Page 16 - July 2007 The Game

16 The Game, July 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
CTHS Ontario Celebrates Breeder Excellence
More than 250 breeders, families and friends came together to celebrate the outstanding breeders of 2006 at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society‚s (CTHS) Annual Awards banquet held on June 15 at the Airport Marriott Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.
Gardiner Farms Ltd. took top Thoroughbred honours with the Breeder of the Year Award, sponsored by Agri-Brands Purina. Mrs. Helen Gardiner along with Gardiner Farms President, Dr. Michael Colterjohn, were awarded for their successful contribution to the breeding industry. While the family of the late J. F. (Jake) Howard was presented with the Mint Julep Cup in recognition of Mr. Howard’s lifetime contribution to the Ontario Thoroughbred breeding industry. The Jockey Club of Canada’s 2006 Leading Owner in Ontario Award was presented to Sam-Son Farm, who was also last year’s winning recipient.
Four notable stallions were recognized, based on their 2006 earnings of eligible progeny, awarding the 2006 Top Ontario Stallions with first place presented to Bold Executive, second place to Archers Bay, and third place to Whiskey Wisdom. The award for 2006 Top Freshman Sire was presented to Cat’s At Home.
Several successful Ontario-Breds were acknowledged with 11 photo awards being presented for Historical Grade 1 Canadian or Open Graded Stakes winners, and 42 CTHS Certificates of Recognition presented to the breeders of Ontario- Bred Stakes winners. While 11 CTHS members received awards in recognition for their 25-year contribution to the Thoroughbred breeding industry.
A silent auction also took place during the event, consisting of industry-donated items and 2008 stallion seasons, the proceeds of which were in support of the LongRun Thoroughbred Foundation.
The CTHS would like to thank all the sponsors of the 2007 Annual Awards for their generosity and dedication to our organization.
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) is a non-profit organization representing breeders within Ontario by promoting Canadian-Bred/Ontario-Foaled Thoroughbreds, both nationally and around the world.
The CTHS Ontario wished to thank the following sponsors for their support: Adena Springs North; Agribrands Purina; Ascot Stud; BDO Dunwoody LLP; BFL Ontario Inc.; Canadian Livestock Insurance; Canadian Thoroughbred Magazine; Colebrook Farms; Daily Racing Form; Gardiner Farms Limited; HBPA; International Thoroughbred Digest; Kinghaven Farms; Knob Hill Stable; Love 2 Win Stable; Ryan Mahan; Gustav Schickedanz; Sam-Son Farm; Sportswood Printing; The Game; The Jockey Club of Canada; Windfields Farm; Windways Farm Limited; Woodlands Farm (Gail Wood); Woodbine Entertainment Group
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society - Ontario Division - 2006 AWARDS
Presented to the Breeders of Ontario-bred winners of historical Grade 1 Canadian or Open Graded Stakes:
ADENA SPRINGS:
MALAKOFF & ROYAL CHALLENGER
JOSHAM FARMS LIMITED: LEONNATUS ANTEAS
KINGHAVEN FARMS LIMITED: SEDUCTIVELY
GAIL WOOD & W. DIAMANT: EDENWOLD
BREEDER OF THE YEAR - GARDINER FARMS LIMITED
Gardiner Farms Limited has been selected for the 2006 Breeder of the Year Award sponsored by Agribrands Purina.
Located in Caledon East, Gardiner Farms was established in the 1950’s by the late George R. Gardiner, a successful Toronto stockbroker. With a vision to create a quality band of broodmares on his 350 acre farm, his success earned him multiple Sovereign Awards, making it one of the top breeding and racing establishments in Canada.
Since his passing in 1997, Mrs. Helen Gardiner has continued to carry on her husband’s dream of breeding quality Thoroughbreds and producing out- standing winners. Along with Gardiner Farms presi- dent, Dr. Michael Colterjohn, they have produced a long list of leading stakes winners such as Are You Serious, Bullish Executive, Dancer’s Bajan, Legal Move, London Snow, Midnight Shadow, and Top Ten List. Gardiner Farms is also home to top Canadian stallions such as Bold Executive, Peaks and Valleys, Ciano Cat and Trajectory.
The CTHS is pleased to recognize the outstanding achievements of Gardiner Farms Limited and wish them continued success.
MINT JULEP CUP - J. F. (Jake) Howard
The Mint Julep Cup is presented annually to an individual who makes a lifetime contribution to the horse industry. This year, the CTHS would like to recognize the late Jake Howard as this year’s recipi- ent of the Mint Julep Cup. He was a man whose active participation and enthusiasm for this industry has been an inspiration to us all.
Mr. Howard, who passed away last June at the age of 81, had been involved in the Thoroughbred breed- ing and racing industry for over 30 years. He was the former Chairman of the Board of the Ontario Jockey Club/Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) from 1999 to 2001, and most recently was WEG’s Honorary Chairman of the Board, where he was deeply respected for his work.
Born in Columbia, South America, he came to Toronto where he later became a lawyer, specializing as a Commercial trial litigator. Mr. Howard’s love for racing led to his establishing Wayward Farm in Woodbridge. An avid owner of both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, he raced the homebred stakes- winning half-sisters Millashand and Mordacious. He also bred and owned the stakes winning filly, Questuary. His unprecedented passion and dedica- tion to the racing industry will not be forgotten.
The CTHS (Ontario Division) is pleased to hon- our Jake Howard for his lifetime contribution to the horse industry with the prestigious Blood-Horse Mint Julep Cup.
Jockey Club of Canada’s 2006 Leading Owner in Ontario - Sam-Son Farm
Acknowledgement of 25 Year Members: Lilian Bollinger; Charles Burgess; Michael C. Byrne; William B. Gierkink; Huntington Stud Farm; M. E. Kennedy; Knob Hill Stable; Lemico Farms; Michael Nosowenko; Laurie Silvera; Frank Stronach
2006 Gillian Luxton M.D. Scholarship Recipient - Clare McCormack
EUGENE MELNYK:
DOM ROMEO:
SAM-SON FARM:
YVONNE SCHWABE: WANNA RUNNER W. J. SCOTT: LE CINQUIEME ESSAI WILLIAM SOROKOLIT: SKY CONQUEROR GARLAND E. WILLIAMSON: LIKE A GEM
ARCH HALL MARCO BE GOOD CATCH THE THRILL
Saskatchewan’s Marquis Downs
By Nelson Gareau
The only thoroughbred track in the province of Saskatchewan is Marquis Downs.
Located in the southwest corner of the Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition Grounds, Marquis Downs is approximately a 5-minute drive from downtown Saskatoon, the province’s largest city.
Marquis Downs
opened in 1969 for thor-
oughbred racing. The
track is a five-furlong
oval with a seven
furlong chute.
Grandstand capacity is
3,500. There is live
thoroughbred racing
every Friday and Saturday night, from late May to the first Saturday in September. Standardbred horse racing is also run later in the fall. Admission and parking are always free. The facilities are air-conditioned. Race action is also simulcast at select places in Regina, Prince Albert, Swift Current and in Moose Jaw.
The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority is the governing body for horse racing. They govern, direct and regulate the sport of horse racing in Saskatchewan and also assist in the development of horse racing in Saskatchewan, by sponsoring equine research.
Last summer, Kathy Anderson, who trained at the University of Saskatchewan and was a Marquis Downs veterinarian made headline news when she was called right away when the Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro shattered his hind leg during the Preakness Stakes. At the time, she was working at a nearby training centre in Maryland. She was asked to evaluate Barbaro.
“I actually went up that evening (after the Preakness) and met the ambulance with him and was able to kind of evaluate him at that time, and he was remarkably sensible about the injury and also really, despite the tremendous stress he was under, he handled it very, very well," Anderson told CBC News.
This season, the top jockeys at Marquis Downs are Tim Moccasin, Valentino McBean and Fazal Razack. The leading trainers are Russell Gardipy, Dennis Bird and Mike Tourangeau.
Rick Fior, Manager of Racing at Marquis Downs, told THE GAME, “There are 375 horses stabled at the track on a perma- nent basis. The jockey colony consists of 13 riders that include 5 from Trinidad and 2 from Jamaica. At the present time, both handle and attendance is up over the corresponding days in 2006.”
Marquis Downs stages such notably stakes races as the $15,000 Saskatchewan Derby, the $25,000 Prairie Lily Sales Stake and Heritage Day on August 18. That day, features four stakes races for Saskatchewan-bred horses. Total purse money is $80,000.
“Marquis Downs is a five furlong oval with two chutes that allows us to run both thoroughbred and quarter-horse racing. The grandstand features the Terrace Restaurant that serves some of the finest food in Saskatoon to the race patrons,” Fior said.
Watching horse racing and dining at Marquis Downs has become a great evening out for many families. The Terrace Restaurant, Racer's Lounge, the Clubhouse, and Silks Restaurant are great places to relax before and after the races. Having a great meal or snack and cheering on your favorite horse is a wonderful night out.
After the races, patrons can walk over to the Emerald Casino, which is about 500 yards from the grandstand. You can try your luck by rolling the dice, spinning the wheel or playing poker. The casino is open until 4 am on Friday and Saturday.
To learn more about Marquis Downs, visit their website at www.marquisdowns.com or contact Rick Fior; Manager of Racing at Marquis Downs Phone: (306) 242-6100 Email: rfior@saskatoonex.com
Thoroughbred Racing at Marquis Downs