The Jockey Club of Canada Prepares to Commemorate the 2023 Racing Season and Welcome the Arrival of the 2024 Season.
The Jockey Club of Canada will host the 49th Sovereign Awards this week in Woodbridge, where they will recognise the champions of 2023 and generate excitement for the upcoming Canadian racing seasons nationwide.
Trainer Mark Casse and his owners, particularly Gary Barber, are expected to have a significant presence on this important night. Barber is highly likely to receive his first Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner when the awards are announced shortly after the 6 p.m. seating on April 18.
Barber has multiple finalists, including My Boy Prince, Witwatersrand, Solo Album, Elysian Field, Paramount Prince, Palazzi, and Lucky Score, all of which are trained by Casse. Additionally, Casse has trained Fev Rover (Ire) and Our Flash Drive, both of whom are also finalists.
There is a strong possibility that Fev Rover (Ire) will be named Horse of the Year, marking the 10th occurrence in the last 20 years where a filly or mare has received this prestigious honour. Casse is expected to emerge as the winner of his 16th Outstanding Trainer trophy.
Here are all the Nominees:
Champion Two-Year-Old Female
Living Magic
Tripolina
Witwatersrand
Champion Two-Year-Old Male
Babbo
My Boy Prince
Two Ghosts
Champion Three-Year-Old Female
Elysian Field
Fashionably Fab
Solo Album
Champion Three-Year-Old Male
Paramount Prince
Patches O’Houlihan
Touch’n Ride
Champion Older Main Track Female
Il Malocchio
Infinite Patience
Millie Girl
Champion Older Main Track Male
Treason
Tyson
Wolfie’s Dynaghost
Champion Female Turf Horse
Fev Rover (Ire)
Moira
Our Flash Drive
Champion Male Turf Horse
Lucky Score
My Boy Prince
Palazzi
Champion Female Sprinter
Fashionably Fab
Loyalty
Our Flash Drive
Champion Male Sprinter
Dream Shake
Lucky Score
Patches O’Houlihan
Outstanding Broodmare
Game (FR)
Mendocino Beano
Sunday Affair
Outstanding Breeder
Adena Springs
Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.
Chiefswood Stables Limited
Sam-Son Farm
Sean Fitzhenry
Outstanding Owner
Barber, Gary
Chiefswood Stables Limited
Schickedanz, Bruno
Outstanding Trainer
Attard, Kevin
Casse, Mark E.
Drexler, Martin
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
Aebly, Fraser
Vandermeersch, Amanda
Vives, Sofia
Outstanding Jockey
Civaci, Sahin
Hernandez, Rafael Manuel
Kimura, Kazushi
The finalists for the Horse of the Year will be announced at the 49th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony. During the same event, Robert "Red" McKenzie will receive the Special Sovereign Award for his outstanding achievement in Canada's horse racing industry. At the age of 96, Mr. McKenzie became the oldest trainer to win a race in Canada, accomplished on June 23, 2023, when his horse Entitled Star emerged victorious at Century Mile. Despite having a training career predating Equibase's available records, Mr. McKenzie has achieved over 600 wins and earnings exceeding $3.5 million since 1976.
The Jockey Club of Canada will also present awards to Michelle Armata and Jennifer Buck. Michelle will receive the 2023 Outstanding Groom Award sponsored by OLG, while Jennifer will be honoured with the inaugural Outstanding Off-track Worker Award. Both Michelle and Jennifer have received high praise from their nominators, Josie De Paulo and Hazel Bennett, respectively.
Michelle has played a crucial role in supporting assistant trainer Josie De Paulo during her husband Mike De Paulo's suspension in the 2023 racing season. Michelle's exemplary leadership and role-modelling skills have motivated and uplifted the staff. Throughout her career, Michelle has cared for notable horses, including Caren, who won the Sovereign Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Horse of the Year in 2016.
Jennifer Buck, with 11 years of experience at Highfield Stock Farm in Okotoks, Alberta, now serves as the Farm Manager. She oversees the farm's daily operations, which include managing the successful sire Fed Biz, organising the mare book, handling foaling, preparing yearlings for sales, and providing early training for young horses before they begin their racing careers.