Night of Champions Award Winners

Admin • May 21, 2021

47th Annual Thoroughbred Awards
The CTHS Alberta hosted the 47th Annual Alberta Thoroughbred Awards in a virtual format on May 20th, 2021. A special thank you to our Master of Ceremonies, Ken Gee, and the sponsors who make this annual event possible.

Congratulations to all the nominees and 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

The Western Canadian Derby Series is back and better than ever!

By Admin • April 8, 2025

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

Equineline and T.I.P. today announced the launch of a new report centered on Thoroughbreds in their second careers.

By Lindsay Ward • April 7, 2025

Equineline and T.I.P. today announced the launch of a new report centered on Thoroughbreds in their second careers.

Dual-Breed Dream: Thoroughbred Jockey Omar Moreno Finds New Passion In Standardbreds

By Lindsay Ward • March 25, 2025

Dual-Breed Dream: Thoroughbred Jockey Omar Moreno Finds New Passion In Standardbreds While Moreno will continue to be active in Thoroughbred racing, his wintertime passion for harness racing has given him a deeper appreciation for all horses Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications21 hours ago

Canadian Tariff Countermeasures Update

By Admin • March 18, 2025

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

Alberta bred He's Crimson Code Turns to Jumping

By Admin • March 4, 2025

From the racetrack to the show ring! Code, the first foal out of Crimson Deed by Omega Code, retired sound after his racing career and found a new purpose with a dedicated young rider from High River. Given the time and patience OTTBs need to transition, Carol built a strong bond with him before training for his second career. Now, they’re gearing up for their next big challenge—a show at Spruce Meadows from March 13-16. A true testament to the versatility and heart of Alberta-breds!

Alberta Stallion Owners Celebrate Outstanding Breeders Awards

By Admin • February 26, 2025

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. Cape Canaveral topped the Stallion Bonus leaderboard with an impressive $13,969 payout, followed by Fed Biz ($8,217), It’s No Joke ($6,486), Saturdaynitelites ($5,509), and Imperialism ($5,120), solidifying their impact on Alberta’s breeding scene. With Alberta-sired winners making their mark on the track, the future of the province’s breeding program has never looked brighter!

Anne Kursinski Still Loves A Good Thoroughbred

By Admin • February 25, 2025

If you visit Anne Kursinski’s Market Street facility in Frenchtown, New Jersey, you might notice a striking bay gelding with a broad blaze and four white socks being ridden by one of her students or her partner, Carol Hoffman. You might wonder about his breeding—until you remember that for Kursinski, a member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, nothing can beat a good Thoroughbred. “I am a huge fan of the Thoroughbreds, no question,” said Kursinski, 65, who famously rode ex-race horse Eros to team silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. “Thoroughbreds are intelligent and athletic, brave and light.” The newest Thoroughbred in her life—Bobby Socks, so named in honor of his four white socks—became part of the Market Street family in 2022, after a chance conversation at a horse show between Kursinski and her longtime friend and retired show jumper Mary Chapot. “Mary said they had this Thoroughbred that was too slow for Laura [Chapot, Mary’s daughter], and she thought maybe we’d like to take a look,” Kursinski recal

Two older Alberta OTTBs Silver Essence and Mint having fun!

By Admin • February 25, 2025

🏇✨ Off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) are the ultimate comeback stars! With their athleticism, heart, and resilience, they thrive in second careers like eventing, show jumping, dressage, and even therapy work. 🏆💖 Their spirit and work ethic make them incredible partners for life, proving that retirement is just the start of something great! Here’s two Alberta bred older OTTB having some playful fun in the Mane Attractions arena near Olds where they are now boarded!

Moonshine Now Standing at Copper Kettle Performance Horses

By Admin • February 10, 2025

2025 Stallion News – Malibu Moon son MOONSHINE NOW Malibu Moon son MOONSHINE NOW is standing at Copper Kettle Performance Horses for the 2025 season. Champion Sire Malibu Moon is one of A.P. Indy’s most successful progeny to enter stud. Moonshine Now is out of Ask Me When by Champion sire Speighstown. Ask Me When comes from an impressive female line that has produced multiple black type runners including a full sibling that earned over $500,000 on the racetrack featuring a graded stakes performance. This lineage is further highlighted by Grade 1 winner and millionaire Honey Rider among other champions on the track. Moonshine Now raced from 2 through 7, earning over $100,000 on the track. The 2017 stallion will be standing at Copper Kettle Performance Horses in Didsbury, Alberta for a stud fee of $2,000. Contact Don or Kerry Johnston at 403-586-4462 or email copperkettlephs@hotmail.com for further information.

2025 CTHS (Alberta) Programs

By Admin • December 31, 2024

Three key programs designed to strengthen and grow the Thoroughbred breeding and racing community in Alberta. These initiatives are tailored to support our breeders, enhance and grow the local horse racing industry, and incentivize the breeding of high-quality Thoroughbreds in our province

Night of Champions Award Winners

47th Annual Thoroughbred Awards The CTHS Alberta hosted the 47th Annual Alberta Thoroughbred Awards in a virtual format on May 20th, 2021. A special thank you to our Master of Ceremonies, Ken Gee, and the sponsors who make this annual event possible. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!

Share