Special Sovereign To Be Awarded By The Jockey Club Of Canada, Media Finalists Named

The Jockey Club of Canada will present Robert “Red” McKenzie with the Special Sovereign Award during the 49th annual awards ceremony on the evening of Thursday, Apr. 18 at Paramount Eventspace in Woodbridge, Ontario, the organization said in a press release Thursday afternoon.

Selected unanimously by the Jockey Club of Canada's Stewards, the Special Sovereign Award recognizes a particular achievement within a given year. The honor is being bestowed upon McKenzie for becoming the oldest trainer to saddle a winner in Canada, doing so at the age of 96 on June 23, 2023.

Also that evening, Michelle Armata will be presented with the 2023 Outstanding Groom Award and Jennifer Buck with the inaugural Outstanding Off-Track Worker Award.

The Jockey Club of Canada has also named the finalists for the 2023 Media Sovereign Awards categories.

Listed in alphabetical order, the Media finalists are:

Digital Audio/Visual and Broadcast Category

  • Santino Di Paola – Chasing Dreams in the King's Plate
  • TAXI – Ontario Racing UNFILTERED- Episode 5: The Kings Plate UNFILTERED
  • Woodbine Entertainment Group – Secretariat The Last Race

Photograph Category

  • Patricia Burns – Rain Runnin
  • Allan de la Plante – Holding Back Disaster
  • Jason Halstead – A Kiss for Commando

Writing Category

  • Mark Colley – It was the greatest race in Canadian history. Fifty years later, Secretariat's legacy is still felt
  • Jennifer Morrison – Cat's Long Way Home
  • Curtis Stock – The Turcottes

Judging for the Media Awards is performed by media professionals within the industry selected from across North America.

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Justify Colt Otanisan On ‘Sho’ at Nakayama

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kokura and Nakayama Racecourses:

Saturday, February 24, 2024
3rd-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
OTANISAN (c, 3, Justify–American Song {Arg}, by Stripes Song {Arg}) is the first foal from his dam, a Group 1 winner in Argentina who was exported to the U.S. in 2019 and was covered by this Triple Crown winner the following season. Having produced this colt in Kentucky in early April 2021, the half-sister to dual Group 1 scorer Mystery Train (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}) was bred to American Pharoah prior to her export to Japan. She foaled a colt in April 2022 who fetched better than $509,000 when offered at the JRHA Select Sale just over three months later. B-Grand Bokujo (KY)

 

 

 

Sunday, February 25, 2024
1st-KOK, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
SING MY BLUES (c, 3, War Front–Solo Piano, by Empire Maker), a half-brother to British listed winner and Group 3-placed Purser (Mizzen Mast) and the stakes-placed Clavichord (Super Saver), is out of a daughter of 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. winner Flute (Seattle Slew), also the dam of GSW & MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast). Solo Piano is also kin to the dam of GSW Current (Curlin) and GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft)–dam of two winners in Japan–and cost $35,000 in foal to Flintshire (GB) at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale. B-Galteemore Bloodstock, Grouseridge Ltd & OPA Bloodstock (KY)

5th-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600mT
SHIMAI (JPN) (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Lyrical Moment, by Unbridled's Song) was purchased for $190,000 in utero at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale and is out of a granddaughter of Be a Prospector (Mr. Prospector), whose multiple Grade III-winning daughter Away (Dixieland Band) was responsible for the ill-fated MGSW & GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles (Unbridled's Song). B-Mishima Bokujo

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Dilger Scholarship Winners Reflect On Kentucky Experiences

The Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation was established in 2020 in memory of Gerry Dilger, the beloved and well-respected breeder and pinhooker of such horses as GI Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist and Always Dreaming, who passed away on Feb. 24, 2020. The Foundation awarded three scholarships for 2024 for the Kentucky farm experience to Sean Berns and Sara Pepper to go to Springhouse Farm in Lexington, and to Larry Mulvaney, who was placed at Hunter Valley Farm. A pair of 2023 scholarship recipients–Ivanna Dempsey and Elle Sorensen–who did their farm experience at Springhouse and Hunter Valley, respectively, have submitted blogs chronicling their experiences to share with the TDN audience:

Ivanna Dempsey

I was awarded a scholarship with the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation in March 2023. This was a fantastic opportunity to travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to further my education, knowledge, and passion for the horse industry, which was part of my Equine Science placement with UCD. Tara Carroll and I spent the summer at Springhouse Farm, where I had to assist with the concluding phase of the foaling season and the preparation of the yearlings for the upcoming sales.

We felt an integral part of the team throughout our time at Springhouse Farm. Gabriel (Spider) Duignan and farm manager Dermot Joyce provided invaluable guidance that will significantly benefit me in the future. They shared their knowledge on various aspects of horsemanship, including developing an eye for assessing horses, understanding the confirmation of the horse, and handling critical tasks like scanning mares and assisting foals during and after birth. They stressed the importance of meticulous attention to detail with yearling preparation. The entire team at Springhouse were eager to share their knowledge, including the veterinarians and chiropractors.

During the July sale, we had the opportunity to shadow buyers looking at horses. We learned invaluable sales knowledge working with Paramount Sales, and a massive thanks to Pat Costello and the entire team there. We worked the September yearling sale in Keeneland and the Saratoga Yearling sale in New York and also got the opportunity to attend the races in Saratoga.

Our highlight was attending the 149th Kentucky Derby and the Oaks at Churchill Downs. What an incredible experience! On our Sundays off, we traveled to Nashville, Red River Gorge, the Railbird Festival in Lexington, and a Reds baseball game in Cincinnati. We also got the opportunity to ride out on numerous occasions in Keeneland Racetrack with Andrew McKeever, and what an experience that was.

A special thanks to everyone at Springhouse, especially Spider and Aisling Duignan, for their generosity, dedication and support throughout the summer in developing our knowledge of the global Thoroughbred industry and providing a working environment dedicated to excellence in their operation.

I cannot put into words how grateful I am to the Dilger family for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be the recipient of the Gerry Dilger Scholarship. Throughout the summer, Erin, Claire, Grace and Joseph offered support, lots of fun and assistance whenever I needed it. Whenever Gerry's name was mentioned, I could not help but be inspired by the numerous remarkable stories about his generosity and mentorship to young individuals. His legacy lives through his family, who continue to carry forward his commitment to supporting young people in the industry.

Elle Sorenson

The Gerry Dilger Scholarship afforded me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undertake my nine-month placement with Hunter Valley Farm in the heart of Kentucky. This experience proved to be transformative, allowing me to significantly expand my knowledge, skills and passion for the Thoroughbred industry.

My time in Hunter Valley was filled with invaluable experience that enriched my understanding and love for this industry. I had the privilege of participating in sales work in Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland in Kentucky and even had the remarkable opportunity to work the Fasig-Tipton Select sales in Saratoga, New York. Additionally, I was fortunate to attend the prestigious Kentucky Oaks, which was truly a highlight of my time.

Working on the farm provided me with a wealth of knowledge and eye-opening experiences. I was involved in various aspects of the industry, including foaling, yearling prep and shed runs during breeding season where I was able to see the most prestigious Thoroughbred stallions.

The memories, experiences and friendships I forged during my time in Kentucky are treasures that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This incredible journey not only deepened my passion for the Thoroughbred industry but also expanded my horizons in ways I could have never imagined.

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Dr. Ronald Jensen, Former Equine Medical Director For CHRB Passes Away

Dr. Ronald Jensen, who served 10 years as equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board through 2005, passed away at his home Feb. 12, according to a Thursday release from the CHRB.

Dr. Jensen received his DVM from Iowa State University in 1962 and MS in 1963. He worked as a racing regulatory veterinarian for 42 years, serving as a commission veterinarian for the Illinois Racing Board for 32 years, and for 10 years with the CHRB under an agreement with the University of California, Davis. He then spent 10 years working with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance Accreditation Inspection Team.

An honor-roll member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), Dr. Jensen served on the AAEP Board of Directors, chaired the Racing Regulatory Committee, and was a member of the Ethics and Infractions Committee. He was the regulatory veterinary advisor for the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) when it was first formed, and he served as Chairman of the Veterinary Advisory Committee for the Association of Racing Commissioners (ARCI).

Internationally, Dr. Jensen was a founding member of the International Group of Specialists Racing Veterinarians (IGSRV), serving first as the North American representative, and later as president and then treasurer. He also was the IGSRV representative on the Scientific Advisory Council for the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Dr. Jensen was a member of the Standing Committee, the Management Committee, and the U.S. Organizing Committee for the International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians (ICRAV).

Arrangements for a Celebration of Life are pending

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