25th Annual Manitoba CTHS/HBPA Thoroughbred Awards
- Darlene Wedge
On March 14, at Assiniboia Downs, it was a time to honour the 2008 champions as well as talk about the ones in training who will
hopefully be among the winners in 2009.
After a delicious supper, the performance by comedian Big Daddy Taz was well received.
The CTHS changed their awards format this year by recognizing the Manitoba breeders whose foals had won stakes in 2008-11 at
Assiniboia Downs and 1 at Hawthorne. They were presented with an Award of Excellence plus a framed picture of the horse in that
particular race.
Two year old stakes winners were Adventcia (Buffalo Stake-Dr. Ross A. McKague), Copper Badges (North Dakota Futurity-William
Larson) and One on One (Tri Venture Thoroughbreds).
Three year old stakes winners included Bella Mariella (Gold Strike Mile-Larry Falloon), Blueberry Blonde (Hazel Wright Sire StakeDr. Betty Hughes), Custody Battle (Frank Arnason Sire Stake-Cam Ziprick), La Wildcat (Meafara Stake-Stonyfield Farm, D.
Anderson, Alistair Roden, Rita Eskudt), Queen Tina (R.C. Anderson Stake & Distaff Stake-Starfield Stable), and Spying Eyes (Gold
Strike Mile & Sifton Stake-Cam Ziprick).
Older Stake Winner, and perennial award winner, Brinello, bred and owned by Dr. Ross A. McKague won the Agassiz Stakes.
Cam Ziprick was kept busy accepting awards for Broodmare Award of Excellence (High Grades), Stallion of the Year (Battle Cat),
and Breeder of the Year.
High Grades has produced 7 foals, 6 starters, 6 winners, who have earned in excess of $300,000. 2002 foal Trick Question was 2nd in
the CTHS Sales Stake; Dream Extreme, foal of 2003 won the CTHS Sales and Buffalo Stakes, and was third in the R.C. Anderson and
Distaff Stakes.
Battle Cat was the top stallion in Manitoba both by wins and money earned with 18 runners: 9 winners, 3 stakes winners and 5 stake
horses. He is also the 4th leading second crop sire in Canada.
It is interesting to note that the first horse sold in the 2008 CTHS Manitoba Yearling Sale was a colt by Battle Cat out of High Grades,
consigned by Ziprick Thoroughbreds and purchased by Ken Lee & Dennis Mitchell. I am sure his connections are hoping to win
many awards with him in 2009 and beyond.
Queen Tina (Boanerges-Story Book Queen) owned and bred by Jarvis and Florence Swereda’s Starfield Stable was named Manitoba
Horse of the Year with 2008 earnings totalling $78,395.00.
After nearly 30 years in the breeding business, in July they were rewarded with their first ever stakes win in the R.C. Anderson for 3
year old Manitoba bred fillies. In August, she was victorious in the Distaff Stake. Jarvis and Florence are justifiably proud of the star
of their stable and look forward to see what her 4 year old career will bring.
The HBPA awards were presented to:
Category
Two-year old filly
Two-year old colt
Three-year old filly
Three-year old colt
Older Mare
Older Horse & HBPA Horse of the Year
Sprinter of the Year
Claimer of the Year
Winner
Dreamin N Schemin
Prayforthesoldiers
Miss Missile
Mr. Exspeedient
Polynesian Kitty
Monsoon Rain
Rock’n USA
Time to Act
Trainer
Ardell Sayler
Aaron Sayler
Charles Smith
Clint Wilson
Jamie Ness
Martin Drexler
Tanya Lindsay
Ardell Sayler
Owner
Off 2 Win
Play 2 Win
Charles Smith
Clint Wilson
Bradley Butcher
Larry Carter
Shirley & Tanya Lindsay, Marvin Burnett
Off 2 Win
The Jockey Club of Canada presentation for Leading Regional Winner went to Off 2 Win while Ardell Sayler was leading trainer of
the year (for a record 9th time), while Jim Tracy, with 25.49% win average, was percentage trainer. 61 year old Alan Cuthbertson had
107 wins to be jockey of the year for the third year in a row.
Congratulations to the winners and good luck to everyone in the 2009 season.