Page 28 - The Game May 2006

28 The Game, May 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Horse Racing Alberta - 2005 Night of Champions
By Miriam Hopf
After the successful racing season of 2005, Albertan Thoroughbred horsemen came together to celebrate the growth and rising success of their industry and to distinguish the athletes and horsemen who made significant accomplishments during the season. The annual Alberta Thoroughbred Awards were held at Stampede park on April 22.
Among those in attendance were Calgary's own Cecil and Fran Peacock, owners of Brother Derek, who recently won the Santa Anita Derby and who is favored to win in the Kentucky Derby. Peacock and his wife were greeted with ecstatic applause and cheers from Albertan horsemen thrilled to have one of their own in this prestigious race.
"This just goes to show that nice things happen to nice people," said racetrack announcer Joe Carbury, who served as Master of Ceremonies during the awards. Carbury, along with the Albertan horsemen, wished the Peacocks and Brother Derek the best of luck.
Bar None Ranches, with trainer Ron Grieves, had much to celebrate from the 2005 racing season. Bar None took home the award for Leading Owner with earnings of $875,073 and 67 wins.
Trainer Ron Grieves who, along with his brother Kelly, trains for Bar None Ranches, won for Leading Trainer of the 2005 season. Grieves said it felt good to finally win.
"I've been second leading trainer twice," Grieves said, "So it was good to finally
break the egg."
Grieves said that much of the success of
his stable comes as a direct result of Lynn Chouinard, owner of Bar None Ranches.
"My owner starts with high quality stock and high numbers of horses," Grieves said. "So that makes a big difference."
Monique Goulet, barn manager for Ron Grieves, agreed. "Our owner buys us good horses," Goulet said. She added that the people involved with the stable also played an important role.
"We work hard," she said. "And Ron knows what he's doing."
Goulet was awarded the Backstretch Appreciation Award during the ceremony, in recognition for outstanding service by a backstretch employee.
"It's an honor," said Goulet. "It makes me feel like I've accomplished something in my career -- but I'd rather win a Derby," she added with a laugh.
Chouinard was also honored at the Awards and was presented with the Horse Person of the Year award in recognition of lifelong personal involvement and contribution for the love of Thoroughbreds.
Also among the winners were; Knight's Covenant, winner of Champion Three Year Old Colt who gave trainer Monica Russell early success in her training career; and 2005 Horse of the Year, Kaylee's Magic, who is trained by Greg Tracy. The award for Leading Jockey was once again claimed by Quincy Welch.
Gold Strike and Albarino Capture Top Thoroughbred Honours at 22nd Annual Manitoba CTHS/HBPA Awards Banquet
The Manitoba divisions of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) held their 22nd annual Manitoba Thoroughbred Awards Banquet at Assiniboia Downs on Friday, April 28, 2006. The CTHS awards honour breeders' accomplishments, while the HBPA awards recognize the trainer's and owner's accomplishments.
Three-year-old filly Gold Strike was named the CTHS Manitoba-bred Horse of the Year, and the CTHS top three-year-old filly. Four-year-old gelding Albarino won three awards. He was declared the HBPA Horse of the Year, and was also named winner of both the CTHS and HBPA Older Horse awards.
In addition to being named CTHS Horse of the Year, Gold Strike was also selected the top CTHS 3-year-old filly. Owned and bred by Harlequin Ranches and trained by Reade Baker, Gold Strike has compiled a lifetime record of 4-2-1 in seven career starts with career earnings of $652,242. In 2005 she had 4 starts at Woodbine racetrack and compiled a 2-1-1 record. She won the 1-1/8-miles Woodbine Oaks in Toronto on June 12, scoring a 3-1/2 lengths victory over Ready and Alluring. Prior to that victory she also won the 1-1/16 miles Selene Stakes on May 22nd, by 5-3/4 lengths over Lemon Maid. In her first start of the season, she came second to Lemon Maid in the 1-1/16 mile Star Shoot Stakes. Gold Strike concluded the season with a third place finish in the 1-1/4 mile $1 million Queen's Plate. The only filly in the race, Gold Strike led the field heading into the stretch, but could not hang on and finished third behind race winner Wild Desert, with another Manitoba-bred colt King Of Jazz coming second.
In 2004, Gold Strike captured two honours at the annual Manitoba awards banquet. She was named the CTHS and HBPA top two-year-old filly. Trained that season by locally based trainer Blair Miller, Gold Strike compiled a 2-1-0 record in three 2004 season starts and earned $51,592. In 2004, Gold Strike won the Debutante and Buffalo Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.
Albarino, owned and bred by Dr. Ross
A. McKague and trained by Carl Anderson, was definitely the top older horse at Assiniboia Downs in 2005. In 8 season starts, all at Assiniboia Downs, Albarino compiled a 5-1-1 record with season earnings of $124,323. His 5 victories came in the 1-1/8 miles $65,000 Gold Breeders Cup, the 1-1/16 miles $40,000 R. J. Spears Stakes, the 1-mile $40,000 Agassiz Stakes, the 1-1/16 miles $40,000 Manitoba Maturity and he also won a 7-1/2 furlongs $12,525 allowance feature on June 5.
Kimchi, bred by Stonyfield Farm, owned by Seasoft Stable and trained by Mark Casse, won the CTHS two-year-old filly award. She enjoyed 3 starts at Woodbine during the 2005 season and compiled a 1-1-1 record with earnings of $96,200. On November 15, she won a $68,400 1-1/16 mile maiden special weight feature by 6-1/4 lengths over Classical Miss. On October 22, she came second in the 1-1/16 miles $251,500 Princess Elizabeth Stakes, losing to race winner Sugar Swirl by 1-1/4 lengths. In her first career start on September 24, she was third in a 7-furlong $62,000 maiden special weight feature behind race winner Sugar Swirl and Strike Softly.
The other CTHS awards saw Missing Fortune named the CTHS two-year-old colt. Bred by Cam Ziprick, owned by Arnason Farm, Warner, Tweed, Bouchard, and Allard, and trained by Chad Torevell, Missing Fortune had five starts during the season and compiled a 1-2-1 record with earnings of $40,275. His only season victory came in the six-furlong $40,000 Frank Arnason Sire Stakes. He also record second place finishes in the six furlong $40,000 CTHS Sales Stakes and six furlong $30,000 North Dakota Stallion Stakes.
The CTHS three-year-old colt award went to King Of Jazz. Bred by Stonyfield Farm and owned by Buckram Oak Farm and trained by Carl Nafzger, King Of Jazz has lifetime earnings of $289,610 in 6 career starts, and has a career record of 3-0-1.
Jazzy Express was named the CTHS Older Mare. Bred by Gary Bergsrud, the 4-year-old mare owned by J Bar Stable and trained by Harry Kube has 18 life time
starts, compiled a 3-4-3 record with career earnings of $30,049.
Alljazz, owned by Stonyfield Farm was presented the (Lifetime Achievement) Broodmare Award. "Stallion of the Year" honours went to Buie, owned by the Buie Syndicate. Stonyfield Farm was also named "Breeder of the Year" with season earnings of $518,729. Horses bred by Stonyfield Farm enjoyed 45 starts, com- piled a record of 7-7-8 with stakes placings by King Of Jazz who was second in the Queen's Plate and Kimchi who came second in the Princess Elizabeth stakes.
The HBPA award for top two-year-old filly went to Hey Hey Renee. Owned by the Off 2 Win Stables and trained by Ardell Sayler, Hey Hey Renee compiled a 2-1-0 record in three 2005 starts and had season earnings of $39,690.
The HBPA award for top two-year-old colt was won by Barnstorm. Trained by Ardell Sayler and owner by Wayne Simon, Barnstorm won the six furlongs $30,000 North Dakota Stallion Stakes by a convincing 6-3/4-lengths over Missing Fortune. This was one of his two wins for the season in 2 starts and produced season earnings of $19,920.
The HBPA award for top three-year-old filly went to Cindy Embers. Owned by Pain In The Aces Stables and trained by Blair Miller, Cindy Embers compiled an impressive 3-3-2 record in 9 starts during the 2005 season and earned $70,431.
Prime Time T.V, owned by Robert Mitchell and trained by Bert Bake was named the HBPA's top three-year-old colt. The Kentucky-bred colt enjoyed 4 season starts and compiled a 3-1-0 record with season earnings of $93,300.
The HBPA Older Mare honors went to Ericka's Lass. Trained by Emile Corbel and owned by the Empire Stable, Ericka's Lass had the third best earnings total last season at Assiniboia Downs behind Albarino and Prime Time T.V. She had 7 season starts and compiled a 3-3-0 record with season earnings of $74,000.
HBPA Sprinter honours went to Florida-bred Iwoodificould. Owned by partners Murray Howell, Joan Wright and trainer Emile Corbel, Iwoodificould had 3 season starts and chalked up 2 victories with season earnings of $33,600.
HBPA Claimer of the Year honours went to Racey Casey. Owned by the Atawaytogo Stable, and trained by Gary Danelson, the 4-year-old mare had 8 sea- son starts and compiled a 5 -0 -1 record with earnings of $23,320.
Veteran trainer Ardell Sayler of Rapid City, South Dakota was named the HBPA Trainer of the Year. During the 2005 season, Sayler recorded 323 starts with a 64-53-41 record and purse earnings of $503,672. This was Sayler's seventh trainer's title at Assiniboia Downs, tying him with veteran Clayton Gray who has also won seven trainer titles at Assiniboia Downs.
The HBPA top percentage trainer award was presented to Clay Brinson. Brinson's 79 season starts produced a 19-16-6 record; season earnings of $117,284 and a 24% win percentage.
Rohan Singh captured his third HBPA Jockey of the Year award at Assiniboia Downs. During the 2005 season, Singh had 399 starts with 84-71-49 record and enjoyed a season purse earnings total of $844,296. He was also the leading stakes race winner with 9 stakes victories in 2005.
The CTHS also presented a Manitoba- bred "Sport Horse of the Year" award to Blushing Madge. The award goes to a former thoroughbred that has gone to achieve recognition in another field of competition. Blushing Madge was bred by Dr. Betty Hughes and is now owned by Heather Hay. The 6-year-old mare has been owned by the Hay's family for two years and is ridden by their 15 year old daughter Chelsea. They have finished in the top 3 in almost every event. Recently Chelsea and Blushing Made won the 3-day event competition at the Rocky Mountain House equestrian show, and also finished first overall in the Grand Prairie Equestrian Championship in the PT 90 Junior Division.
Dr. Ross A. McKague was also presented with the newly established "Jockey Club of Canada" award. This award goes to the top regional owners across Canada. The award was presented to Dr. McKague, by JCC board member and Manitoba Jockey Club President Harvey Warner.