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third – $353,212
Winner: Breeders’ S., Plate Trial S., MSW
Stakes Placings: 3rd Queen’s Plate S.
Sir for Sure (109), Ironstone (48), Hall of Dreams (26)
Outstanding Owner: BRUNO SCHICKEDANZ
412 Starts; 73 Wins; 60 Seconds; 64 Thirds
Earnings $2,017,539; Stakes wins 4
Second in the voting in this category in 2000, Bruno Schickedanz has been the leading owner at Woodbine racetrack by wins for nine consecutive years and the leading owner at Fort Erie in 2021 and 2022. Bruno has expanded his stable over the years and in 2022 his horses made over 400 starts in Canada, with his red-and-white striped silks crossing the finish in front 73 times and his horses earning just over $2 million. Bruno’s star horse of 2022 was the Irish-bred four-year old War Bomber, a finalist for Champion Older Main Track Male. Claimed for just $25,000 in 2021 and a stakes winner that year as well, War Bomber blossomed at four with trainer Norm McKnight, winning the Grade 3 Seagram Cup. The son of War Front was also second in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes and third in the Grade 3 Durham Cup, earning over $140,000 on the season. Bruno also won three added-money races at Fort Erie including the Puss ‘n Boots Stakes with that track’s Horse of the Year, Strong Ending.
Bruno Schickedanz (59), X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC (52), Al & Bill Ulwelling (39)
Champion Female Sprinter: HAZELBROOK
Trainer: Lorne Richards
Owner: True North Stable
Breeder: Mike Bilbrey
B. F. 4, by Bayern – Zaphia (Bernstein)
2022: 6 Starts – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds – $274,996
Winner: Hendrie S. (G3), Ontario Fashion S. (G3), Sweet Briar Too S., ALW/OC
Stakes Placings: 2nd Bessarabian S. (G2), 2nd Seaway S. (G3)
Hazelbrook (110), Our Flash Drive (43), Lady Speightspeare (27)
Champion Male Sprinter: FILO DI ARIANNA (BRZ)
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Barber, Gary, Wachtel Stable and Deutsch, Peter
Breeder: Stud Principessa di Capri
CH. H. 6, by Drosselmeyer – Principessa Capri *Brz (Northern Afleet)
2022: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $213,443
Winner: Connaught Cup S. (G2), King Edward S. (G2), ALW/OC
Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (98), Arzak (49), Lucky Score (43)
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: SLADE JONES
443 Starts; 61 Wins; 54 Seconds; 57 Thirds
Earnings $1,928,304
Sixteen-year-old Slade Jones arrived in Ontario from Barbados to ride at Woodbine in May of 2022 and, to no-one’s surprise, he was an instant hit right out of the gate. The son of former top Woodbine rider, Jono Jones, and grandson of the great Barbados rider ‘Chally’ Jones, was getting on horses almost before he could walk. While he was born in Canada, Slade was raised in Barbados where he rode his first race at the age of 15. He showed plenty of talent on horseback and when he arrived at Woodbine he was quickly embraced by owners and trainers. Slade was the leading race-winning apprentice jockey in Canada in 2022 and his 61 wins, a 14% win rate, also saw him finish a solid 12th in the overall jockey standings at Woodbine. No doubt one of his favourite horses of the year was Touch of Red, a 2-year-old filly he guided to victory in the South Ocean Stakes, his first added-money winning ride.
Slade Jones (140), N’Rico Prescod (56), Kimal Santo (34)
Outstanding Jockey: KAZUSHI KIMURA
760 Starts; 152 Wins; 127 Seconds; 127 Thirds
Earnings $6,881,254; Stakes wins 15
In only his fifth season of riding since arriving from Japan, Kazushi Kimura ran away with the leading jockey title at Woodbine for the second consecutive year. The 2021 Sovereign Award winner for Outstanding Jockey also has two Sovereign Awards and an Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, he set personal bests for victories with 152 and purse earnings with over $6.8 million. One of his biggest wins of the year came aboard the Chad Brown-trained mare Rougir (FR), owned by Peter Brant; the two overcame some serious traffic trouble to take the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes against a stellar field. Kazushi also partnered a number of this evening’s Sovereign Awards finalists, including Filo di Arianna (Brz), who took the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes, one of the year’s top two-year olds, Philip My Dear, who won the Cup & Saucer Stakes and was third in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes, and the talented three-year old Ironstone who took the Grade 3 Ontario Derby.
Kazushi Kimura (123), Rafael Hernandez (83), Patrick Husbands (11), Emma-Jayne Wilson (11)
Champion Female Turf Horse: LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE
Trainer: Roger L. Attfield
Owner: Charles E. Fipke
Breeder: Charles Fipke
CH. F. 4, by Speightstown – Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical)
2022: 8 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $486,766
Winner: Nassau S. (G2), Seaway S. (G3), Trillium S. (G3)
Stakes Placings: 2nd Endeavour S. (G3), 3rd Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1), 3rd Jenny Wiley S. (G1)
Lady Speightspeare (120), Fev Rover (IRE) (36), Moira (29)
Champion Male Turf Horse: FILO DI ARIANNA (BRZ)
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Barber, Gary, Wachtel Stable and Deutsch, Peter
Breeder: Stud Principessa di Capri
CH. H. 6, by Drosselmeyer – Principessa Capri *Brz (Northern Afleet)
2022: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $213,443
Winner: Connaught Cup S. (G2), King Edward S. (G2), ALW/OC
Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (124), Philip My Dear (41), Ready for the Lady (22), Sir for Sure (22)
Outstanding Trainer: MARK E. CASSE
673 Starts; 119 Wins; 109 Seconds; 84 Thirds
Earnings $7,513,799; Stakes wins 22
Canada’s perennial leading trainer Mark Casse seeks an unprecedented 15th Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer this evening and a 12th straight honour. Incredibly, Mark’s Woodbine-based stable set new marks for number of starts and purse earnings in 2022. In addition, the barn’s 119 victories matched its previous high set in 2011. Overall, Mark Casse trainees made 673 starts and earned over $7.5 million. Fifteen Casse-trained horses won 22 stakes races last year, including 2022 Sovereign Awards finalist Sir for Sure, one of the year’s top three-year olds and winner of the Breeders’ Stakes for owners and breeders Rene and Darlene Hunderup of King, Ontario. Sir for Sure also won the Plate Trial Stakes and finished third in the Queen’s Plate. Other Sovereign Awards finalists for the Mark Casse barn include graded stakes winning sprinter Filo di Arianna (Brz), Who’s the Star, a winner of three graded stakes races, Souper Hoity Toity, a top 3-year-old filly, Our Flash Drive, a leading older female, and the two-year old filly Renegade Rebel.
Mark E. Casse (105), Kevin Attard (102), Josie Carroll (16)
Champion Older Main Track Female: LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE
Trainer: Roger L. Attfield
Owner: Charles E. Fipke
Breeder: Charles Fipke
CH. F. 4, by Speightstown – Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical)
2022: 8 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $486,766
Winner: Nassau S. (G2), Seaway S. (G3), Trillium S. (G3)
Stakes Placings: 2nd Endeavour S. (G3), 3rd Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1), 3rd Jenny Wiley S. (G1)
Lady Speightspeare (117), Infinite Patience (51), Our Flash Drive (44)
Champion Older Main Track Male: WHO’S THE STAR
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: M Racing Group, LLC
Breeder: Oscar Penn & John R. Penn
B. G. 4, by Tonalist – Shine Forth (Carson City)
2022: 11 Starts – 6 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $299,740
Winner: Autumn S. (G2), Durham Cup S. (G3), Valedictory S. (G3), Niagara S., ALW/OC, ALW/OC
Who’s the Star (136), War Bomber (IRE) (30), Soy Tapatio (24)
Outstanding Broodmare: COUNT TO THREE
B. M. 2002 by Red Ransom – Countus In (Dancing Count)
7 Starters, 5 Winners, 2 Graded Blacktype winners
Progeny earnings $2,114,389
A finalist for Outstanding Broodmare in 2020, Count to Three has been a remarkable producer with two Grade 1 winning Ontario-breds from seven foals to race. Bred and raced by Sam-Son Farms, Count to Three was a stakes winner herself and graded stakes-placed in her racing career. Her 2012 foal, Ransom the Moon, by Malibu Moon, won consecutive editions of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in 2017 and 2018. Ransom the Moon retired with earnings of over $884,000 and is now a successful young sire. Count to Three’s 2015 foal, Count Again, by Awesome Again, became a Grade 1 winner and millionaire in 2022 with victories in the prestigious Shoemaker Mile and Frank E. Kilroe Mile, both at Santa Anita. He also won the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes last year.
Count to Three (74), Include Katherine (48), Cosa Rara (32)
Outstanding Breeder: ADENA SPRINGS
Starters 65; Winners 30
348 Starts; 51 Wins; 40 Seconds; 51 Thirds
Earnings $3,544,253
For more than half a century, Frank and Frieda Stronach have bred some of the greatest horses in Canada and, on 12 occasions, the couple’s Adena Springs, based in Aurora, Ontario, has won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Breeder. Rarely a Canadian racing season goes by without at least one Adena Springs-bred star, and that was certainly true in 2022. Moira, the brilliant three-year old filly by the Stronachs’ world class sire Ghostzapper, was the top sophomore of any gender in Canada, winning the Queen’s Plate over males, and the Woodbine Oaks and the Fury Stakes over females. A finalist in two categories this evening, Moira is out of the mare Devine Aida, a stakes winner purchased by Adena Springs as a two-year old in 2014. Another top Adena-bred of note in 2022 was Philip My Dear, a finalist tonight for Champion Two-year Old Male and Champion Male Turf Horse.
Adena Springs (94), Sam-Son Farm (93), Tall Oaks Farm (21)
Horse of the Year: MOIRA
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC
Breeder: Adena Springs
B. F. 3, by Ghostzapper – Devine Aida (Unbridled’s Song)
2022: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $819,267
Winner: Queen’s Plate S., Stella Artois Fury S., Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser
Moira (103), Lady Speightspeare (75), Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (24)
April 12, 2023
The 2022 Sovereign Awards will be awarded tomorrow evening at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan. Head to our Sovereign Awards page to view the event program and for a link to the event streaming.
April 3, 2023
The 48th Annual Sovereign Awards, celebrating the champions of Thoroughbred racing in Canada in 2022, are less than two weeks away now. The ceremony will take place Thursday, April 13 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario, with cocktails beginning at 5:00pm. Be sure to secure your tickets by visiting our online payments page: https://jockeyclubcanada.com/online-payments/ or contacting us at jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com or (416) 675-7756.
March 8, 2023
The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes races in Canada. The number of Graded Stakes in Canada will increase to 42. The increase is due to the return of the Canadian International (Grade 1) and the upgrade of one Listed race to Grade 3 status. No Graded Stakes races were downgraded.
The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by Committee Chair, Ross McKague who was accompanied by the appointed Committee Members David Anderson, Doug Anderson, Jeffrey Begg, Catherine Day Phillips, Bernard McCormack and Jockey Club of Canada’s Chief Steward R. Glenn Sikura. James Bannon was unable to attend, but provided commentary in advance of the meeting. As well, the attending racetrack representatives included Allen Goodsell and Josh Murphy from Alberta, Nichelle Milner and Scott Henson from British Columbia, Ross McKague representing Manitoba, and Julia Bell and Scott Lane from Ontario.
The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all Graded, Listed, and potentially Listed races in Canada. 2022 was the first year since 2019 that restricted movement of horses and humans did not hamper field size and, ultimately, race quality. Most races achieved as good or better scores in 2022 and their status was secure. A few races were granted concessions for their slow recovery based on their superior historical references and acceptable current numerical evaluations.
After reviewing the NARC figures and the RQS numbers for all Listed and Blacktype races in Canada, the Committee determined that the Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes will be upgraded to Grade 2 status and the Listed Belle Mahone Stakes will be upgraded to Grade 3 status. Additionally, the Ontario Damsel Stakes and the Algonquin Stakes (previously run as the Ontario Racing Stakes) will be upgraded to Listed status.
For a complete list of graded stakes for 2023 in Canada, please visit our Graded Stakes page.
February 27, 2023
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce that Dale Saunders will be presented with the E. P. Taylor Award of Merit during the 48th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023 in Vaughan, Ontario. Selected unanimously by the Jockey Club of Canada’s Stewards, the E. P. Taylor Award is a lifetime achievement award honouring those who have made significant contributions to the Thoroughbred Industry in Canada and accomplished outstanding individual achievements in Canadian thoroughbred racing and breeding.
Dale Saunders has been dedicated to the sport of thoroughbred racing for over 50 years. With 2,177 wins from 12,915 starts and $17.4 million in earnings, “Colonel” Saunders has achieved as much as any other trainer in Alberta. His passion for thoroughbred racing was bred into him, with his father and his cousins all keen horsemen and avid thoroughbred breeders and owners. Dale has won countless stakes races and was Alberta Trainer of the Year in 1983, 1985, 1987 – 1989, 1996 – 1999 and 2013. He was also honoured in 2012 as the Horseperson of the Year at the Alberta Thoroughbred Awards.
The Jockey Club of Canada is proud to present Amber Hutchinson and Ricardo Nichalson with the 2022 Outstanding Groom Award sponsored by OLG. Both Amber and Ricardo are spoken of very highly by their nominators, trainers Mike Doyle and Ian Black, respectively.
This year marks Amber’s 16th season with Mike Doyle who describes her as dependable, diligent, cheerful, unfailingly kind, and having earned the respect of her coworkers.
Ian Black began his training career 19 years ago, and Ricardo has been with him the entire time. Known for his race day outfits which are catered to match each owners’ silks and the saddlecloth colour, “Ricky” has groomed such horses as multiple graded stakes winners Seductively and Southdale.
The Jockey Club of Canada is also pleased to announce the finalists for the 2022 Media Sovereign Awards categories. Judging for the Media Awards is performed by media professionals within the industry selected from across North America.
Listed in alphabetical order, the Media finalists are:
Digital Audio/Visual and Broadcast Category
Photograph Category
Writing Category
The winner in each of the three Media Awards categories will be announced, along with the other Sovereign Awards winners and Canada’s Horse of the Year during the 48th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario.
February 22, 2023
The 48th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony, taking place the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario will be the first event of the year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Jockey Club of Canada. Beginning with that evening’s Sovereign Awards ceremony, The Jockey Club of Canada will be honouring the legacy of our founding members throughout 2023 with various celebrations of our 50th anniversary.
Chief Steward R. Glenn Sikura notes “The Jockey Club of Canada is proud to be celebrating its 50th year of existence. Founded by one of the titans of the thoroughbred industry, Mr. E. P. Taylor, master of Windfields Farm and breeder of greats like Northern Dancer and Nijinsky II, the Canadian legacy is rich and accomplished. We tip our caps to those that came before us and will strive to maintain the level of excellence that our predecessors have achieved.”
The Jockey Club of Canada is also pleased to announce two new MCs for the 2022 Sovereign Awards, Dawn Lupul and Jeff Bratt, who will be reprising the role previously held by Jason Portuondo. Jason has done an exemplary job as host over the years and we are grateful to him for all he has done, and continues to do, for the thoroughbred racing industry in Canada.
Dawn and Jeff are no strangers to working together, having previously cohosted Woodbine’s simulcast broadcast. Both bring a wealth of knowledge and respect of thoroughbred racing throughout Canada to the Sovereign Awards and we are thrilled to have them on board.
Dawn has appeared in numerous network television specials throughout the years and even took her talent as a race caller overseas when invited to call a race at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia in 2020.
You’d be hard-pressed to find shows having aired from Woodbine without Jeff’s expertise, be they simulcasts or network programs for such prestigious race days as the Queen’s Plate, Woodbine Mile, or Canadian International.
The winner in each of the media and divisional Sovereign Awards categories will be announced during the 48th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario. Please call us at (416) 675-7756 or email jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com for more information and to reserve your tickets today! Tickets can also be purchased online at: https://jockeyclubcanada.com/online-payments/.
February 9, 2023
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2022 Sovereign Awards honouring Canada’s champions and recognizing their outstanding achievements in Canadian Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding.
The winner of each category, along with Canada’s Horse of the Year for 2022, will be announced during our 48th Annual Sovereign Award ceremony which will be held on the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario.
Please call or email us for more information and to reserve your tickets today! Tickets can also be purchased online at: https://jockeyclubcanada.com/online-payments/.
2022 Sovereign Awards Finalists
The finalists in each of the following categories are listed in alphabetical order.
Champion Two-Year-Old Female
Cairo Consort
Last Call
Renegade Rebel
Champion Two-Year-Old Male
Philip My Dear
Poulin in O T
Velocitor
Champion Three-Year-Old Female
Moira
Sister Seagull
Souper Hoity Toity
Champion Three-Year-Old Male
Hall of Dreams
Ironstone
Sir for Sure
Champion Older Main Track Female
Infinite Patience
Lady Speightspeare
Our Flash Drive
Champion Older Main Track Male
Soy Tapatio
War Bomber (Ire)
Who’s the Star
Champion Female Turf Horse
Fev Rover (Ire)
Lady Speightspeare
Moira
Champion Male Turf Horse
Filo di Arianna (Brz)
Philip My Dear
Ready for the Lady
Sir for Sure
Champion Female Sprinter
Hazelbrook
Lady Speightspeare
Our Flash Drive
Champion Male Sprinter
Arzak
Filo di Arianna (Brz)
Lucky Score
Outstanding Broodmare
Cosa Rara
Count to Three
Include Katherine
Outstanding Breeder
Adena Springs
Sam-Son Farm
Tall Oaks Farm
Outstanding Owner
Schickedanz, Bruno
Ulwelling, Al and Bill
X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC
Outstanding Trainer
Attard, Kevin
Carroll, Josie
Casse, Mark E.
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
Jones, Slade
Prescod, N’Rico
Santo, Kimal
Outstanding Jockey
Hernandez, Rafael Manuel
Husbands, Patrick
Kimura, Kazushi
Wilson, Emma-Jayne
Horse of the Year
The Horse of the Year finalists will be announced during the 48th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony.
The 2022 Media Sovereign Awards finalists, the winner of the Award for Outstanding Groom and this year’s E. P. Taylor Award and Special Sovereign Award winners will be announced in the coming days.
The winner in each of the three Media Sovereign Awards categories will be announced, along with the other Sovereign Awards winners during the 48th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario.
For more information please contact The Jockey Club of Canada at (416) 675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.
December 2, 2022
The Jockey Club of Canada will host the 48th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony to honour Canada’s champions of 2022 at one of Toronto’s premier venues, Universal Eventspace, located at 6250 Highway 7, Vaughan, Ontario.
The celebration will take place Thursday, April 13, 2023. Tickets to the 48th 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 13, 2023.
Tickets are available for purchase online at https://jockeyclubcanada.com/online-payments/. Program advertisement space, sponsorships, and tickets can also be purchased by contacting The Jockey Club of Canada at (416) 675-7756 or by emailing jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.
November 17, 2022
The Jockey Club of Canada is now accepting submissions for the 2022 Media Sovereign Awards for Outstanding Writing, Photograph and Digital Audio/Visual and Broadcast. Submissions must be received by The Jockey Club of Canada office via email to jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com no later than 11:59 p.m. EST December 31, 2022. Submissions received after this deadline will not be accepted.
To qualify for a 2022 Media Sovereign Award, the submission must have appeared in a recognized public medium for the first time between the dates of January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.
The three categories in which to enter submissions for the media portion of the annual Sovereign
Awards are:
The nominees for each of the 2022 Media Sovereign Awards will be announced in February 2023, and the winner in each category will be announced at the 48th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony.
For more information on The Jockey Club of Canada’s 48th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony, contact Megan Allan at (416) 675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.
For complete Sovereign Award media category rules, submission guidelines, and deadlines, please visit The Jockey Club of Canada website at https://jockeyclubcanada.com/sovereign-awards/media-category-rules-regulations/. Submissions must be received by The Jockey Club of Canada office no later than December 31, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. (EST). Submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted.
November 1, 2022
Each year, The Jockey Club of Canada recognizes outstanding achievements in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry in Canada with the Sovereign Awards. The Board of Stewards has amended two of the guidelines for the awards, effective for the 2022 awards which will be presented in 2023.
The first change is in regard to the trophy recipient of the divisional horse awards. The guideline has been amended to read:
The trophy recipient for the divisional horse awards shall be the owner of the horse as of its last start in the award year and, if the owner is not also the breeder, the breeder listed on the Jockey Club Certificate of Registration may receive a trophy as well.
The second change is in regard to the trophy recipient of the Outstanding Broodmare award. The guideline has been amended to read:
The owner of the Outstanding Broodmare at the end of the award year shall be the only recipient of that award and trophy.
On the eve of the Sovereign Awards, The Jockey Club of Canada also presents the Outstanding Groom award. While this is not a Sovereign Award, it is important to The Jockey Club of Canada and their sponsors to recognize the outstanding contributions of backstretch workers on such a special night for the industry. The Board of Stewards has amended the guideline for nominators for the Outstanding Groom award:
Nominators must hold a valid Thoroughbred license in the province of Ontario.
This opens up the pool of nominators which was previously restricted to licensed trainers and assistant trainers.
The nomination period for the Outstanding Groom award is now open, running from November 1, 2022 through to December 11, 2022. For further information regarding Sovereign Awards guidelines or the Outstanding Groom award, please visit www.jockeyclubcanada.com or contact us at (416) 675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.
The Jockey Club of Canada hosted the 47th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony through a live presentation on the evening of Thursday, April 14, 2022. We are pleased to announce the 2021 Sovereign Award winners in the order in which they were presented.
Outstanding Photograph: WILL WONG
Welcome Back
Published July 1, 2021; Ontario Racing
Outstanding Writing: HAYLEY MORRISON
New Races, New Faces: How I Fell for The Fort
Published November 12, 2021 on CanadianThoroughbred.com
Outstanding Audio Visual/Digital Broadcast: WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT
The Queen’s Plate
Aired on CTV/TSN Sunday, August 22, 2021
Outstanding Groom: DENZIL FONSECA
The Jockey Club of Canada is proud to present Denzil Fonseca with the 2021 Outstanding Groom Award, sponsored by OLG. This year marks Denzil’s 40th year working on the Woodbine backstretch. For the past 14 years he has been a groom for trainer Mike Doyle. Denzil has worked for many accomplished horsepeople in Ontario including trainers John Charalambous, Cliff Hopmans, Jr. and Deborah England. He groomed many top horses for England. In recent years, Denzil has been the groom for many top horses from the Mike Doyle barn. Most notable of these was Holy Helena, a strong filly who came to Ontario for a stint in the summer of 2017 and won the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate for Stronach Stables.
E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: IVAN DALOS
Ivan came to Canada from Hungary around the same time E.P. Taylor opened Woodbine racetrack in 1956 and put together a successful flooring and construction business. Once the horse racing bug took hold it did not take long for one of the first horses bred by Ivan to make news on an international stage.
Victory Gallop, a son of Cryptoclearance and the first foal of his mare Victorious Lil spoiled Real Quiet’s bid for a Triple Crown sweep when he beat him by a nose in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Ivan immersed himself in pedigrees, seeking that perfect ‘nick’ and a broodmare band that numbered a handful is now more than three dozen, many of which are a part of several generations of Tall Oaks breeding.Tall Oaks won its first Sovereign for Outstanding Breeder in 2018 and doubled up in 2020.
A dedicated family man Ivan enjoys sharing the racing experiences with wife Irene and his three daughters, one of whom, Colleen, has moved into a lead role in the racing and breeding operation. “I started Tall Oaks for my family,” said Ivan. “I try to breed every horse to the best of my ability.”
Champion Two-Year-Old Female: MRS. BARBARA
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Spruce Stable
Breeder: Jim Dandy Stable
DK B. F. 2, by Bodemeister – Destroy (Housebuster)
2021: 6 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $144,809
Winner: Mazarine S. (G3), MSW
Mrs. Barbara (112), Moira (59), Diabolic (49)
Champion Two-Year-Old Male: GOD OF LOVE
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Barber, Gary
Breeder: William D. Graham
CH. C. 2, by Cupid – No Wonder (Three Wonders)
2021: 4 Starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $208,993
Winner: Grey S. (G3), Cup and Saucer S.
God of Love (113), Grafton Street (54), Ironstone (40)
Champion Three-Year-Old Female: MUNNYFOR RO
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Raroma Stable
Breeder: Daybar, LTD.
CH. F. 3, by Munnings – Repartee (Distorted Humor)
2021: 10 Starts – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds – $548,561
Winner: Ontario Damsel S., Wonder Where S., Woodbine Oaks, MSW
Munnyfor Ro (118), Our Flash Drive (69), Lorena (27)
Champion Three-Year-Old Male: FROSTED OVER
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: G. Watts Humphrey Jr.
B. C. 3, by Frosted- Candy Crush (Candy Ride *Arg)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds – $168,786
Winner: Ontario Derby (G3), ALW, MSW
Frosted Over (123), Uncharacteristic (35), Artie’s Storm (35), Haddassah (18)
Outstanding Broodmare: AVIE’S EMPIRE
DK. B. M. 2008 by Empire Maker – Fly for Avie (Lord Avie)
3 Starters, 3 Winners, 1 Champion, 1 Graded Blacktype winner, 1 Blacktype winner, 1 Graded Blacktype placed
Progeny earnings $1,430,306
Avie’s Empire was bred by Sovereign Award-winning breeder Ivan Dalos under his stable name, Tall Oaks Farm. A daughter of Grade 1 winner Fly for Avie, who raced for Dalos. Avie’s Empire never made the races, but has been a gem in the breeding shed. Avie’s Empire’s son Avie’s Flatter (Flatter), the Champion 2-Year-Old of 2018, was a double graded winner in 2021 taking the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes and Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes. Avie’s Empire is also the dam of 2018 Wonder Where Stakes winner Avie’s Mineshaft (Mineshaft) and Avie’s Mesa (Sky Mesa), who was second in the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes. Avie’s Empire has a 2022 foal by Tapit.
Avie’s Empire (72), Include Katherine (71), Sunday Affair (28)
Outstanding Breeder: SAM-SON FARM
Starters 52; Winners 31
278 Starts; 45 Wins; 48 Seconds; 32 Thirds
Earnings $2,671,554
More than half a century since Sam-Son Farms was founded by the late Ernie Samuel, the iconic Canadian farm remains at the top of the charts of leading breeders. Horses foaled on the Milton, Ontario farm earned over $2.6 million in 2021 and there were 31 winners from 52 starters. Say the Word, the 2020 Champion Turf Male in Canada, won the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar and Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland for Sam-Son and co-owners Agave Racing. The son of More Than Ready was also second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile. The exciting Messier, a 2-year-old colt by Empire Maker, won the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes and Rideforthecause and Curlin’s Catch were other Stakes winners bred by Sam-Son.
Sam-Son Farm (123), Adena Springs (35), Tall Oaks Farm (31)
Champion Female Sprinter: AMALFI COAST
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Tracy Farmer
Breeder: Terra Farms Ltd.
CH. M. 5, by Tapizar – Include Katherine (Include)
2021: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $246,763
Winner: Ontario Fashion S. (G3), Royal North S. (G2)
Amalfi Coast (116), Our Secret Agent (60), Lorena (22)
Champion Male Sprinter: PINK LLOYD
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
CH. G. 9, by Old Forester – Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds – $289,742
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Ontario Jockey Club S., Bold Venture S. (G3)
Pink Lloyd (117), Avie’s Flatter (57), Souper Stonehenge (37)
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: MAURICIO MALVAEZ
252 Starts; 28 Wins; 34 Seconds; 34 Thirds
Earnings $470,225
A winner of the 2020 Sovereign Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, Mauricio Malvaez switched over to riding racehorses in 2019 after a promising boxing career. The son of jockey Marcos Malvaez had his first full season of riding in 2020 in Alberta and rode Real Grace to a big win in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby. Mauricio bettered his 2020 totals in 2021 riding 19 winners at Century Mile, including Canadian Juvenile Stakes winner Asyoubelieve. He then moved his tack to Woodbine Racetrack in mid-September. In 2021 he won 28 races, leading all apprentice riders in Canada.
Mauricio Malvaez (136), Michael David (59), Edgar Zenteno (43)
Outstanding Jockey: KAZUSHI KIMURA
722 Starts; 140 Wins; 98 Seconds; 99 Thirds
Earnings $5,152,154; Stakes wins 8
Following only his fourth season as a jockey in Canada, Kazushi Kimura has earned his first nomination as Outstanding Jockey. Already a two-time winner of the Outstanding Apprentice Sovereign Award and an Eclipse Award winner for top apprentice, the Japanese-born rider’s 140 victories easily topped all Canadian riders. His mounts earned over $5.1 million in purses. Kazushi’s eight stakes wins included a win in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby aboard Gary Barber’s Frosted Over. He also won the Grade 3 Hendrie on Barber’s Our Secret Agent. Kazushi maintained an impressive 19 percent win rate in 2021.
Kazushi Kimura (116), Rafael Manuel Hernandez (58), Patrick Husbands (25), Justin Stein (25)
Champion Female Turf Horse: JOLIE OLIMPICA
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Shimokobe Farm
Breeder: Stud T N T
CH. M. 5, by Drosselmeyer – Jolie Celina *Brz (Trempolino)
2021: 5 Starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third – $118,987
Winner: Nassau S. (G2)
Jolie Olimpica (92), Amalfi Coast (56), Our Flash Drive (50)
Champion Male Turf Horse: TOWN CRUISE
Trainer: Brandon Evan Greer
Owner: Brandon Greer
Breeder: Terrance Reg Greer & Brandon Evan Greer
CH. G. 6, by Town Prize – Candy Cruise (Candy Ride *Arg)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds – $704,953
Winner: Woodbine Mile S. (G1), ALW/OC, ALW
Town Cruise (127), Avie’s Flatter (62), Silent Poet (24)
Outstanding Trainer: MARK E. CASSE
540 Starts; 110 Wins; 80 Seconds; 67 Thirds
Earnings $6,525,302; Stakes wins 27
Mark Casse sent out the winners of a staggering 27 stakes races, a personal record for his Woodbine stable, and his trainees won 110 races, also a new career top. His Canadian runners earned over $6.5 million. He is the trainer of the impressive 2-year-old Canadian-bred colt God of Love, who won the Grey Stakes (G3) and the Cup and Saucer Stakes for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber. The Casse stable, under the watchful eyes of assistants David Adams and Kathryn Sullivan, developed many horses into graded stakes winners. Stable stars included two-time graded stakes winner Our Flash Drive, Mazarine Stakes (G3) winner Mrs. Barbara, Skygaze winner of the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3), Souper Stonehenge winner of the Vigil (G3) and Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) and Frosted Over, who took the Ontario Derby (G3).
Mark E. Casse (123), Kevin Attard (67), Josie Carroll (30)
Champion Older Main Track Female: SKYGAZE
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Tracy Farmer
Breeder: Normandy Farm LLC
B. F. 4, by American Pharoah – Skyscape (Marquetry)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $179,200
Winner: Maple Leaf S. (G3), Belle Mahone S., ALW/OC
Skygaze (106), Amalfi Coast (73), Infinite Patience (29)
Champion Older Main Track Male: MIGHTY HEART
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Lawrence Cordes
Breeder: Lawrence Cordes
B. C. 4, by Dramedy – Emma’s Bullseye (City Place)
2021: 8 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds – $377,361
Winner: Autumn S. (G2), Dominion Day S. (G3), Blame S.
Mighty Heart (108), Pink Lloyd (60), Sir Winston (40)
Outstanding Owner: LIVE OAK PLANTATION
68 Starts; 19 Wins; 7 Seconds; 4 Thirds
Earnings $1,403,812; Stakes wins 7
Live Oak Plantation, owned by Charlotte Weber, won its first Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner in 2020 and had an even more lucrative season with its Canadian starters in 2021. Live Oak, located in Ocala, Florida, won 19 races from 68 starters, including seven stakes races. Leading the charge for the stable was Our Flash Drive, trained by Mark Casse, who won the Selene Stakes (G3) on Tapeta and the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G2) on the turf. Live Oak’s homebred gelding Souper Stonehenge won the Vigil Stakes (G3) and Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3). Another top runner for Live Oak in 2021 was Souper Escape. Other stakes winners for the farm included March to the Arch and Tap It to Win.
Live Oak Plantation (100), Gary Barber (61), Godolphin, LLC (35)
Horse of the Year: MIGHTY HEART
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Lawrence Cordes
Breeder: Lawrence Cordes
B. C. 4, by Dramedy – Emma’s Bullseye (City Place)
2021: 8 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds – $377,361
Winner: Autumn S. (G2), Dominion Day S. (G3), Blame S.
Mighty Heart (63), Pink Lloyd (55), Town Cruise (34)
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce that Ivan Dalos will be presented with the E. P. Taylor Award of Merit
Denzil Fonseca is the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Groom Award sponsored by OLG.
The Jockey Club of Canada Announces 2021 Sovereign Awards Finalists
Listed in alphabetical order, the Media finalists are:
Digital Audio/visual and Broadcast Category:
Photograph Category:
Writing Category:
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2021 Sovereign Awards honouring Canada’s champions and recognizing their outstanding achievements in Canadian Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding.
The winner of each category, along with Canada’s Horse of the Year for 2021, will be announced during our 47th Annual Sovereign Award Ceremony that will be held on the evening of Thursday, April 14, 2022 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario. To purchase tickets online please visit the Online Payments tab above.
The finalists in each of the following categories are listed in alphabetical order.
Champion Two-Year-Old Female
Diabolic
Moira
Mrs. Barbara
Champion Two-Year-Old Male
God of Love
Grafton Street
Ironstone
Champion Three-Year-Old Female
Lorena
Munnyfor Ro
Our Flash Drive
Champion Three-Year-Old Male
Artie’s Storm
Frosted Over
Haddassah
Uncharacteristic
Champion Older Main Track Female
Amalfi Coast
Infinite Patience
Skygaze
Champion Older Main Track Male
Mighty Heart
Pink Lloyd
Sir Winston
Champion Female Turf Horse
Amalfi Coast
Jolie Olimpica
Our Flash Drive
Champion Male Turf Horse
Avie’s Flatter
Silent Poet
Town Cruise
Champion Female Sprinter
Amalfi Coast
Lorena
Our Secret Agent
Champion Male Sprinter
Avie’s Flatter
Pink Lloyd
Souper Stonehenge
Outstanding Broodmare
Avie’s Empire
Include Katherine
Sunday Affair
Outstanding Breeder
Adena Springs
Sam-Son Farm
Tall Oaks Farm
Outstanding Owner
Barber, Gary
Godolphin, LLC
Live Oak Plantation
Outstanding Trainer
Attard, Kevin
Carroll, Josie
Casse, Mark E.
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
David, Michael
Malvaez, Mauricio
Zenteno, Edgar
Outstanding Jockey
Hernandez, Rafael Manuel
Husbands, Patrick
Kimura, Kazushi
Stein, Justin
Horse of the Year The Horse of the Year finalists will be announced during the 47th Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony.
The 2021 Media Awards finalists, the winner of the Award for Outstanding Groom and this year’s E. P. Taylor Award and Special Sovereign Award winners will be announced on or before February 15, 2022!
For a full list of the 2021 Graded Stakes click HERE
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the 2019 Sovereign Award winners in the order in which they were presented.
Outstanding Photograph:
MICHAEL R. BYE
Cyclone Dan Winner of the 3rd Race J. Gomez up
Published, August 24th, hbpabc.ca
Outstanding Writing:
DAVE BRIGGS
Royal victory for the quintessential “small guy”
Published, August/September 2019 Issue of Canadian Thoroughbred Magazine
Outstanding Digital Audio/Visual & Broadcast:
WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT
The Queen’s Plate
https://bcove.video/2sfG0RH
Outstanding Groom Award: Michael Williams
Well-known groom Michael Williams (Fuzzy) has worked with some of Woodbine’s top owners and trainers in Canada including Stronach Stables, Dan Vella and Mike Doyle. Leaving his home in Jamaica early in the 1970’s, Michael travelled to Canada to begin work as a machine operator. His interest in horseracing led Michael to his first job at Woodbine racetrack walking hots. Michael credits graded stakes winner Ask Muhammad, son of Al Hattab, as the horse who helped him to learn about racing.
His big smile and prominent hats are almost as famous as his successful horsemanship. Michael’s limitless patience and kindness resulted in many happy horses at Woodbine Racetrack.
Outstanding Handicapper: Paul Shurman
Paul hails from Dix Hills, New York and is a long-time member of the NHC Players’ Committee. He has been untiring in his efforts to work with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and racetracks throughout the continent to improve contest experiences for all and to boost the profiles of his fellow tournament players.
Paul won the 2019 Saratoga Tournament which netted him a $109,000 first-place prize, and he finished seventh in the year-long NHC tour. Additionally, Paul leads in the NHC ranking system as the number one tournament player having qualified 17 times in its 21-year history and winning in 2011.
Special Sovereign Award: Harvey Warner
To say that Mr. Harvey Warner was a major player in the revival of Assiniboia Downs and horse racing in Winnipeg, Manitoba would not be an overstatement.
In 1994, privately owned, Assiniboia Downs was in receivership and destined to close but a small group of concerned horse people, which included Mr. Warner, officially formed the Manitoba Jockey Club (MJC), mandated to attempt to purchase and host live racing.
The group worked tirelessly, lobbying government officials and meeting with the track’s financiers. Mr. Warner became the voice of the MJC and eventually its president. He led the MJC to achieve its final goal and make Assiniboia Downs a not-for-profit entity.
He became immersed not just in owning horses but in the workings of racing in Manitoba, serving as president of the Winnipeg Horseman’s Club from 1982-85, and as a voice on the Manitoba Horse Council Board. He was a member of the Manitoba HBPA Board from 1989 to 1992 and is currently a Jockey Club of Canada Steward.
Outstanding Broodmare: Loving Vindication
DK. B. M. 2005
by Vindication – Chimichurri (Elusive Quality)
6 foals, 3 starters, 3 winners,
1 Champion, 2 Graded Black-Type Winners, 1 Black-Type Winner
Progeny Earnings $1,994,575
A finalist in this category multiple times, Anderson Farms’, Loving Vindication has become of one Canada’s most successful broodmares early in her career. From her three foals to race, Loving Vindication’s G1 winning daughter Hard Not to Love, won the La Brea Stakes and has won four of five starts. Loving Vindication had already etched her name in Canadian racing history books as the dam of 2018 Horse of the Year and Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot who earned over $1.5 million for owner Gary Barber. Loving Vindication’s first foal is stakes winner Solemn Tribute.
Loving Vindication (135), Cumulonimble (63), Avie’s Empire (45)
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Starts 717; Wins 117; 2nd 109; 3rd 99
Earnings $3,742,671
Winner of the 2019 Eclipse Award for North America’s Outstanding Apprentice of 2019, Kazushi Kimura seeks his second consecutive Sovereign Award. Learning to ride at the Japan Racing School in Shiroi City, Chiba, Kazushi burst onto the Canadian scene in 2018 winning 104 races, an achievement he surpassed in 2019. Before his apprenticeship ended on Oct. 26, 2019, Kazushi won 117 races and ended the season as a journeyman with an impressive 148 wins, landing as Woodbine’s third leading rider.
Kazushi Kimura (182), Daisuke Fukumoto (91), Shavon Belle (27)
Champion Older Main Track Male: Pink Lloyd
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
Ch. g. 7 / Sire: Old Forester / Dam: Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
2019: 6 Starts – 6 wins – 0 second – 0 third – $501,000
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Kenora S., Shepperton S., Vigil S. (G3), Greenwood S., Jacques Cartier S. (G3)
Pink Lloyd (134), Mr. Ritz (85), Special Forces (52)
Champion Older Main Track Female: Here’s Hannah
Trainer: John Morrison
Owner: B C Stables
Breeder: B C Stables
Ch. f. 4 / Sire: Numaany / Dam: Dreams Start Here (A Fleets Dancer)
2019: 6 Starts – 5 wins – 1 second – 0 third – $215,000
Winner: Ballerina S. (G3), British Columbia Cup Distaff H., Monashee H., Strawberry Morn H., Vancouver Sun S.
Here’s Hannah (132), Lift Up (128), She’s the Berries (36)
Outstanding Trainer: Mark Casse
Starts 496; Wins 92; 2nd 91; 3rd 69
Earnings $5,122,598 Stakes wins 12
An 11-time winner of this category, trainer Mark Casse has dominated Canadian racing over the past decade. In 2019 Casse Racing once again led all trainers in purse earnings, collecting $5.1 million with 92 victories and 12 stakes wins in Canada. Among his stakes winners was 2019 Sovereign Award finalists, Muskoka Gold, winner of the Cup & Saucer Stakes and She’s the Berries, winner of the Classy ‘n Smart S. Stakes winners Speedy Soul, Miss Mo Mentum and Power Gal (Jpn) also contributed to Mark’s success.
Mark Casse (142), Kevin Attard (108), Norman McKnight (31)
Champion Male Turf Horse: El Tormenta
Trainer: Gail Cox
Owner: Sam-Son Farm
Breeder: Sam-Son Farm
Dk. b or b. g. 4 / Sire: Stormy Atlantic / Dam: Torreadora (El Prado*Ire)
2019: 7 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 third – $941,828
Winner: Ricoh Woodbine Mile S. (G1), Connaught Cup S. (G2)
El Tormenta (170), Tiz a Slam (78), Global Access (23)
Champion Female Turf Horse: Starship JubileeTrainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Blue Heaven Farm
Breeder: William P. Sorren
B. m. 6 / Sire: Indy Wind / Dam: Perfectly Wild (Forest Wildcat)
2019: 7 Starts – 3 wins – 3 second – 1 third – $746,460
Winner: E. P. Taylor S. (G1), Canadian S. (G2), Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf S.
Starship Jubilee (170), Holy Helena (70), Amalfi Coast (35)
Outstanding Breeder: Sam-Son Farm
Starters 55; Winners 28
Earnings $3,238,854
Starts 284; Wins 44; 2nd 39; 3rd 36
A nine-time winner in this category, Sam-Son Farm had a spectacular year in 2019 winning 44 races and earning over $3.2 million in purses. Sam-Son was represented by seven stakes horses including 2019 Champion Male Turf finalist, El Tormenta, winner of the G1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile S.; Desert Ride, winner of the 2019 Woodbine Oaks and a finalist in the Champion Three-Year-Old Female category; and Cleopatra’s Strike, bred by Sam-Son and owned by Slam Dunk Stable and Michael Nentwig, and winner of the G2 John Henry Turf Championship.
Sam-Son Farm (121), Tall Oaks Farm (91), Chiefswood Stables Limited (55)
Champion Two-Year-Old Male: Mr. Hustle
Trainer: Roger L. Attfield
Owner: William K. Werner
Breeder: V. Gail Ray
Dk. b or b. g. 2 / Sire: Declaration of War / Dam: Ready Ready Ready (More Than Ready)
2019: 3 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second- 0 third – $162,600
Winner: Soaring Free S., Victoria S., MSW
Mr. Hustle (122), Muskoka Gold (95), Dotted Line (64)
Champion Two-Year-Old Female: Curlin’s Voyage
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. (J. G. Sikura) and Windsor Boys Racing
Breeder: Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc.
Ch. f. 2 / Sire: Curlin / Dam: Atlantic Voyage (Stormy Atlantic)
2019: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second- 1 third – $265,120
Winner: Ontario Lassie S., Mazarine S. (G3), MSW
Curlin’s Voyage (115), Infinite Patience (100), Owlette (42)
Outstanding Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva
Starts 746; Wins 183; 2nd 156; 3rd 108
Earnings $7,446,774; Stakes wins 19
A six-time winner in this category, the Brazilian-born champion rider is up for another trophy just months after retiring from riding. In 2019, he captured 19 stakes victories including the G1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile S. aboard El Tormenta. Also, he was the regular rider of multiple stakes winner Pink Lloyd who is a finalist again this evening, as well as, Amalfi Coast, a finalist in three 2019 Sovereign Award categories.
Eurico Rosa Da Silva (182), Rafael Hernandez (64), Patrick Husbands (32)
Champion Male Sprinter: Pink Lloyd
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
Ch. g. 7 / Sire: Old Forester / Dam: Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
2019: 6 Starts – 6 wins – 0 second – 0 third – $501,000
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Kenora S., Shepperton S., Vigil S. (G3), Greenwood S., Jacques Cartier S. (G3)
Pink Lloyd (180), Silent Poet (43), Yorkton (27)
Champion Female Sprinter: Summer Sunday
Trainer: Stuart Simon
Owner: Scott Anne and William J
Breeder: Trinity West Stables LTD
B. f. 4 / Sire: Silent Name*Jpn / Dam: Dancing Allstar (Millennium Allstar)
2019: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 third – $317,550
Winner: Royal North S. (G2), Hendrie S. (G3), Ballade S.
Summer Sunday (152), Amalfi Coast (82), Here’s Hannah (23), Sister Peacock (23)
Outstanding Owner: Sam-Son Farm
Starts 81: Wins 13; 2nd 12; 3rd 8
Earnings $2,018,884 Stakes wins 5
An 11-time winner of this category Sam-Son Farm had a spectacular season in 2019 winning five stakes races and collecting purse earning of over $2 million. Sam-Son Farm’s homebred stakes winners include El Tormenta, a finalist in the 2019 Champion Turf Male category and winner of the G1 Woodbine Mile S. and the G2 Connaught Cup; Desert Ride winner of two-thirds of the Triple Tiara and contender for 2019 Champion Three-Year-Old Female, as well as, Zadracarta S. winner Desert Isle.
Sam-Son Farm (117), Chiefswood Stables Limited (115), Stronach Stables (25)
E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: Charles E. Fipke
Much like the passion he has for unearthing diamonds Charles ‘Chuck’ Fipke has a similar obsession for finding the best pedigrees to make the perfect racehorse.
Born in Edmonton, Mr. Fipke grew up in Kelowna, B.C. and followed his horse passion when he bought a yearling filly. His stable of homebreds has since grown exponentially and now are seen regularly on the international racing stage.
Selecting the matings himself with help from mountains of statistics and a couple of close advisors. Mr. Fipke has bred dozens of major winners and champions including Perfect Soul (Ire) Canada’s Champion Turf Male in 2003 and is the sire of Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl; Not Bourbon gave Mr. Fipke his first Queen’s Plate win (2008) and is now a stallion; Forever Unbridled, also a Breeders’ Cup winner, earned over $3.4 million. He has bred and developed top stallions and his current stable includes Grade 1 winner Seeking the Soul.
Champion Three-Year-Old Male: Global Access
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Owner: Live Oak Plantation
Breeder: Live Oak Stud
Ch. c. 3 / Sire: Giant’s Causeway / Dam: Daveron*Ger (Black Sam Bellamy*Ire)
2019: 9 Starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 3 third – $383,000
Winner: Ontario Derby (G3), Saranac S. (G3), Marine S. (G3), DRF Bet Sophomore Turf S.
Global Access (141), Tone Broke (125), Explode (40)
Champion Three-Year-Old Female: Desert Ride
Trainer: Neil J. Howard
Owner: Sam-Son Farm
Breeder: Sam-Son Farm
B. f. 3 / Sire: Candy Ride*Arg / Dam: Fun in the Desert (Distorted Humor)
2019: 7 Starts – 4 wins – 1 second- 0 third – $541,220
Winner: Wonder Where S., Woodbine Oaks, Allowance, MSW
Desert Ride (133), Amalfi Coast (110), Hidden Grace (28)
Horse of The Year: Starship Jubilee
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Blue Heaven Farm
Breeder: William P. Sorren
B. m. 6 / Sire: Indy Wind / Dam: Perfectly Wild (Forest Wildcat)
2019: 7 Starts – 3 wins – 3 second – 1 third – $746,460
Winner: E. P. Taylor S. (G1), Canadian S. (G2), Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf S.
Starship Jubilee (108), Pink Lloyd (105), El Tormenta (53)
The Jockey Club of Canada will present the 45th Annual Sovereign Awards, honouring Canada’s champions and recognizing their 2019 outstanding achievements in Canadian Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Winners of the twenty-four Sovereign Awards categories will be announced live during a virtual ceremony, at 8:00 p.m. (EST).
We invite you to join us in watching the ceremony streamed live at Woodbine.com and HPItv Canada. A digital program will be available for download at https://jockeyclubcanada.com prior to the event.
We would like to thank our dedicated Sponsors and Advertisers for continuing to support the Sovereign Awards during these difficult times.
2019 Sovereign Awards Sponsors
Platinum Plus: Woodbine Entertainment
Platinum: HBPA of Ontario
Gold Sponsors: Ontario Racing; Sam-Son Farm
Silver Sponsors: Earle I Mack; Manitoba Jockey Club
Bronze Sponsors: Anderson Farms; Casse Racing; Cavalier Transportation; CTHS Ontario; Document Direction Limited; Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry; Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC); Goldman, Sloan, Nash and Harber LLP(GSNH); Highfield Investment Limited; Hill ‘n’ Dale; Josham Farms Limited; Purina; The Jockey Club; WinStar
In response to the growing concerns about the coronavirus, COVID-19, The Jockey Club of Canada’s 45th Annual Sovereign Awards, scheduled for April 16, 2020, will be postponed until further notice.
The health and safety of our finalists, our guests and their families are of the utmost importance and we feel this is a necessary precaution in the current situation. We would like to assure all our stakeholders that we will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and will provide regular updates throughout.
Once an alternate date has been confirmed the Sovereign Awards ceremony will take place in its entirety and the winners of each Sovereign Awards category will be announced during the ceremony.
Listed in alphabetical order, the finalists are:
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
Listed in alphabetical order, the finalists are:
Writing Category:
Digital Audio/visual and Broadcast Category:
Photograph Category:
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.
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.
PLATINUM PLUS
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
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 through the website 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 44thAnnual Sovereign Awards Ceremony contact Candice Dixon at 416-675-7756 or jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com.