The 2005 Sovereign Awards, Canadian Thoroughbred racing's version of the Eclipse Awards, were handed out at a reception and dinner held at the Wyndham Bristol Place Hotel in Toronto on December 16. To qualify, equine nominees must have made three starts in Canada, while human nominees need ten starts in this country. This differs significantly from the U.S. Eclipse Awards, where many European-based horses have won championships off of just one start. Winners receive a trophy depicting St. Simon, an undefeated colt who raced in England in the 1880's and then went on to an illustrious career at stud.
The night belonged to A Bit O'Gold and his ownership group The Two Bit Racing Stable. After capturing the Sovereigns for Champion Older Male and Champion Turf Horse, the Catherine Day-Phillips trainee was named Canada's Horse of the Year for 2005. He earned almost $600,000 this year, including the Dominion Day Handicap (G3) at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt, and two Grade 2 turf events at 1 3/8 miles, the Sky Classic and the Chinese Cultural Centre.
The 2nd place finisher in Horse of the Year voting, Palladio, was named the Champion 3-Year-Old Male, off of his wins in the Victoria Park Stakes at Woodbine, the Ohio Derby (G2) at Thistledown, and the Ontario Derby at Woodbine.
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Gold Strike rounded out Horse of the Year voting. The Harlequin Ranches homebred, dubbed the Manitoba Missile, won the Selene Stakes (G3) and the Labatt Woodbine Oaks before her third place finish in the Queen's Plate.
Judith's Wild Rush was named the Champion Sprinter, after winning the Vigil (G3) and the Bold Venture. Reade Baker, trainer of both Gold Strike and Judith's Wild Rush, was named Champion Trainer.
Knights Templar was the runaway winner in the voting for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, after her 13-length romp in the Mazarine Breeders' Cup (G3). Edenwold won three consecutive stakes races in late summer on his way to Champion 2-Year-Old Male honors.
One For Rose completed a three-peat in the Champion Older Female category, retiring as a broodmare after wins in the Ontario Matron, the Seagram (G3), and the Algoma. Despite not winning a stakes all year, Ambitious Cat was named Champion Female Turf Horse, after a second place finish in the Bell Canadian Handicap (G2) and a close third in the E.P. Taylor (G1).
The Sovereign for Outstanding Broodmare is a lifetime achievement award, and was given to 19-year-old Native Rights. Among her runners this year, Regal Classic-sired Classic Stamp won the Bell Canadian Handicap (G2) and was second in the Dance Smartly Handicap (G3). Of her nine foals, seven were starters and each was a winner.
Frank Stronach took home both Outstanding Owner and Outstanding Breeder awards, under the Stronach Stables and Adena Springs banner respectively. In both categories he edged out Eugene Melnyk for the win.
Todd Kabel took home his third straight award for Outstanding Jockey. He won his 3000th race in late October, and his stakes winners include Dance with Ravens in the Plate Trial and Soaring Free in the Highlander (G3). However, in the Woodbine jockey standings, Emma-Jayne Wilson was the runaway winner, and was named Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. She is the first female rider to win the riding title in Woodbine's 50 year history, and won the Bell Canadian Handicap (G2) aboard Classic Stamp for her first career stakes victory.
In the media categories, David Landry was awarded Outstanding Photograph for a photo of Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard Classic Stamp, and CBC Television's "Life and Times of Northern Dancer" won the award for Outstanding Film/Video/Broadcast. Beverley Smith of the Globe and Mail wrote the Outstanding Newspaper Article "Obituary - Jerry Meyer, Horse Trainer 1927-2005", while Peter Gross wrote "The Amazing Story of Jack Lauzon", capturing Outstanding Feature Story honors.
Michael C. Byrne, founder of Park Stud and long-time chairman of the Jockey Club of Canada, was awarded the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit. Among his many accomplishments, he established the Canadian Graded Stakes Committee, operated the Canadian Breeders Sales, and is one of only 3 Canadian members of the Jockey Club of New York.
