Breeders of Alberta Bred Thoroughbreds Earn Big Rewards!
A total of $721,495 was distributed through the 2025 Breeders’ Bonus as part of the Horse Racing Alberta Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program!
For Immediate Release: Breeders of Alberta-Bred Thoroughbreds Earn Big Rewards
Calgary, AB – December 15, 2025 – The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division), in partnership with Horse Racing Alberta, is pleased to announce that a total of $721,495 was distributed through the 2025 Breeders’ Bonus as part of the Horse Racing Alberta Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program. Thanks to generous funding through the program, qualifying breeders are now reaping the benefits of their hard work and dedication to producing top-tier racehorses.
A total of $691,495 was awarded to breeders of Alberta-foaled horses of all ages who finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in sanctioned Alberta races with five or more starters that carried a minimum purse of $9,000 and had horses entered at or above a $6,250 claiming price. This year’s bonus accounts for 25% of the earnings from all races meeting the eligibility requirements at Alberta racetracks in 2025.
Leading Breeders and Bonus Earners
Pierre Esquirol topped the 2025 Breeders’ Bonus list with $91,802 earned. His leading runner, the Cross Traffic filly Hiway Fortynine, delivered eligible earnings of $107,000 from three wins, one second, and two thirds in seven starts. The outstanding two-year-old captured the Sturgeon River Stakes and the CTHS Alberta Sales Stakes, while also placing in the Freedom of the City Stakes and finishing third in both the Princess Margaret and Kindergarten Stakes.
Additional Esquirol-bred bonus earners included: AH Touche, Alberta Ice, Briar’s Rose, Diamond Di, Goldie Socks, Pump the Brakes, We the Fringe, Pacheco, Kulsum, Kiss Me Hello, Jeff Fa Fa, Jackpot Bar, and Marrymeingeorgia.
RELAXGODOITRAMONE
ITSALLGOODMAN
Highfield Investment Group Inc. finished second with $90,347 in Breeders’ Bonus earnings. Their standout was the Fed Biz colt Relaxgodoitramone, who amassed $122,800 in eligible earnings and secured four wins, including the Canadian Juvenile Stakes, Alberta Premier’s Futurity, and the CTHS Alberta Sales Stakes. Other key contributors to Highfield’s successful season included Cape Comander, Rumohr Reigns, Absolut John, Flash for Dani, Wedge Pond, Cape’s Legacy, Destin to Be Great, Hope Shines, Knowing Glance, Miss Hottie, Whatwomenwant, Bri’s Boy, and First Infantry.
In third position was Stone Ranches, earning $43,019. Their Speightster gelding Itsallgoodman recorded the best season of his career, with victories in the black-type Spangled Jimmy Handicap, Red Diamond Express Handicap, and the CTHS Alberta Sales Stakes. He finished 2025 with $143,500 in eligible earnings from five wins, two seconds, and one third in ten starts. Bootiful Rose, City Ballett, and Forgotten Man also contributed to Stone Ranches’ strong results.
BIG HUG
Chalet Stable secured fourth place with $34,827 in bonus earnings, led by their exceptional mare Big Hug, who earned $141,000 in eligible earnings. The Mr. Big mare captured the black-type R.A. Red McKenzie Handicap, R.K. Red Smith Handicap, Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap, and the black-type Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff Handicap. Big Hug won four races and placed second in another during her outstanding 2025 campaign.
Rounding out the top five was Empire Equestrian, earning $32,469. Their Car Talk-sired three-year-old Fancy Like That led the stable with $38,750 in eligible earnings, posting one win, two seconds, and two thirds from six starts. Supporting earners included Caravella, Cassano, Cranberry Chill, El Correcaminos, Suddenly Famous, Tabula Rosso, and Thiscatsgotspeed.
North American Bonus Program
New in 2025, the Horse Racing Alberta Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program introduced the North American Bonus, which made $30,000 available for breeders of Alberta-foaled horses placing in eligible Allowance races over $40,000 and Stakes races over $50,000 at racetracks outside Alberta. The program paid a 20% bonus to these breeders.
A total of $8,472 was earned through this incentive in 2025, with the remaining funds added back into the main Breeders’ Bonus pool.
Boe and Janet Stone earned a $2,652 bonus for the success of their runner The Wright Way, whose season included a second in the CTHS Sales Stakes and a third in the Debutante Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.
Esquirol-bred three-year-old Coal Boy added a $1,020 bonus for his third-place finish in The Golden Boy Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.
Big Hug earned Chalet Stable an additional $4,800 for her two third-place finishes in the G3 La Canada Stakes and G3 Wilshire Stakes at Santa Anita.
This program remains one of the strongest regional breeder incentives in North America, directly supporting the continued production of competitive Alberta-bred Thoroughbreds.
Congratulations to all recipients of the Alberta Breeders’ Bonus Programs this season, and our sincere appreciation to Horse Racing Alberta for their generous support through the Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program.
It Pays to Breed in Alberta.
Media Contact:
Lindsay Ward
Communications | CTHS Alberta
403-229-3609
wardlind@cthsalta.com
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