Page 26 - April 2005 The Game

26 The Game, April 2005 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Pete’s Surprise and Shanghied Capture Top Thoroughbred Honours at 21st Annual Manitoba CTHS/HBPA Awards Banquet
By Ernie Nairn
The Manitoba division’s of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) and the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) held their 21st annual Manitoba Thoroughbred Awards Banquet at Assiniboia Downs on Saturday, March 5, 2005. The CTHS awards honour breeders’ accomplishments, while the HBPA awards recognize the trainer’s and owner’s accomplishments. Pete’s Surprise was named the CTHS Horse of the Year while Shanghied was named HBPA Horse of the Year.
In addition to being named CTHS Horse of the Year Pete’s Surprise was also selected the top CTHS Older Mare. Bred and owned by Fred Bennett and trained by Jack Robertson, Pete’s Surprise enjoyed 8 starts in 2004 and compiled a 1-4-1 record with season earnings of $59,963. Her one victory came in the Canada Day Stakes where she scored a 1-1/4-lengths win over I B Right Back. Pete’s Surprise was also second in the Distaff, Winnipeg Sun Stakes and the Matron Breeders’ Cup.
Shanghied, owned by Saskatoon’s Robert Mitchell and trained by Bert Blake was named the HBPA’s top three-year-old colt and the HBPA Horse of the Year. The W.S. Farish Kentucky-bred colt, sired by A.P. Indy out of Fleet Road by Magesterial, had 5 season starts and compiled a 4-0-1 record and was the top earner at Assiniboia Downs in 2004 with earnings of $88,610. Shanghied won the Golden Boy Stakes and Manitoba Derby Trial but finished third in the Manitoba Lotteries Derby behind Derby winner Royalty Boy and runner-up Skipper.
Gold Strike also captured two honours. She was named the CTHS and HBPA two-year-old filly. Bred and owned by Harlequin Ranches and trained by Blair Miller, Gold Strike compiled a 2-1-0 record in 3 season starts with earnings of $51,592 and won the Debutante and Buffalo Stakes.
Get Down won the CTHS two-year-old colt award. Get Down, bred by the Gold Medal Stable won both of his two 2004 season starts at the Woodbine racetrack and earned $70,080.
The other CTHS awards saw Poppo’s Song named the CTHS three-year-old filly. Bred by Reg Studler, owned by Richard Martell and Rick Parisien and trained by Fred Rawson, Poppo’s Song had seven starts during the season and scored just one victory in the R.C. Anderson Stakes for earnings of $26,770.
The CTHS three-year-old colt award went to Coal Smudge. Bred by
Photo Left: Trainer Ardell Sayler and Jockey Travis Hightower with their awards
Photo Bottom Left: Pete’s Surprise with Jockey Ken Hendricks and Trainer Jack Robertson
Photo Below: Shanghied with Trainer Bert Blake and Jockey Travis Hightower
trained by Mike Nault, the six-year- old mare earned $22,950 for the season with a 4-2-2 record in 8 starts from $4000-$6250 claimers. This award is designated to the thorough- bred, racing strictly as a claimer, who puts forth the best performance at this level.
Veteran trainer Ardell Sayler of Rapid City, South Dakota was named the HBPA Trainer of the Year. During the 2004 season, Sayler chalked up 234 starts with a 40-30-26 record and purse earnings of $307,205. Sayler’s win percentage for the season was 17.09% while his "In the Money" percentage was 41.02%.
The HBPA top percentage trainer award was presented to Bert Bake. Blake’s 37 season starts produced a 16-2-7 record and win percentage of 43.24%. His "In The Money" percentage was 67.56%. Blake’s top performers in 2004 were Shanghied and Victory Thrill.
Travis Hightower captured his second straight HBPA Jockey of the Year award. During the 2004 season, Hightower had 456 starts with a 98-67-63 record and enjoyed purse
earnings of $849,761. His win percentage was 21.50% and his "In The Money" percentage was 50%.
Woodbine Paddock host Jennifer Morrison, a director of the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Program was the guest speaker at the awards dinner. The LongRun Thoroughbred Program promotes finding safe retirement homes for thoroughbreds once their racing careers are over. More information on this project can be found at this association’s web site at www.longrunretirement.com
Watson Bay Stable and owned by Caesar and Arlene De Marni and trained by Caesar De Marni, Coal Smudge had season earnings of $53,291 on 8 season starts with 2 wins. Coal Smudge won the Manitoba Stakes and the J.W Sifton Stakes.
Gus Again, bred by Dr. Betty Hughes, owned by Russ Edwards and trained by Wayne Elias was named the top CTHS Older Horse. He enjoyed 6 season starts, compiled a 4-1-0 record with season earnings of $46,410 and won the Agassiz Stakes by 4-lengths over runner-up Minus Three.
Shiver In My Bones owned by Cam Ziprick was presented the (Lifetime Achievement) Broodmare Award. Stallion of the Year honours went to His Excellence owned by Clairmont Farm. K 5 Stables Inc. was named Breeder of the Year with the highest earnings in 2004 of $213,934.
The HBPA award for top two-year- old colt was won by Your Excellence. Owned by the High Life Stables and trained by Emile Corbel, Your Excellence enjoyed 5 season starts and compiled a 3-1-1 record with season earnings of $65,654. The colt by His Excellence out of Canadian Danzig by Danzig Connection scored an impressive 8-1/4 lengths victory over Danger Pay to win the Frank Arnason Sire Stakes. Your Excellence also won the CTHS Sales Stakes for colts and geldings and finished second in the North Dakota Stallion Stakes behind race winner Doddles.
Victory Thrill, owned by Nicholas Lotz and trained by Bert Bake was named the HBPA’s top three-year-old
filly. Victory Thrill compiled a 4-1-1 record in 8 starts and had season earnings of $63,208. She won the Jack Hardy Stakes by 3-lengths and came second behind Ericka’s Lass in the Assiniboia Oaks Stakes.
The HBPA Older Mare honors went to Remiewaterbluz. Owned by Tom Boyko’s Well- Being Stable and trained by Clayton Gray, Remiewaterbluz was the second best earner at Assiniboia Downs in 2004 with $68,080. In 8 season starts, the 5-year-old Texas-bred mare compiled a 3-1-2 record and scored stakes race victories in the La Verendrye Stakes and season-ending Matron Breeders’ Cup.
The HBPA Top Older Horse award was presented to Deputy Country. Owned by Arnold Heppner and trained by Carl Anderson, the Ontario-bred scored 2 wins in 2 starts at Assiniboia Downs during the 2004 season with earnings of $63,000. He won the R.J Speers Stakes and Gold Breeders’ Cup and overall compiled a season record of 5-3-1 in 11 starts that included two wins in optional claiming races and a third place finish in the Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in Edmonton.
HBPA Sprinter honours went to Florida-bred Iwoodificould. Owned by partners Murray Howell, Joan Wright and trainer Emile Corbel, Iwoodificould earned $52,050 in seven starts and compiled a 3-0-1 record. He scored a one-length victory over Smoked Em in the Free Press Stakes.
HBPA Claimer of the Year honours went to Golden Bid. Owned by Mike Nault and Andy Dubois and
Did You Know....
That two-time Canadian Champion, Deputy Jane West, died
in September 2004 when she
foundered after colic surgery. Deputy Jane West was Champion filly at both age 2 and 3 and went on to be a successful broodmare producing multiple stakes winners, Bag Lady Jane and Deputy Storm. She was owned by David and Elizabeth Callander.
Did You Know....
That 20-year-old stallion, Glitterman, has been pensioned
due to fertility problems.
Did You Know....
That according to the ‘Jockey Club Fact Book’, thoroughbred stallion numbers have declined
57% from 1993 to 2003, while the number of mares bred has
increased 3%. The average size of a stallion’s book has increased 63% for the same time period.