Ontario breeders were celebrated Wednesday night at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club in Toronto for the 42nd annual Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) awards. Nearly four dozen Ontario breeders produced 51 horses who won a combined 67 stakes races in 2025.
Dom Romeo of Terra Racing Stables was honored as the Mint Julep Cup recipient for his lifetime contribution and dedication to the breeding industry, prompting a standing ovation.
“I started racing in the '70s,” said Romeo. “We claimed a horse [Two Times Henry] from Conn Smythe. So, you know how far back I'm going… In the mid-'80s, I started to breed, and we pretty well bred all of our horses…The first two horses we bred were Bold n' Flashy and Flashy n Smart and they were very good stake horses, and then we got kind of lucky later on.”
Chiefswood Stable earned Breeder of the Year with nearly $1.9 million in earnings in 2025, topped by GSWs Simcoe (Uncle Mo) and Borealis Trail (Quality Road). Chiefswood also captured Outstanding Breeder and Outstanding Owner at the 2025 Sovereign Awards, which was announced in April.
Outstanding Farm Worker went to Colebrook Farms's Gail Bosscher, while The Jockey Club of Canada recognized Bruno Schickedanz as Top Owner.
Dixie Chicken (Rahy) was named Top Broodmare. Her eligible progeny earned more than $2 million in 2025, led by SW Dixie Moon (Curlin). The late Souper Speedy was honored as leading sire.
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