Night of Champions Award Winners

2020 Award Winners Announced at Virtual Night of Champions

Edmonton, AB – The accomplishments of the Alberta Thoroughbred Industry in the 2019 and 2020 seasons were celebrated at the 47^th annual Night of Champions on Thursday, May 20^th. Breeders, owners, trainers and fans participated in a virtual format through social media and industry websites as the champions and award winners were announced.

Master of Ceremonies, Ken Gee, started the program with an introduction from Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Alberta, “I bring greetings and thank you for all of your unwavering support, dedication and contributions to the Alberta Horse Racing industry. I extend my congratulations to all of the Night of Champions nominees and thank you to our breeders, owners, trainers and back stretch employees for all that you do for Alberta racing.”

REAL GRACE was awarded the 2020 Horse of the Year and Champion Three Year Old Colt titles for his impressive performance over the season including winning the Grade 3 Canadian Derby and earnings of $89,162. The Mineshaft gelding was bred by Peter Johnson and is owned by owner/trainer Shelley Brown and Jean McEwan, Bette Holtman and Bernell Rhone. C.T.H.S. Alberta sale graduate MASKWECIS was named the Champion Alberta bred for his outstanding performance in 2020 with wins in the Western Canada Handicap, the Beaufort Stakes and a third place finish in the black type Count Lathum Handicap. The Jimmy Creed gelding was bred by Doug Oberg and earned $57,760 last season for his owners Jim and Carole Barker and Red Ron Farms. The Alberta bred and C.T.H.S. Alberta sale graduate BANG ON captured the Champion Two Year Old Colt trophy for owner True North Stables. The Commissioner colt was bred by Running Fawcett Thoroughbreds Ltd.

Highfield Investment Group was named the Leading Breeder in Alberta with Highfield runners earning $290,736 and 16 wins. Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. earned the Leading Owner title with Riversedge horses earning $417,781 and 23 wins. Tim Rycroft received the Leading Trainer title for the third consecutive year with Rycroft trained runners earning 42 wins and $646,551 in earnings. Canadian Sovereign Apprentice Jockey, Mauricio Malvaez, was named Leading Apprentice Jockey for his remarkable season that included a win in Alberta’s biggest race, the Grade 3 Canadian Derby. Rico Walcott was named Leading Jockey for the ninth time in the past ten years for an outstanding meet with Walcott ridden horses earning $820,968 and 68 wins.

Special appreciation goes to the Master of Ceremonies, Ken Gee, and the sponsors of the Night of Champions including Horse Racing Alberta, Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, the CTHS Alberta Division, the H.B.P.A. of Alberta, Bar None Ranches Ltd., Roy McLellan, Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd., Paddockhurst Stables Inc. and the Rocky Mountain Turf Club.

A complete listing of the 2020 Alberta Thoroughbred winners is listed below:

Champion Claimer - The H.B.P.A. Trophy

SOMETHING ABOUT ME

Champion Sprinter - The Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Trophy

STONE CARVER

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly - The Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy

SHE LIKES TO PARTY

Champion Two-Year-Old Colt - The Rocky Mountain Turf Club Trophy

BANG ON

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly - The Dave Kapchinsky Memorial Trophy

Sponsored by Paddockhurst Stables Inc.

PEARL OF KNOWLEDGE

Champion Three-Year-Old Colt - Sponsored by Bar None Ranches Ltd.

REAL GRACE

Champion Older Mare - The Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd. Trophy

SUNBURST

Champion Older Horse - The Century Mile Racetrack and Casino Trophy

GO AWAY

Champion Alberta Bred - The Ted Connor Memorial Trophy

MASKWECIS

Horse of the Year - The Horse Racing Alberta Trophy

REAL GRACE

Leading Apprentice Jockey - Sponsored by the H.B.P.A.

MAURICIO MALVAEZ

Leading Jockey - The Lou Davies Memorial Trophy

RICO WALCOTT

Leading Trainer - The H.B.P.A. Trophy

TIM RYCROFT

Leading Breeder - The C.T.H.S. Trophy

HIGHFIELD INVESTMENT GROUP

Leading Owner - The Jockey Club of Canada Trophy

RIVERSEDGE RACING STABLES LTD.

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About the CTHS Alberta

Founded in 1906, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) was incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act as the official registry of Thoroughbred horses in Canada.

The CTHS (Alberta Division) and its membership are a major part of the agriculture community in Alberta – our goal is to ensure a viable future for our members by providing assistance and developing programs to ensure that future.

Our mandate is to promote the purchase of Alberta Thoroughbreds, keep records, organize sales, disseminate information, compile statistics and assist our membership with registration.