Hastings' Weekly Round-Up
Racing finally returns to Canada this week after a long winter. Woodbine gets underway on Saturday, while Hastings kicks-off next Saturday, May 3 — Kentucky Derby Day!
Thoroughbred Awards Night at the Italian Centre
Mary Jean Bennett Joins TOBA Board
Government Relations Update
by Denise Praill
As reported in Fall 2024, HBPA BC engaged a government relations firm to help access decision-makers and work towards securing a long-term funding agreement that is key to the sustainability and growth of horse racing in BC.
Working with the Strategies 360 leadership team of Raj Sahota and Jeff Andrus – HBPA Vice President Denise Praill and Director Gary Johnson, along with Kelly MacMillan and Rick Mowles of Harness Racing BC, have been meeting with elected officials and government staffers for months, with a brief pause during last year’s provincial election campaign.
The team has been working under the banner of “Horseracing BC” and has met with nine MLAs and attended several private events with the Premier and Cabinet Ministers. Invitations for MLAs to attend the races were extended and last year we received video greetings acknowledging the history and economic impact of racing in the province from Minister Mike Farnworth for BC Cup Day.
The path to success with government includes building relationships (see meetings and legwork above!) and doing detailed homework, submitting written documents for government to examine and engaging in further conversation to help ministry staff develop an accurate briefing and recommendations for Minister and Cabinet consideration. Many people participated in the MNP Economic Impact Study on Racing earlier this year and your answers have helped build our case for support -- racing provides between $101-111M output and approximately $57M in provincial GDP! Thank you for lending your voice to our story.
These past few weeks have been focused on the written work, with our team delivering a robust three-year industry and funding plan. This document, coupled with the results of the recent economic impact study, paints a picture of our valuable industry. Gary and Denise travelled to Victoria twice recently to meet in person with senior staff from the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General (PSSG is responsible for racing the province) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Both meetings have gone beyond the scheduled time limits, indicating deep conversation and detailed information sharing.
We have carried the message of urgency – government needs to act now to protect the more than 1,500 direct Canadian jobs racing provides, as well as breeding and agriculture impacts across the province. And we have carried other messages of concern regarding housing and track conditions and the infrastructure maintenance required. We have shared successful funding models for racing seen in Ontario and Alberta and our need to keep BC bred horses in the province, competing for purses as attractive as Alberta and other jurisdictions.
All conversations with elected officials, including with Premier Eby just this week, have been positive. The Premier in particular, is very pleased the industry is united with a single voice, speaking on behalf of both breeds to government. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey has a retired Thoroughbred as part of her life, Minister Mike Farnworth’s grandfather was a jockey in New York and several ministry staffers are “horse people” too. Each person we have met with has been incredibly courteous and supportive, seeking to understand and represent racing and its benefits accurately.
Ministry staff have indicated their briefing to the Minister will be completed in 4-6 weeks. Next steps include further meetings with PSSG Minister Garry Begg and members of Treasury Board to secure a funding commitment.
We will continue to report our activities to you –in the meantime, please, have faith. This is a slow process but one that we’re confident will stand us in good stead for the long term.
Woodbine Opening Day
The $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes is the feature race on Saturday’s opening day card of the 2025 Woodbine Thoroughbred season.
The 6-furlong Star Shoot, for 3-year-old fillies, has traditionally been a key prep for the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois. The first leg of the prestigious Canadian Triple Tiara series will be run on July 20.
Trainer Kelsey Danner will have two of the six hopefuls vying for top prize in this year’s running of the Star Shoot.
Brindi (IRE), a daughter of No Nay Never out of the Shamardal mare Salamah (IRE), will be making her first start at Woodbine.
Owned by Robert M. Evans, the chestnut filly has won twice and posted a third in six starts.
The Star Shoot will be her fourth start of the season. She comes into the race off a trio of races on the Tapeta at Turfway Park, including her most recent effort, a fourth in the 6-furlong Serena’s Song Stakes on March 29.
She has been in the Danner barn since this past November.
“We bought her out of the [Keeneland Association Horses of Racing Age] sale last fall,” said Danner, of the $75,000 (USD) purchase. “She is a nice filly and has a great temperament. We liked her a lot from the start.”
Brindi (IRE) debuted with a pair of 5 ½-furlong races over the Saratoga turf last summer, which produced a third and fourth. She broke her maiden in her third start, at Delaware Park, in an ‘about’ 5-furlong turf sprint, as the 2-5 choice.
She followed up that victory with another win, this time with Danner as the trainer, in her 3-year-old debut at Turfway Park on January 17. She bested eight rivals in a 6 ½-furlong race.
“That was a great effort, very professional and very confident,” said Danner, of the filly who was then seventh in the Valdale Stakes at Turfway in February. “She came back in the Valdale and did not fire at all – no excuses.”
Danner was encouraged by the effort in her most recent start.
“She showed a lot more heart in the Serena’s Song. She was in between horses, and I don’t think she really loves that. I felt she improved. She has natural speed, she’s doing well, and I think she likes the distance, so we will see.”
Spring Training
50th Annual Sovereign Awards
The Jockey Club of Canada hosted the 50th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony through a live presentation on the evening of Thursday, April 24, 2025.
The top three finalists in each category are determined by the online ballots of the Jockey Club of Canada’s knowledgeable voters. The media category award finalists were determined by media professionals within the industry selected from across North America.
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the 2024 Sovereign Award winners in the order in which they were presented.
Special Sovereign Award: EMMA-JAYNE WILSON
Emma-Jayne Wilson has firmly established herself as one of Canada’s all-time top jockeys in her 21 years in the saddle. In 2024, Emma-Jayne reached new heights when
she passed National Museum of Horse Racing and Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone for all-time purse earnings ($US) for a female jockey.
For this feat, and her contributions to the sport, The Jockey Club of Canada recognizes Emma-Jayne Wilson with a Special Sovereign Award at the 50th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony.
Outstanding Writing: MIKE McINTYRE
Resolve and reinvention at a gallop
Published: August 17, 2024 in the Winnipeg Free Press
Outstanding Photograph: MARY JANE SIBBITT
Right Way/Wrong Way
Published: December 8, 2024 on JockeysCanada.com
Outstanding Audio Visual/Digital Broadcast: HORSE RACING ALBERTA
The Women in Thoroughbred Racing
Released on TheHorses.com on November 25, 2024
Outstanding Groom: VICTOR JAMES
Victor James was 19 years old when he left his homeland of Grenada to
come to Canada in search of a career. His father was already working in Ontario and he believed his son would have a better chance of finding employment if he, too, came north.
Victor worked in a factory in Etobicoke not far from Woodbine Racetrack, which is where his sister, Althea, and her husband, Aaron, eventually began working. The pair encouraged Victor to try his hand on the backstretch, but he turned them down. At one point, Woodbine trainer Josie Carroll started calling Victor each spring to see if he wanted some barn work.
Outstanding Off-track Worker: IAN DICK
On a typical early spring day, Ian Dick is not only immersed in prepping racehorses at Buttigieg Training Centre, he has just helped a broodmare deliver the first foal of the year for the farm.
For almost two decades, the Scottish-born horseman has played an integral role at the Egbert, Ontario farm owned by successful owner, trainer, and breeder, Paul Buttigieg. You won’t see Ian at the racetrack very often, but his fingerprints are all over recent Sovereign Awards champions such as Paramount Prince, Patches O’Houlihan, and Pink Lloyd, along with graded stakes winners Artie’s Storm and Phil’s Dream.
E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: ROGER ATTFIELD
Canada’s most famous thoroughbred trainer, Roger Attfield, has enough achievements to fill a book. One more will be added to Roger’s long list of prizes when The Jockey Club of Canada presents him with the prestigious E. P. Taylor Award of Merit at the 50th Annual Sovereign Awards.
Selected unanimously by The Jockey Club of Canada’s Stewards, the E. P. Taylor Award of Merit is a lifetime achievement award honouring those who have made significant contributions to the thoroughbred industry in Canada and accomplished outstanding individual achievements in Canadian thoroughbred racing and breeding.
Special Sovereign Award: MOIRA
Canada’s Queen of Racing saved her best for last.
Moira, the 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year and Champion Three-year Old Female, charged down the Del Mar turf course last November and held on to win the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. With jockey Flavien Prat up, Moira held off Godolphin’s talented three-year old filly, Cinderella’s Dream (GB), at the end of 1 3/8 miles, boosting her career earnings to $2,996,017 and making her the eighth-richest Canadian-bred of all time. Recently named 2024 Eclipse Award Champion Female Turf Horse, she is only the third Queen’s Plate winner to also record a victory at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, following fellow Canadian greats Dance Smartly and Awesome Again.
Champion Two-year Old Female: NITROGEN
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: D. J. Stable LLC
Breeder: D. J. Stable, LLC
B. F. 2, by Medaglia d’Oro – Tiffany Case (Uncle Mo)
2024: 3 Starts – 0 wins – 1 second - 2 thirds - $137,204
Winner:
Stakes Placings: 3rd John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), 3rd Johnnie Walker Natalma S. (G1)
Nitrogen (114), Souper Supreme (62), Aristella (39)
Champion Two-year Old Male: HE’S NOT JOKING
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Di Scola Boys Stable
Breeder: James Wasserson
B. C. 2, by Practical Joke – Collegeville Girl (Central Banker)
2024: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second - 1 third - $113,891
Winner: bet365 Grey S. (G3), MSW
Stakes Placings: 3rd Display S.
He’s Not Joking (86), Scorching (77), Dream On (61)
Champion Three-year Old Female: CAITLINHERGRTNESS
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC
Breeder: Jesse Korona
CH. F. 3, by Omaha Beach – Belatrix (Giant’s Causeway)
2024: 6 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second - 1 third - $622,712
Winner: King’s Plate S., AOC
Stakes Placings: 2nd Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois, 3rd Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. Presented by Dixiana (G1)
Caitlinhergrtness (166), Stormcast (76), Avana (28), Kin’s Concerto (28)
Champion Three-year Old Male: DRESDEN ROW
Trainer: Lorne Richards
Owner: True North Stable and Bloom Racing Stable (Jeffrey Bloom)
Breeder: TCR Ranch
CH. C. 3, by Lord Nelson – Elle Special (Giant’s Causeway)
2024: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds - 1 third - $233,799
Winner: Durham Cup S. (G3), Ontario Derby (G3), AOC
Stakes Placings: 2nd HPIbet Autumn S. (G2), 2nd Prairie Bayou S., 3rd Toronto Cup S. Presented by Crown Royal
Dresden Row (151), My Boy Prince (100), August Rain (39)
Outstanding Breeder: ADENA SPRINGS
In Canada:
Starters 43; Winners 20
Earnings $1,648,676
Starts 204; Wins 30; 2nd 22; 3rd 28
For decades, Frank and Frieda Stronach’s Adena Springs has been home to champion racehorses and some of the strongest bloodlines in Canadian racing history. Since their first Outstanding Breeder award in 1984, they have been similarly honoured another 13 times, including for 2022 and 2023. Sadly, Frieda passed away last March before the farm was recognized as the Outstanding Breeder of 2023. A finalist again for 2024, their horses made headlines in Canada and beyond.
Adena Springs (123), Chiefswood Stables Limited (81), Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (59)
Outstanding Broodmare: PLATINUM STEEL
Chestnut mare, 2010
Eddington – Crafty Toast, by Crafty Prospector
6 starters, 5 Winners, 1 Champion, 1 Graded Black-type Winner, 1 Black-type Winner, 1 Black-type Placer
Progeny earnings $1,187,224
Ericka Rusnak took a chance on Platinum Steel in 2017, purchasing the stakes-placed mare for $25,000 (US) from the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in foal to young stallion Kantharos. A longtime farm manager at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, Canada, and a small-scale breeder, Ericka was attracted to Platinum Steel’s physical look. She kept the first two foals the mare produced for her and then privately sold her 2020 offspring, a colt by Society’s Chairman, following the 2021 CTHS Yearling Sale. Later named Paramount Prince, he would go on to change his breeder’s life. Raced by Mike Langlois and Gary Barber, Paramount Prince won the 2023 King’s Plate and was named Canada’s Champion Three-year Old Male at the 2023 Sovereign Awards. In 2024, Paramount Prince added two graded stakes races to his resume, the Grade 2 Seagram Cup Stakes and Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes.
Platinum Steel (109), Executive Affair (80), Dancing Allstar (35)
Champion Female Sprinter: PLAY THE MUSIC
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Glassman Racing LLC
Breeder: Laura McKinney
B. F. 4, by Mo Town – Hey Little Sister (Jump Start)
2024: 7 Starts – 4 wins – 0 seconds - 2 thirds - $227,637
Winner: HPIbet Royal North S. (G3), Whimsical S. Presented by Bulleit Bourbon (G3), Leinster Lightning City S., AOC
Stakes Placings: 3rd Hendrie S. (G3)
Play the Music (160), Gal in a Rush (47), Stormcast (44)
Champion Male Sprinter: PATCHES O’HOULIHAN
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Frank D. Di Giulio, Jr.
Breeder: Frank Di Giulio Jr.
B. G. 4, by Reload – Maythefourthbwithu (Silent Name *Jpn)
2024: 5 Starts – 4 wins – 1 second - 0 thirds - $364,262
Winner: Nearctic S. Presented by The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2), Bold Venture S. (G3), Branded Cities Vigil S. (G3), Pink Lloyd S.
Stakes Placings: 2nd bet365 Kennedy Road S. (G2)
Patches O’Houlihan (166), Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (85), My Boy Prince (21)
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: SOFIA VIVES
In Canada:
(incudes statistics as journeyman)
Starts 518; Wins 82; 2nd 64; 3rd 61
Earnings $3,136,798
Canada’s Outstanding Apprentice Jockey of 2023, Sofia Vives bolstered her profile in 2024 with some monumental victories before she transitioned to a journeyman rider in late August. In fact, Sofia won her first stakes race on April 27th, 2024 - the Star Shoot Stakes aboard Sabatini for honoured Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll.
The victories came steadily throughout the summer for Sofia, and, on July 20, the South Carolina-born rider had the biggest day of her career, winning the Grade 2 bet365 Connaught Cup on Cruden Bay and guiding Kin’s Concerto to victory in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois one race later.
Sofia Vives (167), Fraser Aebly (87), Petro Moran (68)
Outstanding Jockey: SAHIN CIVACI
In Canada:
Starts 645; Wins 170; 2nd 113; 3rd 98
Earnings $6,717,826 Stakes wins 17
In just six years, Sahin Civaci has gone from a new face in the Woodbine jockey colony to his first leading rider title and second Sovereign Award nomination for Outstanding Jockey. It has been a remarkable rise in success for Sahin, who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, but learned horsemanship in his parents’ homeland of Turkey.
Sahin began his career in 2014 at Hastings Racecourse before moving his tack to Woodbine in 2019. Every year he has ridden in Canada he has surpassed his efforts from the year before, and 2024 saw Sahin set many personal marks in addition to capturing his first riding title. Sahin, represented by agent Leroy Trotman, was hot from the beginning to the end of the Woodbine season, even winning six races on one card in November.
Sahin Civaci (181), Rafael Manuel Hernandez (81), Patrick Husbands (30)
Champion Female Turf Horse: FULL COUNT FELICIA
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Gold Square LLC
Breeder: Joseph Allen, LLC
B. M. 5, by War Front – Claire de Lune *Ire (Galileo *Ire)
2024: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds - 0 thirds - $447,453
Winner: E. P. Taylor S. (G1), Canadian S. Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2)
Full Count Felicia (182), Fev Rover (IRE) (58), Stormcast (30)
Champion Male Turf Horse: FILO DI ARIANNA (BRZ)
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch
Breeder: Stud Principessa di Capri
CH. G. 8, by Drosselmeyer – Principessa Capri *Brz (Northern Afleet)
2024: 6 Starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds - 1 third - $423,597
Winner: bet365 Highlander S. (G2), bet365 King Edward S. (G2)
Stakes Placings: 2nd Rogers Woodbine Mile S. (G1), 2nd Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. presented by Sentient Jet (G2)
Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (180), Patches O’Houlihan (65), My Boy Prince (21)
Outstanding Trainer: KEVIN ATTARD
In Canada:
Starts 412; Wins 80; 2nd 64; 3rd 68
Earnings $4,821,223 Stakes wins 11
Kevin joined an elite group of trainers when his prized pupil, Moira, won last year’s Grade 1 Maker's Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar. The victory was the seventh by a Canadian-bred in more than 40 years of the World Championship races, and with it Kevin became just the fourth Woodbine-based trainer to win a Breeders’ Cup race. Moira, the Canadian Horse of the Year of 2022 and Kevin’s first Queen’s Plate winner, also captured the Grade 2 Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial Downs.
An eight-time finalist for Outstanding Trainer, Kevin had another stellar season on his home turf. One of the highlights was the thrilling victory by filly Caitlinhergrtness in the 165th King’s Plate. She also ran third in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana.
Kevin Attard (135), Mark E. Casse (134), Josie Carroll (18)
Champion Older Main Track Female: FASHIONABLY FAB
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Terra Racing Stable
Breeder: Terra Farms Ltd
DK. B./BR. F. 4, by Silent Name *Jpn – Flashy’s Legacy (Curlin)
2024: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds - 1 third - $216,879
Winner: Belle Mahone S. (G3), Ontario Matron S. (G3), La Prevoyante S.
Stakes Placings: 3rd Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio (G3)
Fashionably Fab (161), Elysian Field (83), Big Hug (24)
Champion Older Main Track Male: PARAMOUNT PRINCE
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Michael J. Langlois and Gary Barber
Breeder: Ericka Nadine Rusnak
CH. G. 4, by Society’s Chairman – Platinum Steel (Eddington)
2024: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds - 1 third - $236,572
Winner: Seagram Cup S. (G2), Dominion Day S. (G3), AOC
Stakes Placings: 3rd bet365 Eclipse S. (G2)
Paramount Prince (160), Wicked Django (52), Apprehend (35)
Outstanding Owner: GARY BARBER
In Canada:
Starts 119; Wins 26; 2nd 16; 3rd 16
Earnings: $2,152,717 Stakes wins 6
Gary Barber won his first Sovereign Award as Outstanding Owner for the 2023 racing season, and his stable followed up that success with another solid Woodbine campaign in 2024. In fact, Gary, who led all Woodbine owners by earnings in 2020 and 2021, saw his horses record new personal best marks for him, including purse earnings.
Gary’s horses are trained by perennial Sovereign Award winning trainer Mark Casse, and his best runner of 2024 was 2023 Champion Two-year Old Male, My Boy Prince. The Ontario-bred grey colt was one of the year’s top runners, with three straight wins in the King Corrie Stakes, Queenston Stakes, and Plate Trial Stakes. Favoured in the King’s Plate Stakes, the gutsy colt had the lead into the stretch, but couldn’t hold off the victorious Caitlinhergrtness.
Gary Barber (147), Chiefswood Stables Limited (61), Bruno Schickedanz (49)
Horse of the Year: PATCHES O’HOULIHAN
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Frank D. Di Giulio, Jr.
Breeder: Frank Di Giulio Jr.
B. G. 4, by Reload – Maythefourthbwithu (Silent Name *Jpn)
2024: 5 Starts – 4 wins – 1 second - 0 thirds - $364,262
Winner: Nearctic S. Presented by The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2), Bold Venture S. (G3), Branded Cities Vigil S. (G3), Pink Lloyd S.
Stakes Placings: 2nd bet365 Kennedy Road S. (G2)
Patches O’Houlihan (97), Full Count Felicia (49), Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (48)
Hastings Promotional Video
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Saturday, April 26
