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The Sovereign Awards


The Sovereign Award Master Trophy with the names of every Horse of the Year around its base. It was refurbished for this year to add another layer to the bottom for more names.
Date: 4/24/2025

The 50th annual Sovereign Awards, saluting outstanding achievement in Canadian Thoroughbred racing and breeding in 2024, were handed out at a ceremony on Thursday evening at Paramount EventSpace in Woodbridge, Ontario, northeast of Woodbine Racetrack. Unlike their U.S. equivalent, the Eclipse Awards, horses must have started at least 3 times in Canada to qualify (2 for juveniles). Winning connections are presented with a trophy which is a replica of English racing great St. Simon, with Woodbine television personalities Jeff Bratt and Dawn Lupul serving as co-hosts. As has been the case for several years, commentary about politics or industry issues were avoided, keeping a mostly positive tone to the festivities and optimism for the upcoming Canadian racing season, which at Woodbine begins on Saturday April 26.


Owner-breeder Frank DiGiulio Jr. accepts the Horse of the Year trophy for Patched O'Houlihan from Doug Anderson, chief steward of the Jockey Club of Canada
Patches O'Houlihan was named Champion Male Sprinter by a 166-85 margin over Filo Di Arianna, and then closed out the festivities taking Horse of the Year honors with 97 votes over Full Count Felicia's 49 and Filo Di Arianna's 48. The Frank Di Giulio Jr. homebred was 4 for 5 in 2024, winning the Nearctic (G2), Bold Venture (G3), Vigil (G3), and Pink Lloyd Stakes with his only defeat being his second place finish in the Kennedy Road (G2). Di Giulio said, "I wasn't expecting (Horse of the Year). I think if Moira ran 3 times here (in 2024) David (Anderson) and his crew would be standing here instead of me. As for Patches, we love him, just a wonderful horse, very thrilled and honoured to own him, he tries every time." Trainer Bob Tiller added, "This is an amazing honour. All of our people won tonight. This is a thrill, we were not expecting this. I'm so lucky and honoured to work for Frank Di Giulio Jr., and his father, the entire Di Giulio family, for 46 years, this is his 2nd Horse of the Year after Win City (2001). We are just blessed. Thank you, love you all!"


Roger Attfield receiving the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit from fellow trainer Catherine Day Phillips, also a steward of the Jockey Club of Canada
Kicking off the festivities, jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson was given a Special Sovereign Award, after she passed Hall of Famer Julie Krone to lead all female jockeys in purse earnings. Moira, winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and is the 2024 Eclipse Award winner as Champion Turf Female, was given a Special Sovereign Award (since she only had 1 start in Canada in 2024 she did not qualify for a regular Sovereign) as only the third Plate winner to also win at the Breeders' Cup, after Dance Smartly and Awesome Again. Trainer Roger Attfield, already inducted into the the Halls of Fame in both Canada and the U.S., was given the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit, 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.

Kevin Attard accepts the Outstanding Trainer award from Steve Lym, Executive Director of HBPA Ontario.

In what was the biggest surprise of the night drawing the loudest applause, trainer Kevin Attard defeated Mark Casse by just one vote, 135-134 to take the Outstanding Trainer award, stopping Casse's win streak at 13 years. Best known recently as the trainer of Moira, the eight time finalist also trained Champion Turf Female Full Count Felicia (who defeated Moira in the E.P. Taylor Stakes), and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Caitlinhergrtness, winner of the King's Plate and third in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Keeneland. Attard said, "I'd be lying if I didn't say 'Finally'! My family sacrificed the most, it's a grueling game, it's tough, as my fellow colleagues can attest. It's a life away from home. The owners who've supported me and allowed me and my team to train their horses to the best of our abilities, thank you very much. The horses have taught me so much on and off the racetrack, it means so much to me to look after them because I care and love each one of them. One person I really need to thank, that's put me in this position, from a young age he allowed me to take over his stable and learn the ropes. He's the best teacher I've had, and if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here today. And that's my Dad, Tino Attard. This trophy's for him, it's going on his fireplace mantle." This is the first trainer award for the Attard family. Larry Attard was the outstanding jockey for 1983.


Kathryn Sullivan, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, accepts the Outstanding Female Sprinter award for Play the Music from Sherry McLean, steward of the Jockey Club of Canada
Although Mark Casse did not take the Trainer award for the first time in 14 years, his charges took 4 trophies. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) third place finisher Nitrogen was named Champion Two-Year-Old Filly by a 114-62 margin over Souper Supreme, Royal North (G3) and Whimsical (G3) winner Play the Music took Champion Female Sprinter honours with 160 votes over Gal in a Rush's 47, Horse of the Year finalist Filo Di Arianna was the runaway winner of the Male Turf Horse award winning the Highlander (G2) and King Edward (G2) and finishing second in the Woodbine Mile (G1), and Paramount Prince, winner of the Seagram Cup (G2) and Dominion Day Stakes (G3) was named Champion Older Main Track Male with 160 votes over Wicked Django's 52. As is usually the case, assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan accepted the awards on behalf of Casse's runners as well as main Casse client Gary Barber, who was named Outstanding Owner for the second year in a row, defeating Chiefswood Stable 147-61.


Owner Ericka Rusnak accepts the Outstanding Broodmare award for Platinum Steel from Meghan MacKenzie Bell, AVP Sales & Business Development, Henry Equestrian & Agri-Business.
The Outstanding Breeder award went to Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm for the third year in a row, by a 123-81 margin over Chiefswood Stables. Curiously, the award was presented by David Anderson, whose Anderson Farms was third in the voting in this category! Anderson joked that since he was asked to present, "we're down to two" possible winners rather than the three announced.

Platinum Steel was named Outstanding Broodmare, a lifetime achievement award. Small-scale breeder Ericka Rusnak bought the stakes-placed mare for $25,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Kantharos. She kept her first 2 foals but privately sold her 2020 Society's Chairman colt, who would later be named Paramount Prince. Sent to trainer Mark Casse, he went on to win the 2023 King's Plate en route to Champion Three Year Old Male honours, and then continued in 2024 to be the Champion Older Male Main Track for owners Mike Langlois and (Outstanding Owner) Gary Barber. Rusnak said, "Prior to last year I honestly never considered that somebody like myself could achieve such a feat having only 1 or 2 mares, but, here I am! I like to think that 8 years ago when I purchased Platinum Steel from the walking ring at Keeneland, that she chose me as much as I chose her. Clearly I had no idea what her progeny were going to accomplish. In our industry we have to be incredibly patient, have to be so strong to be able to handle the ups and downs, the emotional and financial pressure that occur all too frequently. Always be dreamers because without dreamers the world would be a very boring place."

Sahin Civaci accepts his first Outstanding Jockey award from Mike Vanin, Executive Director of HBPA Alberta

Sahin Civaci, a native of Vancouver but raised in Turkey, took home his first Outstanding Jockey award with 181 votes over Rafael Hernandez's 81. In Canada in 2024 he won 170 of 645 starts, 17 stakes wins, with earnings of over $6.7 million. 6 of those wins happened on one card in November. Civaci said, "I have so much respect for the incredible talent within our jockey colony. The daily competition challenges me to grow and I'm proud to be with such a skilled group. This job is never a one man show. I'm incredibly fortunate to have my agent Leroy and my valet Nick by my side." Sofia Vives repeated as Outstanding Apprentice, defeating Fraser Aebly 167-87. She won 82 of 518 starts, earning over $3.1 million. She won her first stakes race, the Star Shoot aboard Sabatini, on April 27, and then on July 20, won the Connaught Cup (G2) on Cruden Bay and the Woodbine Oaks on Kin's Concerto, on the same card.

Emma-Jayne Wilson accepts the Special Sovereign Award from Vicki Pappas, steward of the Jockey Club of Canada.

In the media categories, Mary Jane Sibbett won her first Sovereign Award for Outstanding Photograph for "Right Way/Wrong Way" from JockeysCanada.Com. Horse Racing Alberta took Outstanding Broadcast honours for "The Women in Thoroughbred Racing" which aired on TheHorses.Com, and Mike McIntyre's "Resolve and reinvention at a gallop" from the Winnipeg Free Press took the Outstanding Writing award. Victor James, employed by trainer Josie Carroll, was named Outstanding Groom. Ian Dick of Buttigieg Training Centre was given the Outstanding Off-Track Worker award.

Vote totals for the top three finalists for all the awards along with photos for all of the equine winners are below. Votes were cast for the top three choices, 4 points for first, 2 for second, and 1 for third, in each category by voters and the top point getters were named the finalists. The voters are individuals serving in industry positions such as senior racing officials, racing journalists and commentators, as well as provincial representatives of the Breeding and Horsemen's organizations. The judging for the 2024 media categories was performed by media professionals in the Thoroughbred Racing industry, a change from past years when they were judged by professors at nearby Humber College.



Patches O'Houlihan was Champion Male Sprinter
& Horse of the Year



Nitrogen was
Champion 2-Year-old Female



Caitlinhergrtness was
Champion 3-Year-Old Female



Dresden Row was
Champion 3-Year-Old Male



Fashionably Fab was
Champion Older Main Track Female



Paramount Prince was
Champion Main Track Older Male


  Horse of the Year: Patches O'Houlihan

Finalists: Patches O'Houlihan (97), Full Count Felicia (49), Filo Di Arianna (48)

Champion Two-Year-Old Female: Nitrogen

Finalists: Nitrogen (114), Souper Supreme (62), Aristella (39)

Champion Two-Year-Old Male: He's Not Joking

Finalists: He's Not Joking (86), Scorching (77), Dream On (61)

Champion Three-Year-Old Female: Caitlinhergrtness

Finalists: Caitlinhergrtness (166), Stormcast (76), Avana (28), Kin's Concerto (28)

Champion Three-Year-Old Male: Dresden Row

Finalists: Dresden Row (151), My Boy Prince (100), August Rain (39)

Champion Older Main Track Female: Fashionably Fab

Finalists: Fashionably Fab (161), Elysian Field (83), Big Hug (24)

Champion Older Main Track Male: Paramount Prince

Finalists: Paramount Prince (160), Wicked Django (52), Apprehend (35)

Champion Female Turf Horse: Full Count Felicia

Finalists: Full Count Felicia (182), Fev Rover (58), Stormcast (30)

Champion Male Turf Horse: Filo Di Arianna

Finalists: Filo Di Arianna (180), Patches O'Houlihan (65), My Boy Prince (21)

Champion Female Sprinter: Play the Music

Finalists: Play the Music (160), Gal in a Rush (47), Stormcast (44)

Champion Male Sprinter: Patches O'Houlihan

Finalists: Patches O'Houlihan (166), Filo Di Arianna (85), My Boy Prince (21)

Outstanding Broodmare: Platinum Steel

Finalists: Platinum Steel (109), Executive Affair (80), Dancing Allstar (35)

Outstanding Breeder: Adena Springs

Finalists: Adena Springs (123), Chiefswood Stables (81), Anderson Farms (59)

Outstanding Owner: Gary Barber

Finalists: Gary Barber (147), Chiefswood Stables (61), Bruno Schickedanz (49)

Outstanding Trainer: Kevin Attard

Finalists: Kevin Attard (135), Mark Casse (134), Josie Carroll (18)

Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Sofia Vives

Finalists: Sofia Vives (167), Fraser Aebly (87), Pietro Moran (68)

Outstanding Jockey: Sahin Civaci

Finalists: Sahin Civaci (181), Rafael Hernandez (81), Patrick Husbands (30)

 

Full Count Felicia was
Champion Turf Female



Filo Di Arianna was
Champion Turf Male



Play the Music was
Champion Female Sprinter



Sofia Vives won
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey again



Victor James was named
Outstanding Groom



Ian Dick was named
Outstanding Off-Track Worker

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