April Sovereign Awards: Celebrating the Accomplishments of 2023 Champions

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.