2021 Award Winners Celebrated at 48th Annual Night of Champions
The achievements of the Alberta Thoroughbred industry were celebrated in person at the Night of Champions held on Friday, May 6th at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Nisku, Alberta. After an absence of two years, over one hundred people filled the Paddock Room representing breeders, owners, trainers and backstretch to enjoy the dinner, awards and dancing entertainment.
Master of Ceremonies, Ken Gee, got the evening underway with greetings from Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Alberta, Kent Verlik, who discussed the best path forward for horse racing in Alberta with the new stakeholder engagement and appeals process. Verlik thanked the industry “for your dedication and passion for the sport of horse racing in Alberta.”
The dinner and entertainment were followed by the award presentations with GREEK GEEK winning all four of the categories he was eligible for including Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter, Champion Older Horse and Champion Alberta bred. The Misremembered gelding earned $174,400 last season with seven wins from nine starts including four stakes; the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap, the CTHS Sales Stake, the Century Mile Handicap and the Don Getty Handicap. Greek Geek established a new track record on August 15th, 2021 over one and one sixteenth miles with a time of 1.42.36. Greek Geek is a 2018 CTHS Alberta sale graduate bred by Moonshine Meadow Ranch and owned by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
The Alberta bred Dune d'Oro won the H.B.P.A. Trophy for the 2021 Champion Claimer award. The five year old Atreides gelding earned a total of $66,842 last season with a record of 12-4-1-1 for owner Mitch Sutherland. Dune d'Oro was bred by Doug Oberg.
ONEOFTHEMGIRLS received the Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy for the Champion Two Year Old Filly title. The Alberta bred earned $66.030 in her first season with wins in the CTHS Sales Stake and the Sturgeon River Stakes finishing the meet with a record of 5-2-0-1. The Exhi filly was bred by Highfield Investment Group & Curtis Landry and is owned by Highfield Investment Group Inc., Curtis Landry and Irving Devey.
The BC bred ASYOUBELIEVE was awarded the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Trophy and the title for Champion Two Year Old Colt for his accomplishments last season. The Second in Command runner earned $74,900 with wins in the black type Canadian Juvenile Stakes and the CTHS Alberta Sales Stakes. The gelding bred by Bennett and Caravetta completed his season with a record of 4-3-0-1 for owner Shot in the Dark Racing Corp.
The Kentucky bred SHELTERED BAY was named Champion Three Year Old Filly and awarded the Dave Kapchinsky Memorial Trophy. The wins for Sheltered Bay included the Sonoma Handicap and the black type Chariot Chaser Handicap for a record of 5-3-0-1 and total earnings of $75,247 in 2021. She was bred by Oak Ridge Farm and is owned by Indyrock Racing, Graham Thoroughbreds and True North Stable.
TONY'S TAPIT was named The Champion Three Year Old Colt award, sponsored by Bar None Ranches Ltd., for a season that included Alberta wins in the Western Canada Handicap and the black type Count Lathum Handicap. The Tonalist colt earned $168,381 for the season and finished record of 13-8-1-1 for owner Kirk Sutherland. The Kentucky bred was bred by H & E Ranch.
The BC bred INFINITE PATIENCE earned the title of Champion Older Mare and the Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd. Trophy for her impressive season in 2021. The Alberta wins for the Sungold mare included the R.K. Smith Handicap, the CTHS Alberta Sales Stakes and the Northlands Distaff for total earnings of $163,100 and a record of 7-5-1-0. Infinite Patience is owned by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and William Decoursey and was bred by William Decoursey.
The Lou Davies Memorial Trophy for Leading Jockey was awarded to Enrique Gonzalez (by earnings) for a season that saw Gonzalez ridden horses earn a total of $968,205. This year, the Lou Davies Memorial Trophy will also be awarded to Rico Walcott for Leading Jockey (by wins) for a season that saw Walcott ridden runners earn 69 wins.
Highfield Investment Group Inc. was named Leading Breeder for the second consecutive year with Highfield bred runners earning $420,276 from 15 wins last season.
The H.B.P.A. Trophy for Leading Trainer was awarded to Tim Rycroft for a season that saw him win 63 races and over $ 1 Million in earnings from Rycroft trained runners.
The Jockey Club of Canada Trophy for Leading Owner was awarded to Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. for a 2021 meet where Riversedge owned horses earned over $500,000 and 26 wins.
Special recognition and appreciation is given to the Night of Champions sponsors: Horse Racing Alberta, Bar None Ranches Ltd., Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, the HBPA of Alberta, Roy McLellan, Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd., Paddockhurst Stables, Rocky Mountain Turf Club and Westana Equine Training and Rehab Centre. Further acknowledgement is also expressed to On Track Media & Entertainment Inc. for their generous sponsorship and support with the production of the Night of Champions video program. The attendees enjoyed the dancing demos and entertainment offered by the Sugar Swing Ballroom.
The 2021 Alberta Thoroughbred horse category award winners are listed below:
Racing information and statistics provided by Equibase and the Jockey Club.
The H.B.P.A. Trophy
Champion Claimer:
DUNE D'ORO
Trainer: James Brown
Owner: Mitch Sutherland
Breeder: Doug Oberg (AB)
B G 5 by Atreides – Barney's Mistress (Dynaformer)
2021: 12 Starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds - $66,842
Winner: Red Diamond Express Handicap
The Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Trophy
Champion Sprinter: GREEK GEEK
Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
Breeder: Moonshine Meadow Ranch (AB)
B G 5 by Misremembered – A E Phi Sensation (Johannesburg)
2021: 9 Starts – 7 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds - $174,400
Winner: Century Mile Handicap (BT), Alberta Breeders Handicap, CTHS AB Sales Stake Handicap, Don Getty Handicap (BT)
The Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy
Champion Two Year Old Filly: ONEOFTHEMGIRLS
Trainer: Greg Tracy
Owner: Highfield Investment Group Inc., Curtis Landry & Irving Devey
Breeder: Highfield Investment Group Inc. & Curtis Landry
CH F 2 by Exhi – Eustacia (Forestry)
2021: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 0 second – 1 thirds - $66,030
Winner: Sturgeon River Stakes, CTHS AB Sales Stake Handicap
The Rocky Mountain Turf Club Trophy
Champion Two Year Old Colt: ASYOUBELIEVE
Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Owner: Shot in the Dark Racing Corp.
Breeder: Bennett/Caravetta (BC)
B C 3 by Second in Command – I Believe in Angel (Cause to Believe)
2021: 4 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 1 thirds - $74,900
Winner: Canadian Juvenile Stakes (BT), CTHS AB Sales Stake Handicap
The Dave Kapchinsky Memorial Trophy
Champion Three Year Old Filly: SHELTERED BAY
Trainer: Craig Smith
Owner: Indyrock Racing, Graham Thoroughbreds & True North Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Oakridge Farm (KY)
B F 4 by Gemologist– City by the Bay (City Zip)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 1 thirds - $75,247
Winner: Chariot Chaser Handicap (BT), Sonoma Handicap
Sponsored by Bar None Ranches Ltd.
Champion Three Year Old Colt: TONY'S TAPIT
Trainer: James Brown
Owner: Kirk Sutherland
Breeder: H & E Ranch (KY)
B G 4 by Tonalist - Autumn Wedding (Runaway Groom)
2021: 913 Starts – 8 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds - $168,381
Winner: Western Canada Handicap, Count Lathum Handicap (BT)
The Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd. Trophy
Champion Older Mare: INFINITE PATIENCE
Trainer: Barbara Heads
Owner: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins & William Decoursey
Breeder: William Decoursey (BC)
B M 5 by Sungold – Montero (Louis Quatorze)
2021: 7 Starts – 5 wins – 1 second - 0 thirds - $163,100
Winner: Northlands Distaff Handicap, CTHS AB Sales Stake, R.K. Red Smith Handicap
The Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Trophy
Champion Older Horse: GREEK GEEK
Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
Breeder: Moonshine Meadow Ranch (AB)
B G 5 by Misremembered – A E Phi Sensation (Johannesburg)
2021: 9 Starts – 7 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds - $174,400
Winner: Century Mile Handicap (BT), Alberta Breeders Handicap, CTHS AB Sales Stake Handicap, Don Getty Handicap (BT)
The Ted Connor Memorial Trophy
Champion Alberta Bred: GREEK GEEK
Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
Breeder: Moonshine Meadow Ranch (AB)
B G 5 by Misremembered – A E Phi Sensation (Johannesburg)
2021: 9 Starts – 7 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds - $174,400
Winner: Century Mile Handicap (BT), Alberta Breeders Handicap, CTHS AB Sales Stake Handicap, Don Getty Handicap (BT)
The Horse Racing Alberta Trophy
Horse of the Year: GREEK GEEK
Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
Breeder: Moonshine Meadow Ranch (AB)
B G 5 by Misremembered – A E Phi Sensation (Johannesburg)
2021: 9 Starts – 7 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds - $174,400
Winner: Century Mile Handicap (BT), Alberta Breeders Handicap, CTHS AB Sales Stake Handicap, Don Getty Handicap (BT)
The Lou Davies Memorial Trophy
Leading Jockey by Wins: RICO WALCOTT
Starts: 276 Wins: 69 Seconds: 52 Thirds: 50
Earnings $957,875
The Lou Davies Memorial Trophy
Leading Jockey by Earnings: ENRIQUE GONZALEZ
Starts: 247 Wins: 61 Seconds: 46 Thirds: 29
Earnings $968,205
The H.B.P.A. Trophy
Leading Trainer: TIM RYCROFT
Starts: 302 Wins: 63 Seconds: 59 Thirds: 40
Earnings $1,007,385
Tim Rycroft earned the Leading Trainer title for the fourth consecutive year with Rycroft trained horses earning over $1 Million and 63 wins last season. The top runner for Tim in 2021 was the multiple stakes placed Alberta bred winner, GREEKGEEK.
The C.T.H.S. Trophy
Leading Breeder: HIGHFIELD INVESTMENT GROUP
Starts: 100 Wins: 15 Seconds: 19 Thirds: 18
Earnings: $420,276
The Leading Breeder award goes to Highfield Investment Group for a season that saw Alberta bred horses bred by Highfield earn over $420,000 with 15 wins. The top Highfield bred horse last season was the Alberta bred runner Knowing Glance, out of the Noonmark mare, Noon Time Shower.
The Jockey Club of Canada Trophy
Leading Owner: RIVERSEDGE RACING STABLES LTD.
Starts: 129 Wins: 26 Seconds: 28 Thirds: 16
Earnings: $501,875
The Leading Owner title was awarded to Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Horses owned by Riversedge earned over $500,000 with 26 wins. The leading earners for Riversedge last season were Greek Geek and Stone Carver.
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