Blog Post

Real Grace Named Alberta's 2020 Horse of the Year

Admin • May 26, 2021

Canadian Derby (G3) winner Real Grace was the star of the 47th annual Alberta Thoroughbred Awards, held virtually May 20th.

REAL GRACE won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile and was named Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old at the May 20 Alberta Thoroughbred Awards - Century Mile photo

Canadian Thoroughbred: By: Jennifer Morrison | May 21, 2021

Canadian Derby (G3) winner REAL GRACE was named Alberta’s 2020 Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Male at the virtual Alberta Awards night May 20 presented by the CTHS Alberta. This was the 47th annual Alberta Awards ceremony which was broadcast on Facebook on the Alberta Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Page.

Real Grace (Mineshaft – True Way of Grace by Yes It’s True) came to Canada for his fourth career race for trainer and co-owner Shelley Brown in July 2020. The dark bay gelding won the Derby Trial at Assiniboia Downs and was fifth in the Manitoba Derby. Moved to Century Mile, the gelding finished second in the Count Lathum Stakes and two starts later scored an 18 to 1 upset win in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby, winning by a neck under Mauricio Malvaez, named the year’s top apprentice jockey. Real Grace is a Kentucky-bred who is back in training at Assiniboia Downs with Brown.

RICO WALCOTT won his ninth Outstanding Jockey trophy, returning in 2020 following brain surgery and TIM RYCROFT won his third straight Outstanding Trainer award.

ALBERTA’S THOROUGHBRED AWARD WINNERS 2020

The Horse Racing Alberta Trophy
Horse of the Year: REAL GRACE

Trainer: Shelley Brown
Owner: Shelley Brown, Jean McEwan, Bette Holtman, Bernell Rhone
Breeder: Peter Johnson
B G 3 by Mineshaft – True Way of Grace (Yes It’s True)
2020: 9 Starts – 2 wins – 3 second – 0 thirds – $89,162
Winner: Derby Trial Stakes, Canadian Derby (G3)

The H.B.P.A. Trophy
Champion Claimer: SOMETHING ABOUT ME

Trainer: Allen Goodsell
Owner: Carter Goodsell
Breeder: Paul Treasure & Harry Bettis
CH F 4 by Boos – Justbluffin (Pine Bluff)
2020: 9 Starts – 5 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $39,424
Winner: Allowance Optional Claiming, Claiming

The Century Downs Racetrack and Casino Trophy
Champion Sprinter: STONE CARVER

Trainer: Tim Rycroft
Owner: Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.
Breeder: T/C Stable, LLC
B G 5 by Birdstone – Vermilion Sea (Boundary)
2020: 7 Starts – 1 wins – 3 second – 0 thirds – $42,290
Winner: Journal Handicap (BT)

The Dwight McLellan Memorial Trophy
Champion Two Year Old Filly: SHE LIKES TO PARTY

Trainer: Greg Tracy
Owner: Don Danard
Breeder: Lou Neve
B F 2 by Maclean’s Music – Gone to Party (All Gone)
2020: 4 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 0 thirds – $81,000
Winner: Princess Margaret Stakes, Freedom of the City Stakes (BT)

The Rocky Mountain Turf Club Trophy
Champion Two Year Old Colt: BANG ON*

Trainer: Craig Smith
Owner: True North Stables Ltd.
Breeder: Running Fawcett Thoroughbreds Ltd.
B C 2 by Commissioner – Next Big Nothin’ (Forest Wildcat)
2020: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds – $59,264
Winner: Birdcatcher Stakes (BT)

The Dave Kapchinsky Memorial Trophy
Champion Three Year Old Filly: PEARL OF KNOWLEDGE*

Trainer: Karline Kingston
Owner: Don Danard & Jim Juris
Breeder: Starline Thoroughbreds
B F 3 by Cape Canaveral – Lil Missknowitall (Kafwain)
2020: 6 Starts – 2 wins – 2 second – 1 thirds – $54,760
Winner: Alberta Oaks

Sponsored by Bar None Ranches Ltd.
Champion Three Year Old Colt: REAL GRACE

Trainer: Shelley Brown
Owner: Shelley Brown, Jean McEwan, Bette Holtman, Bernell Rhone
Breeder: Peter Johnson
B G 3 by Mineshaft – True Way of Grace (Yes It’s True)
2020: 9 Starts – 2 wins – 3 second – 0 thirds – $89,162
Winner: Derby Trial Stakes, Canadian Derby (G3)

The Moore Equine Veterinary Centre Ltd. Trophy
Champion Older Mare: SUNBURST

Trainer: Barbara Heads
Owner: Russell & Lois Bennett
Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. R J Bennett
CH F 4 by Sungold – Tierra Del Feugo (Finality)
2020: 4 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 thirds – $70,560
Winner: Redtail Landing Handicap, Northlands Distaff Handicap (Listed)

The Century Mile Racetrack and Casino Trophy
Champion Older Horse: GO AWAY

Trainer: James Brown
Owner: Kirk Sutherland
Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd.
B G 4 by Scat Daddy – Elbow (Woodman)
2020: 11 Starts – 3 wins – 3 second – 3 thirds – $80,980
Winner: Don Getty Handicap (BT)

The Ted Connor Memorial Trophy
Champion Alberta-bred: MASKWECIS*

Trainer: Ron K Smith
Owner: Jim & Carole Barker, Red Ron Farms
Breeder: Doug Oberg
B G 3 by Jimmy Creed – Maidstone (Aptitude)
2020: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 1 thirds – $57,760
Winner: Western Canada Handicap, Beaufort Stakes

Sponsored by the H.B.P.A.
Leading Apprentice Jockey: MAURICIO MALVAEZ

Starts: 191 Wins: 16 Seconds: 27 Thirds: 16

Earnings $280,625
Canadian Sovereign Apprentice Jockey, Mauricio Malvaez, was the top apprentice last season at Century Mile with 16 wins including a victory in the biggest race in Alberta, the Canadian Derby (G3).

The Lou Davies Memorial Trophy
Leading Jockey: RICO WALCOTT

Starts: 204 Wins: 68 Seconds: 39 Thirds: 38

Earnings $820,968
Rico Walcott returned to the track last season after a health battle sidelined him in 2019. This award becomes the ninth Leading Jockey title for Rico in the past ten years.

The H.B.P.A. Trophy
Leading Trainer: TIM RYCROFT

Starts: 237 Wins: 42 Seconds: 38 Thirds: 46

Earnings $646,551
Tim Rycroft earned the third Leading Trainer title for the third consecutive year with Rycroft trained horses earning over $640,000 and 42 wins last season. The top runner for Tim in 2020 was the multiple stakes placed Alberta bred runner, Saveitforarainyday.

The C.T.H.S. Trophy
Leading Breeder: HIGHFIELD INVESTMENT GROUP

Starts: 74 Wins: 16 Seconds: 4 Thirds: 7

Earnings: $290,736

The Leading Breeder goes to Highfield Investment Group for a season that saw horses bred by Highfield earn over $290,000 with 16 wins. The top Highfield bred horse last season was Jasper Shine, out of their multiple stakes winning mare, Golden Made.

The Jockey Club of Canada Trophy
Leading Owner: RIVERSEDGE RACING STABLES LTD.

Starts: 130 Wins: 23 Seconds: 25 Thirds: 23

Earnings: $417,781

The Leading Owner title was awarded to Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. for back to back awards in this category. Horses owned by Riversedge earned over $400,000 with 23 wins. The leading earners for Riversedge last season include Stone Carver, Bareback Jack and Dad’s Legacy.

Tags: 47th Alberta Thoroughbred Awards, CTHS Alberta, Real Grace, Shelley Brown,

Share

By CTHS Alberta 07 May, 2024
Complete list of winners from the 50th Anniversary of the Night of Champions celebrating the achievements of the Alberta Thoroughbred industry in 2023.
By CTHS Alberta 01 May, 2024
Job opening at the CTHS Alberta for a General Manager position. Deadline is May 30th, 2024. The position is based in NE Calgary and reports to the President of the CTHS Alberta Division.
By Admin 18 Apr, 2024
Opening Weekend/ Kentucky Derby Experience! Limited tickets available! Join us in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Kentucky Derby. Don't miss the excitement taking place on Saturday, May 4th in the suites at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino. V.I.P. access tickets are $55.00 plus GST each and include access to the suites, program, appetizers. Premium access tickets are $70.00 plus GST and include tables against the glass, betting voucher and one drink ticket per person. Limited tickets available. Please call the CTHS Alberta office at 403-229-3609 or email cthsweb@cthsalta.com to book your tickets.
By Admin 18 Apr, 2024
The CTHS Alberta is pleased to announce that Mr. Curtis Stock will be the recipient of the 2023 Ken Cohoe Lifetime Achievement Award at the Night of Champions. The Ken Cohoe Lifetime Achievement Award is to reward lifelong personal involvement and contribution for the love of the Thoroughbred.
By Admin 13 Apr, 2024
Save the date!! RSVP deadline is now Friday, April 26th. Come out and celebrate all the accomplishments of the Alberta racing industry in the past season. It's the 50th Annual Night of Champions on Friday, May 3rd and we're celebrating with a "Shake, Rattle and Roll; Fabulous 50s Party!" Please RSVP by Friday, April 26th to 403-229-3609 or email cthsweb@cthsalta.com. The Royal Hotel - Edmonton Airport has a special room rate of $119.00 per night for Night of Champions attendees! #ABBredsrock #NightOfChampions #PeoplesChoice
By Admin 20 Mar, 2024
People’s Choice Award: Decade Five 2014 – 2023 Thundering Trails: Alberta’s Decade of Speedy Thoroughbreds The third decade opened with Taylor’s Swift’s release of ‘1989’, which went on to be one of the best-selling albums of the decade, Malaysian airline flight 370 mysteriously disappeared and racing fans voted California Chrome’s win in the 140th Kentucky Derby the top racing moment of 2014. SMART FIX ran the first race of her career at Northlands, Jimmy Fallon took over the Tonight show and a 37 year drought was ended when American Pharaoh won the Triple Crown in 2015. The CTHS Alberta sale graduate SMART FIX went on to race for seven seasons and earned the title of 2019 Champion Alberta bred and Horse of the Year.
By Admin 12 Mar, 2024
Speeding Through the Decade: Alberta’s Thunderous Thoroughbred Triumphs (2004 – 2013) The next decade unfolded with the launch of Facebook, the imprisonment of Martha Stewart and Smarty Jones earning a $5 Million bonus for his victory in the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby.Hurricane Katrina had just devastated the US Gulf Coast and Zenyatta was a $60,000 yearling purchase at the 2005 September Keeneland Yearling Sale when CTHS Alberta yearling sale graduate, TEAGUES FIGHT began his racing career at Stampede Park.
By Admin 06 Mar, 2024
People’s Choice Award: Decade Three 1994 - 2003 Legendary Hooves: Alberta’s Golden Decade of Thoroughbred Racing (1994 – 2003) The first year of this decade was memorable. Tonya Harding created a figure skating drama that became one of the greatest scandals in sports history, Wayne Gretzky tied Gordie Howe’s NHL record of 801 goals and Go for Gin won the 120th Kentucky Derby but never another race.
By Admin 28 Feb, 2024
The first year of this decade was of special note for Thoroughbreds in North America. Hollywood Park was the site of the very first Breeders’ Cup, John Henry was the first Thoroughbred to win $6 million and the 110th Kentucky Derby was won by Swale. The movie Back to the Future was released in 1985, Coca-Cola changed its secret formula and then quickly brought the 99 year old recipe back a few months later and ROAD TO PONDER was on the track at Woodbine for the beginning of a four year racing career. Mainly racing out of Alberta, this chestnut horse had lifetime earnings of $268,881.
By Admin 28 Feb, 2024
Alberta breds Running Elsewhere Congratulations to all the connections of Alberta bred PIPER ROSE, winner of the $17,000 Race 10 at Turf Paradise on February 26th. The ten year old mare ran the one mile race in a field of eight to win for owners Bennie Woolley Jr. and Mitchell Cathey. Piper Rose was bred by Lamont Heppner and ran for six years in Alberta, winning both the 2017 Alberta Oaks and the 2020 Alberta Fall Classic Distaff Handicap.
Show More
Share by: