49th Annual Night of Champions a Success!

The Alberta Thoroughbred industry celebrated the achievements of 2022.

The Paddock Room at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino was sold out on the evening of May 5th as over 130 Alberta Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and backstretch workers celebrated the achievements of the Alberta Thoroughbred industry in 2022. 

Master of Ceremonies Ken Gee began the awards program with greetings and a positive outlook from Horse Racing Alberta Chief Executive Officer, Kent Verlik “In 2022, Alberta horse racing moved forward from the pandemic and began the recovery process with reasons for optimism on many fronts. An exciting accomplishment was the long term funding agreement signed by Horse Racing Alberta and the Alberta Government that provides stability to the industry until March 31, 2031.” 

As a four year old last season, the Alberta bred Mank filly earned $163,618 to finish with an impressive record of six wins from eight starts at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino. Four of those wins included the RedTail Landing Handicap, the Shirley Vargo Handicap, the Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap and the R.K. Smith Handicap. Owner Mohamad Khan thanked the CTHS of Alberta, HBPA of Alberta, Century Mile (Racetrack and Casino) and all the other good people who have made this a most memorable evening for me, my family, friends and horse people.” Mohamad also thanked breeder James McFadyen, jockeys Alex Marti and Dane Nelson and had special words for his trainer Jim Brown, ‘Jim has transformed this filly and she genuinely enjoys racing. Thanks Jim.”

Mohamad came to own Dance Shoes through the claiming route as “one of my horses ran against Dance Shoes twice and lost. Expecting Dance Shoes to win that second encounter, I asked James Brown, my trainer, to put in a claim for her and, as they say, the rest is history.”

Another Alberta bred BIG HUG took the Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy for Champion Two Year Old filly home for owners Empire Equestrian and Kerredge Farm. The Mr. Big filly earned $142,900 last season in only five starts including victories in the CTHS Alberta Two Year Old Sales Stakes, the Sturgeon River Stakes and the Princess Margaret Stakes.

The C.T.H.S. Trophy for Leading Breeder was awarded to Pierre Esquirol who bred horses that earned a total of $262,108 and 17 wins last season.

Craig Smith presented the Ken Cohoe Lifetime Achievement Award to longtime Alberta horseman Rod Cone, “It is my honor tonight to present this award to someone who I think everyone in the industry would agree is a long due recipient.” The award is presented to members of the industry who have dedicated a substantial amount of time and effort to preserving or improving the thoroughbred racing industry here in Alberta. As Craig stated, “In this case and many others, this is in fact a lifetime.”

Rod’s training career began in 1988 and he has earned 987 wins at every major racetrack in Canada and other US tracks. Notable horses trained by Rod include Switch N Win, Racaholic, Latshaw, Northern Prospector, Cozzy Grey, Go Eighty Eight, Quiet Approach, Notoriously, Double Bear, Afleets Dancer, Tempered Sapphire and Bird Of Pay who Rod says, “may have been the best horse he ever trained.” 

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, CTHS (Alberta Division), HBPA of Alberta, Roy McLellan, Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd., Paddockhurst Stables and Rocky Mountain Turf Club.

All the 2022 Alberta Thoroughbred award winners are shown below:

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD COLT

Rocky Mountain Turf Club Trophy

CUBAN COBRA

Owner: Crystal Cates and Gonzalo Anderson

Trainer: Tim Rycroft

Breeder: Moonshine Meadow Ranch (AB)

DK. B. C. 2 by Flat Out – A E Phi Sensation

2022:   5 Starts - 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds - $90,800

Winner: Canadian Juvenile Stakes (BT), Winnipeg Futurity

Placings: Birdcatcher Stakes (BT), Martin Deerline Juvenile Stakes

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD FILLY

Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy

BIG HUG*

Owner: Empire Equestrian and Kerredge Farm

Trainer: Rick Hedge

Breeder: Chalet Stable (AB)

DK.B.F. 2 by Mr. Big – Temeeku (Unusual Heat)

2022:   5 starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds - 0 thirds - $142,900

Winner: CTHS Alberta Two Year Old Sales Stakes (BT), Sturgeon River Stakes, Princess Margaret Stakes

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD COLT

Sponsored by Bar None Ranches Ltd.

ASYOUBELIEVE

Owner: Shot In The Dark Racing Corp

Trainer: Tim Rycroft

Breeder: Bennett/Caravetta (BC)

DK.B.G. 3 by Second in Command – I Believe in Angel (Cause to Believe)

2022:  7 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds - $92,000

Winner: CTHS Alberta Three Year Old Sales Stakes, Western Canada Handicap

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD FILLY

Dave Kapchinsky Memorial Trophy

ONEOFTHEMGIRLS*

Owner: Highfield Investment Group Inc., Curtis Landry, Irving Devey

Trainer: Greg Tracy

Breeder: Highfield Investment Group Inc. and Curtis Landry (AB)

CH.F. 3 by Exhi – Eustacia (Forestry)

2022:  4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds - 1 third - $95,000

Winner: Sonoma Handicap, Chariot Chaser Handicap (BT), Alberta Sire Debutante Stakes

Placings: Alberta Oaks

CHAMPION OLDER HORSE

Century Mile Racetrack and Casino Trophy

AT ATTENTION

Owner: Dr. Bryan Anderson and Carol Anderson

Trainer: Barbara Heads

Breeder: Dr. Bryan Anderson and Carol Anderson (BC)

DK.B.G. 5 by Shanghai Bobby – Unattended (Quality Road)

2022:  8 starts – 5 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds - $233,900

Winner: Speed to Spare Championship Stakes (BT), BC Premier’s Handicap (GR3), Century Mile Handicap (BT)

Placings: S.W. Randall Plate Handicap (BT), BC Cup Classic Handicap

CHAMPION OLDER MARE

Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd. Trophy

DANCE SHOES*

Owner: Mohamad Khan

Trainer: James Brown

Breeder: James McFadyen (AB)

CH.F. 4 by Mank – Dancin for Dellana (WhyWhyWhy)

2022:  11 starts - 6 wins - 1 second - 2 thirds - $163,618

Winner: R.K. Red Smith Handicap, Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap, Shirley Vargo Handicap (BT), RedTail Landing Handicap (BT)

Placings: City of Phoenix Stakes, Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff Stakes

CHAMPION CLAIMER

H.B.P.A. Trophy

BON PRIX

Owner: James Wyness

Trainer: James Wyness

Breeder: Roberto Martinez (KY)

2022:  11 starts – 5 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds - $48,790

Winner: 2 Starter Optional Claiming, 1 Starter Allowance, 2 Claiming

Placings: Allowance Optional Claiming, Starter Allowance

CHAMPION SPRINTER

Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Trophy

DANCE SHOES*

Owner: Mohamad Khan

Trainer: James Brown

Breeder: James McFadyen (AB)

CH.F. 4 by Mank – Dancin for Dellana (WhyWhyWhy)

2022:  11 starts - 6 wins - 1 second - 2 thirds - $163,618

Winner: R.K. Red Smith Handicap, Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap, Shirley Vargo Handicap (BT), RedTail Landing Handicap (BT)

Placings: City of Phoenix Stakes, Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff Stakes

ALBERTA BRED

Ted Connor Memorial Trophy

DANCE SHOES*

Owner: Mohamad Khan

Trainer: James Brown

Breeder: James McFadyen (AB)

CH.F. 4 by Mank – Dancin for Dellana (WhyWhyWhy)

2022: 11 starts - 6 wins - 1 second - 2 thirds - $163,618

Winner: R.K. Red Smith Handicap, Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap, Shirley Vargo Handicap (BT), RedTail Landing Handicap (BT)

Placings: City of Phoenix Stakes, Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff Stakes

HORSE OF THE YEAR

Horse Racing Alberta Trophy

DANCE SHOES*

Owner: Mohamad Khan

Trainer: James Brown

Breeder: James McFadyen (AB)

CH.F. 4 by Mank – Dancin for Dellana (WhyWhyWhy)

2022: 11 starts - 6 wins - 1 second - 2 thirds - $163,618

Winner: R.K. Red Smith Handicap, Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap, Shirley Vargo Handicap (BT), RedTail Landing Handicap (BT)

Placings: City of Phoenix Stakes, Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff Stakes

LEADING BREEDER

C.T.H.S. Trophy

PIERRE ESQUIROL

2022:  Starts - 178   Wins - 17    Seconds - 23   Thirds - 27

Earnings: $262,108

Alberta bred horses bred by Pierre Esquirol earned over $260,000 with 17 wins. The top Esquirol bred horse last season was the Alberta bred runner Wildcat Willy by Wildcat Red out of Silver Chest (Silver Deputy).

LEADING JOCKEY

The Lou Davies Memorial Trophy

ENRIQUE A. GONZALEZ

2022:  Starts - 296   Wins - 71    Seconds - 59   Thirds - 40

Earnings: $1,054,955

The multiple graded stakes placed jockey Enrique Gonzalez earned over $1 Million last season including 71 wins. The top horse ridden by Gonzalez was the Champion Three Year Old colt Asyoubelieve; other horses included Cuban Cobra, Mudinator, Greek Geek and Stone Carver.

APPRENTICE JOCKEY

N’RICO PRESCOD

2022:  Starts - 208   Wins - 26    Seconds - 33   Thirds - 38

Earnings: $426,215

The stakes winning jockey N’Rico Prescod earned over $400,000 last season including 26 wins. The top horse ridden last season by Prescod was the Three Year Old Alberta bred colt Above and Beyond with a win in the Alberta Sire Stakes Derby. 

LEADING TRAINER

H.B.P.A. Trophy

TIM RYCROFT

2022:  Starts - 334  Wins - 62  Seconds - 62  Thirds - 44

Earnings $984,075

The multiple grades stakes winning trainer Tim Rycroft earned the Leading Trainer title for the fifth consecutive year with Rycroft trained horses earning close to $1 Million with 62 wins last season. The top runner for Tim in 2021 was the multiple stakes placed Alberta bred winner, GREEKGEEK.

LEADING OWNER

Jockey Club of Canada Trophy (Provided by JCC)

CRYSTAL CATES AND GONZALO ANDERSON

2022:  Starts - 56    Wins - 16  Seconds - 10  Thirds - 8

Earnings $236,500

The multiple winning owners Crystal Cates and Gonzalo Anderson earned the Leading Owner title for the 2022 season with horses owned by this partnership earning $236,500. The top runner for Cates & Anderson last season was the champion Two Year Old colt CUBAN COBRA.

KEN COHOE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ROD CONE

Rod Cone was presented with the ‘lifelong personal involvement and contribution for the love of the Thoroughbred’ for his commitment to the Alberta Thoroughbred industry. Rod is a multiple graded stakes winning trainer with 987 wins and over $9.8 million in earnings. Horses trained by Rod include such well known runners as Double Bear, A Fleets Dancer, Cozzy Grey, A Quiet Approach, Tempered Sapphire, Northernprospector, Notoriously, Double Bear, Go Eighty Eight and Bird of Pay.