Celebrating Alberta-Bred Success and Breeders' Bonuses

CTHS Alberta • December 11, 2024

In 2024, breeders of Alberta-bred Thoroughbreds are celebrating BIG, with over $600,000 in Breeders’ Bonus winnings!  

In 2024, breeders of Alberta-bred Thoroughbreds are celebrating BIG, with over $600,000 in Breeders’ Bonus winnings! 

Thanks to the generous $629,594 funding from Horse Racing Alberta through the Breed Improvement Program, qualifying breeders are now reaping the rewards of their hard work and dedication to breeding top-tier racehorses.


The Breeders’ Bonus is earned through wins, places, and shows in all qualifying Alberta-sanctioned races with a minimum $9,000 purse and a $6,250 claiming price and paid out after the Alberta racing season concludes. This year's bonus accounts for 21.72% of the earnings from all races that meet the eligibility criteria at Alberta racetracks in 2024. A HUGE congratulations to all this year’s recipients! 


A Special Congratulations to the Top 5 Leading Alberta Breeders based on their Breeders' Bonus Earnings!


Pierre Esquirol is the leading breeder this season with a total Breeders’ Bonus earned of $55,253. The leading bonus earning runner for Esquirol was the Mark Valeski sired four year old PACHECO. The four year old won a Claiming race, an Allowance and an Allowance Optional Claiming race to finish the season with a record of 10-3-3-3 and $39,428 in earnings. Other bonus earners in the Esquirol stable include AH TOUCHE, DIAMOND DI, DISTORTED ROSE, E PAY ALL THE WA, GOLDIE SOCKS, GWIZZ, KEEPMEINPOWER, KISS ME HELLO, KULSUM, LANNY MAC, NO MORE JO KING, PUMP THE BRAKES and YNOTIGIVEITAGO.


The second leading Breeders’ Bonus earner was Highfield Investment Group Inc. with a bonus earned of $48,368 for their 2024 race season. The Cape Canveral runner, WEDGE POND, was the leading bonus earning runner for Highfield with $14,447. The six year old gelding won two claiming races, one starter allowance, one starter optional claiming race and one allowance optional claiming to complete the season with a record of 13-5-3-2 and $70,509 in earnings. The runners BUCK SPRINGS, CAPE’S LEGACY, DESTIN TO BE GREAT, ESCROW STYLE, FLASHFORDANI, HOPE SHINES, MAMA’S QUEEN, RUMOHR REIGNS and WHATWOMENWANT also contributed toward the total bonus earned for Highfield.


In third spot on the Breeders’ Bonus standings is Bar None Ranches Ltd. with a total bonus paid out of $37,284. Their Gayego sired homebred MONOPOLIZE earned $6,179 toward the overall bonus, with a win in an Allowance Optional Claiming race and a second place in the Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap. The four year old finished the season with $35,949 in earnings and a record of 7-1-3-1. BOSS MAN CAN, BRYNN’S DREAM, CHATTY GAL, COUNT ON IT, DOC COPE, DRAMATIC FLAIR, G T RAY SIR, GO MAMA, PAPICHULO, PERDITION, PERPETUAL BLISS, SILVERFOOT, STOLEN JEWEL and WISH ON A STAR all helped Bar None Ranches Ltd. to earn their bonus.

BIG HUG earned a Breeders’ Bonus of $29,863 putting her breeder, Chalet Stable, fourth in the standings. The multiple stakes winning four year old captured races including the Lynn Chouinard Founders Distaff, the CTHS Sales Stakes, the Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap and the R.K. Red Smith Handicap. The Mr. Big filly had her best season yet with a record of 8-6-6-1 and US $122,826 in earnings.


Perry Pellerin secured the fifth spot among the top Breeders' Bonus earners, with a total bonus earned of $27,605. The leading runner for the Pellerin Stable was the homebred, DONTBRINGMEDOWN, who earned $14,128 toward the overall bonus. The Saturdaynitelites runner had a win in the Alberta Sire Stakes Derby and a Maiden Special Weight race finishing the season with $67,321 in earnings. The Pellerin stable runners MY KIND OF NITE, THRILL OF THE NITE and BROKEN PROMISES also helped to earn the bonus.


The Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program Breeders' Bonuses are made possible with the generous financial support of Horse Racing Alberta. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants and congratulate the bonus recipients. Your dedication and contributions play a vital role in the growth and success of Alberta's racing industry. Keep racing, keep winning, and keep earning with your Alberta Breds!

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