Ten Canadian-bred Quarter Horses, including seven from Ontario, have made the shortlist for Canadian champion at the
January 18 American Quarter Horse Association Racing Champions Ceremony at Heritage Place in Oklahoma City.
Each year, the AQHA presents 80 awards to horses that compete at tracks in 11 regions.
The top 10 Canadian-foaled earners of 2016 are on the final ballot and the Champion is determined by
the AQHA Awards Racing Committee.
Two-year-olds dominate the list and two are Ontario breds including the 2016 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding at the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc. Awards,
Home to Vegas.
Owned by Marie Broadstock and Brian Samis and trained by Bob Broadstock, Home to Vegas won five of his six races including the Ontario Sires Futurity and a trial for the Alex Picov Memorial Futurity. The gelding's only loss came when he lost his rider in the Picov Futurity final.
Home to Vegas is also Ontario sired as he is by the late Down Home Dasg. The gelding was bred by Dr. Gayle Sommer.
Hickerson, owned by Richard Wincikaby and DK Training Centre, is another Ontario bred juvenile on the top 10 Canadian born earners of 2016. The son of Country Chicks Man won two of his five starts for trainer Don Reid including a trial for the Picov Memorial Futurity before finishing a close second in the final.
Also on the list is the undefeated Alberta-bred 2-year-old
Poutn on the Wagon was the Horse of the Year in Alberta for 2016 for owner and breeder Pete Schoeler.
Last year’s AQHA Canadian champion,
Panther Hero, a winner at 3 in 2016 is also on the contenders list for owner John Wilson as is 2015 Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs,
Feisty Icon.
The AQHA Awards evening will begin with a visit from Hall of Fame Thoroughbred trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who began his racing career as a Quarter Horse trainer. The awards can be viewed live at
www.aqha.com/racing beginning at 5 p.m. (4 p.m. Eastern).
The 10 contenders for the AQHA Canadian Champion of 2016, with race (and stakes) record and earnings for 2016 are:
COUNTRYS COMIN BAC (ONT)
7-2(0)-2(1)-0(0) Earnings: $32,983
CRUISINFOURABRUISIN (AB)
8-2(1)-5(1)-1(1) Earnings: $30,573
FIESTY ICON (ONT)
7-3(1)-1(1)-1(1) Earnings: $50,802
HICKERSON (ONT)
5-2(0)-1(1)-0(0) Earnings: $28,878
HOME TO VEGAS (ONT)
6-5(1)-0(0)-0(0) Earnings: $40,973
IVORY LADY LEAGUE (AB)
7-3(1)-1(0)-1(1) Earnings: $30,697
PANTHER HERO (ONT)
6-2(0)-1(0)-2(1) Earnings: $27,093
POUTN ON THE WAGON (AB)
6-6(3)-0(0)-0(0) Earnings: $59,910
SPEEDOCRACY (ONT)
8-2(-0)-1(0)-2(1) Earnings: $29,022
SUGARMANS DELIGHT (ONT)
9-1(0)-2(1)-1(0) Earnings: $29,225
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