Canadian horses to Celebrate

The Sovereign awards were held just about 2 weeks ago and we all know who the winners for 2006 were. But there are some other equines that deserve mention for accomplishments throughout the year (feel free to add to this list...Canadian-breds or Canadian-based horses only).



(Pictured is Wanna Runner, bred by Yvonne Schwabe, a graded SW in the United States in 2006)


I start with stallions because the sire industry in Ontario seems to be getting a bit stronger. Of course, BOLD EXECUTIVE (23 on Jan. 1) is again the country's leading sire (through Nov. 5) by progeny earnings ($2.9 million). What a shame ARCHERS BAY passed on in 2002, he was the 2nd leading stallion, just ahead of PEAKS AND VALLEYS, who recently moved to Ontario fron Kentucky.


Leading sire in British Columbia was MAZEL TRICK (recently moved there) and KIRIDASHI, who just left Ontario is battling with GENERAL ROYAL and CAPTAIN BODGIT for top Alberta stallion.





TRAJECTORY is a leading 2nd crop sire for 2006 (20th in North America) and newcomer IMPEACHMENT is on the 3rd crop list.





Have to love Canadian-bred stallions AWESOME AGAIN (4th in North America), LANGFUHR (9th) and SMART STRIKE (11th). SILVER DEPUTY ranks 20th, SKY CLASSIC is 31st, DANCE BRIGHTLY (47th), VICTORY GALLOP (52nd), DEPUTY MINISTER (59th) and BOLD EXECUTIVE (63rd) are also on the Blood-Horse list in the recently released 2007 Stallion Register.





WANNA RUNNER, a graded stakes winner at 3 last year who fizzled out around the time he came to Woodbine for the Queen's Plate, deserves a mention for sure, ARCH HALL was a graded stakes winner in Canada and placed in the United States and TOTHEMOONANDBACK ran a 104 Beyer Figure in the Achievement Stakes in July and was one of the fastest Canadian-breds on the year. VERNE'S BABY (110 Beyer in Overskate Stakes) also makes the list.





Best Saskatchewan-bred?? Bet you never heard of SPIRIT TO SPARE (Pole Position - Current Encounter, by Little Current), one of the last foals for her sire Pole Position who was born in 1976. Spirit to Spare won three of eight starts in 2006, two stakes in British Columbia and was 3rd in the Grade 3 Las Flores at Santa Anita in Feb. Oh ya, she also put up a 100 Beyer in her Santa Anita win in Jan. for $50K claiming.