Highlights of the Alberta Breds in the Open Stakes Season at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino
Admin • November 17, 2020
The stakes season in Alberta got off to a late start due to the impact of Covid-19 and as a result, the live Thoroughbred race meet was moved to Century Mile for the 2020 season. Opening day was June 21 and the first open stakes race was the $40,000 RedTail Landing Handicap on July 17.
The stakes season in Alberta got off to a late start due to the impact of Covid-19 and as a result, the entire live Thoroughbred race meet was moved to Century Mile for the 2020 season. Opening day was June 21 and the first open stakes race was the $40,000 RedTail Landing Handicap on July 17.
The Alberta breds first appeared in the winner’s circle in the $40,000 Western Canada Handicap on July 26 with MASKWECIS, DUNE D’ORO and BARE BACK JACK finishing one, two and three respectively. Maskwecis followed up the Western Canada win with a showing in the black type $40,000 Count Lathum Handicap on August 16. His win in the restricted $40,000 Beaufort Stakes increased the earnings for the Jimmy Creed runner to US$76,225 with a record of 8-4-1-1-1. Maskwecis was bred by Doug Oberg and sold through the 2018 CTHS Alberta sale graduate for $5,781 to R.K. Smith. The three year old is currently owned by Jim & Carole Barker and Red Ron Farms.
MUSIC AT WORK was the next Alberta bred to claim victory in an open stakes race in the $40,000 Sonoma Handicap on August 14th. Alberta breds placed first and second with the three year old Music at Work ahead of second place finisher PEARL OF KNOWLEDGE to win the seven furlong black type race. Music at Work added the Sonoma Handicap to an earlier third place finish in the black type Chariot Chaser Handicap on July 24th to help increase her earnings to US$61,355 and a record of 6-2-0-1. The stakes winning filly was bred and consigned to the 2018 CTHS Alberta Sale by Wes & Jenn Hanson and purchased by Dr. Steven Smith. She is currently owned by Indyrock Racing. Music at Work is by the leading Alberta sire, Cape Canaveral out of the Bluegrass Cat dam, Las Olas Azur.
The Alberta bred two year olds BANG ON and SHOTTHRUTHEHEART shut out the other runners in the $60,000 black type Birdcatcher Stakes on September 25th when the CTHS Sale graduates placed one and two in the field of seven. This was the first stakes win for the two year old Bang On who added black type to his record of 5-2-1-1 and career earnings of US$44,530 for owner True North Stables. The Commissioner gelding was bred by Running Fawcett Thoroughbreds out of the Forest Wildcat mare Next Big Nothin and consigned to the 2019 CTHS Alberta sale where he sold for $19,679 to True North Stables.
The 2020 Western Canada Handicap, the Sonoma Handicap and the Birdcatcher Stakes titles are held by the CTHS Alberta sale graduates Maskwecis, Music at Work and Bang On. Congratulations to all the connections of these runners and also to all the Alberta bred runners who finished place and show in the entire open stakes season at Century Mile.
The 2020 Century Mile Racetrack and Casino live Thoroughbred meet wrapped up on November 8th with the unfortunate weather related cancellation of the Cash on the Run Stakes and Blue Dancer Stakes.
All race records and earnings in this article are in US$ taken from Equibase.
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n Memory of Golden Made (1998 - 2025)
Today, we say goodbye to Golden Made, whose beauty, kindness and spirit made her a favourite for everyone on the farm.
Golden Made earned over $372,000 on the track with 11 wins from ages 2 to 5, but her greatest gift to us was in the breeding shed: 12 foals, 12 to race, 12 to win. She was perfect.
Highfield Stock Farm was fortunate to purchase Golden Made at the Keeneland January Sale in 2007, and she has been a cherished part of our broodmare band ever since.
2024 Alberta Thoroughbred Industry Award Winners Celebrated at the 51st Night of Champions
The achievements of Alberta’s Thoroughbred industry were proudly recognized on Saturday, May 3, as the new racing season kicked off at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino. More than 130 owners, breeders, trainers, and passionate fans gathered in the Triple Crown Suites for the annual Night of Champions celebration. Against the backdrop of a thrilling day of live racing — and the excitement of the Kentucky Derby — Alberta’s top Thoroughbreds and their connections were honored for their success during the 2024 season. With champions crowned and the starting gates open, the 2025 season began in true Alberta racing style.
The Princess of the Track is now Queen of the Hill.
Absolutely marvelous, Big Hug was named Alberta’s Horse Of the Year Saturday at the annual Night of Champions Awards dinner at Century Mile.
Also named Alberta’s 2024 Champion Older Mare and Champion Alberta-bred, Big Hug won six of her eight starts in Alberta last year capturing the Founders Distaff, CTHS Sales stake, the Fall Classic Distaff and the R.K. ‘Red’ Smith Handicap for owner/trainer Rick Hedge and Lori and Martin Neyka’s Empire Equestrian.
Purchased by Hedge for just $3,400 at the Alberta Yearling Sale, the now-five-year-old mare won $175,500 last year and $354,000 in her career.
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“Best horse I’ve ever trained,” said Hedge, 76, who has trained many outstanding thoroughbreds in his career and many more as a jockey.
The Western Canadian Derby Series is back and bigger than ever for 2025!
🏇 $100,000 Derby Bonus for any 3-year-old who sweeps the Manitoba Derby (Aug 4), Canadian Derby (Aug 23), and BC Derby (Sept 13) – now all back in the lineup!
💰 Plus, a $25,000 Owner-Trainer Bonus is up for grabs based on points earned across all three races
#horseracingalberta #albertaracing #ridersup #FeelTheRush #bestinthewest
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Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications21 hours ago
The public comment period for the proposed countermeasures, with feedback from business, stakeholders, and Canadians regarding their impacts has been extended to April 2nd.
Once again, we strongly encourage all industry stakeholders to submit their input through this comment submission form and request an exemption to the Canadian tariffs for purebred breeding and racing horses at https://forms-formulaires.alpha.canada.ca/en/id/cm7upmkx9008rx268zhy9l6pj.
Please make sure you make a note of the following HS Tariff Items in your exemption request:
HS Tariff Item 0101.21.00 Pure-bred breeding animals
HS Tariff Item 0101.29.00.20 – Other For Racing
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Alberta’s breeding industry is thriving, with qualifying stallion owners sharing in an impressive $85,000 in breeding awards for the 2024 season! The Horse Racing Alberta Breed Improvement Program Stallion Bonus rewarded 34 stallions at a rate of 3.25%, building on the momentum of 2023’s $75,000 at 3.26%—a testament to the growing success of Alberta-sired runners.
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