Source:  News Release/Julie Cull

Equine Canada: Recent News and Awards

Talented Junior Jumper Named as 2011 Equine Canada Junior Equestrian of the Year

Ottawa, Ontario—Equine Canada has named Dominique Shone, 18, of Langley, BC, named as the 2011 Junior Equestrian of the Year.

The Gillian Wilson Award is given annually to the Junior Equestrian of the Year in recognition of a junior competitor who has made outstanding contributions to equestrian competition and who has exemplified exceptional talent, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport.  Shone demonstrates excellent examples of each of these qualities.

At just 18 years of age, Shone had a stellar year in 2011 with highlights including: winning and placing in two separate $31,000 CSI2* classes at the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Bow Valley Classic competitions and fourth in the $50,000 CSI2* Friends of Rocky Mountain Grand Prix and seventh in the $50,000 CSI2* G2 Financial Group Grand Prix, riding Ka Ching, owned by Caroline Shone.

With these and other fantastic placings, Shone earned over $35,000 in prize money and was awarded the distinction of Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for the Rocky Mountain Classic Series and finished second overall in the Jump Canada Talent Squad — Western Division. In addition, Shone and Ka Ching have been named to the 2012 Jump Canada Talent Squad.

And Shone’s winning ways didn’t stop there. At shows, her great attitude made her a favourite among whipper-ins as she always handled victory with gratitude and losing with grace. Shone embodies the spirit of a true horseperson in every way.

“I would like to thanks Equine Canada for having this award and for recognizing the hard work that I have put into the sport this past year,” said Shone. “I am very honoured to win the Junior Equestrian of the Year Award, and I would like to thank my family and friends, especially my parents for supporting and shaping me into the rider I have become.”

The Gillian Wilson Trophy was created in honor of Gillian Wilson, who was the Technical Director of Canadian Equestrian Federation (now Equine Canada) from 1977 until her retirement on December 31, 1992. 

Darryl Kaplan Wins 2011 Equine Canada Media Award

Ottawa, Ontario—Darryl Kaplan of Toronto, ON, has been named as the recipient of the 2011 Equine Canada Media Award.  In memory of Susan Jane Anstey, and in recognition of her invaluable contributions to Canadian equine interests, the Equine Canada Media Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has delivered outstanding media coverage that served to enhance the image of Canadian equine interests to the Canadian public.

Darryl Kaplan has been working for Trot, the official magazine of Standardbred Canada for eight years, five of which in the position of editor-in-chief.

With Kaplan at the helm, Trot became the first Canadian magazine to be named North America’s Best Overall Publication by American Horse Publications in 2011, beating out 117 other magazines to receive this honour.

Kaplan has won a Sovereign Award for Best Thoroughbred Racing Feature Story, a World Trotting Conference Award for Best International Horse Racing Feature, and an American Horse Publications “Service to the Reader Award.”

While the merit of his previous industry recognition of his outstanding media coverage is reason enough to honour him with the Equine Canada Media Award, Kaplan had more to prove when it comes to expanding the audience of his sport.

Early in 2011, Kaplan saw a new opportunity to introduce the Standardbred racing to the mainstream public. Rogers Communications chose to broaden the brand of its specialty channel Sportsnet and created Canada’s first national sports magazine, Sportsnet Magazine.

Kaplan approached the editors with the story of Roger Hamm, a life-long horseman whose heart stopped beating during a race, and the story around it. Impressed with the pitch and subsequent writing, Kaplan wrote a feature in Sportsnet Magazine’s October 31st issue, "Win or Die Trying.”

"It is an honour to receive the Equine Canada Media Award,’ said Kaplan.  “The opportunity to tell the stories of Canada's horses, and the horsepeople who dedicate their lives to them, is something I am very thankful for. Seeing San Pail and Hickstead, two of the greatest horses ever to compete for Canada, honoured on the same night I received the award, was really quite special.

Added Kaplan, "I am thankful to Equine Canada, Standardbred Canada, and to our excellent team at Trot Magazine for their continued commitment to producing a superior product that the standardbred horse industry can be proud of."

Open to all types of Media (print, television broadcast, internet and photography), the Susan Jane Anstey Media Award is given for a specific event or story, an ongoing event or story, or an outstanding effort throughout the year.

Susan Jane was a valiant champion of Canada's development in international sport and long-time supporter of the Canadian Equestrian Team. As both a talented publisher and working journalist, Susan Jane provided a dedicated Canadian journalistic presence at World Equestrian Games and Olympic Competitions from 1984 through to Greece in 2004. Through publications such as Horse Sport, Horse-Canada and Canadian Thoroughbred, Susan Jane provided a national voice for the Canadian equestrian community, and a forum for a national dialogue on the issues that have affected and defined our sport. Equine Canada is proud to present this award in her honour.

At the Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala, on Friday, February 3, 2012, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Kaplan was awarded with the 2011 Equine Canada Media Award.

Jump Canada Announces Declared List for 2012 London Olympic Games

Ottawa, ON— Jump Canada has announced the list of declared candidates in consideration for the Canadian Show Jumping Team at the 2012 London Olympic Games. The show jumping team and individual competition will take place August 4–9 in Greenwich Park, London, ENG.

In alphabetical order, the riders and horses are:

For more information about the show jumping portion of the 2012 London Games, please visit www.london2012.com/equestrian-jumping. To view the Canadian Show Jumping Team 2012 Games criteria, visit http://bit.ly/AoaFhC.

Another Victory for San Pail — Inaugural Equine Canada Canadian-bred
Horse of the Year

Ottawa, ON— Equine Canada has named San Pail as the winner of the inaugural Equine Canada Canadian Bred Horse of the Year award.

It is pretty hard to believe that a horse that has won over $2,900,000 in lifetime earnings, posted a winning time of 1:50.4 and won 49 of his 107 starts, started out as a youngster that nobody really wanted.

Foaled in 2004, San Pail was bred by veteran Standardbred owner and breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ontario. With some behavioural issues and a blemish that was the result of a kick he received as a youngster, San Pail was not such a hot commodity as a two-year-old.

Ron Hughes of Dunsford, Ontario, heard that the gelding needed a home and a trainer and Van Camp offered him three-quarters ownership if Hughes paid all of San Pails expenses. The rest, as they say, is history.

After a year of growing, Hughes put the young gelding to work and thought that he would be a would be a good horse, but never could Hughes or Van Camp imagine that the gelding would turn out to be the best trotter in the world in 2011.

In 2011, San Pail dominated Canadian harness racing by winning every stakes event he was entered in. At Woodbine, his victories include the Glorys Comet Stake and a third consecutive win in the Maple Leaf Trot Championship. A trip to the United States saw San Pail claim top spot in the Nat Ray Invitational, the Credit Winner Stake and the Allerage Farm Trot. He returned home to win the Breeders’ Crown Open Trot at Woodbine, which included two of Europe’s best trotters brought to Canada to challenge his reign.

Throughout his busy 2011 season of breaking track records and winning the hearts of racing fans across Canada, San Pail’s hope that 2012 will be the gelding’s best yet.

“We would like to thank Equine Canada for this award honouring San Pail,” said breeder Glenn Van Camp. “He has won so many important awards, and they are all very special to us.”

“We just love San Pail and Canadian harness racing,” added Donna Van Camp.

Less than a week ago, San Pail also took home O’Brien Award as Canada’s Horse of the Year and Older Trotting Horse of the Year.

The Canadian Bred Horse of the Year Award is to be awarded to a Canadian bred horse, which by virtue of an outstanding national or international performance or competition record has enhanced the reputation and visibility of Canadian bred horses. Recipients must be foaled in Canada and be registered with any of the breed associations that are a member of Equine Canada, including those whose registry is not maintained in Canada.

At the 2012 Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala, on Friday, February 3 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the breeders of San Pail, Glenn and Donna Van Camp, were honoured with the 2011 Equine Canada Canadian Bred Horse of the Year award.

Holzer and Olympic Partner Pop Art Win at Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge