CTHS Award Winners

2020 Award Winners Announced at Virtual Night of Champions

By Lindsay Ward, Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Alberta Division), www.cthsalta.com • Photos courtesy of Ryan Haynes, Coady Photo Ltd.

The accomplishments of the Alberta Thoroughbred Industry in the 2019 and 2020 seasons were celebrated at the 47th annual Night of Champions on May 20th. 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, 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.

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.