by Garry Allison, The Horses Rocky Mountain Turf Club
When it was all said and done, it was virtually a wire-to-wire finish for Janine Stianson. The Rocky Mountain Turf Club jockey was the top overall rider for the Spring Meet and the Fall Meet and, naturally, the top overall for the RMTC season.
Stianson went to the post 333 times and brought home 68 winners, placed 48 times, and finished third 52 times for a very impressive 50 per cent average in the money. For the race fan, that means if you wagered at least a show ticket on Janine every time out, you would have been in the money 50 per cent of the time.
Sean Evans was almost right there, with a 48 per cent average. He answered the call 305 times and won 50 races, placed second 52 times, and third 44 times. These figures include Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and Paint races throughout the 2006 season.
Stianson was often paired with trainer Ross Brigden, which paid off for both. Brigden started 125 horses in 2006 and won 32 times, placed second 16 times, and was third 48 times for a winning percentage of 58 per cent.
William Leech was right behind with 23 winners, 30 second-place finishers, and 18 thirds for a 52 per cent in-the-money rating. However, it was Stan Webb who led the money-earned parade with $230,223, thanks in part to his victory in the Quarter Horse Canada Cup Futurity.
Webb, seen most often in Quarter Horse races, was the fourth highest trainer, with 19 wins, 20 seconds, and 13 thirds in 85 starts, for the leading percentage of 61 per cent and, of course, the most money earned.
The top horse overall was Lafleur, trained by Allen Fogle and beaten only once in six times out, by Dr. Mo. The good doctor finished sixth on the win list with four victories in nine starts, as well as a second and two thirds.
Kayla M was runner-up to Lafleur with five wins in seven starts and Cold Suggestion had five wins in eighth starts. Jockey Angelle Wilson had a superb year with 46 victories in 277 starts and the third female rider to make the top five, Brooke Mellish, came in with 42 victories. Former champion Scott Sterr finished fifth with 39 wins, tied with Peter McAleney.
Another rider with a come-out year was Laurina Bugeaud with 25 victories, one more than Jackie Smith. While not among the leaders, latecomer Laurie Ferguson racked up 12 victories in just 77 starts to place 10th overall, two fewer wins than Hugh Cade Huston in ninth place.
There were 22 different jockeys suiting up this past season for the RMTC, well up from past years. But the close of the season saw three riders declare their retirement, led by Cliff Miyashiro at the close of the Spring Meet. As the season ended Randy Cunningham, a leading Quarter Horse rider, and veteran Peter McAleney, both said they were hanging up their riding tack.
Brant Laczo was the third most impressive trainer with 19 victories in 142 efforts, with 20 seconds, and 21 third-place runs. Webb had 19 wins, Pete Dubois 18 and Tom Rycroft 15. Dale Bagnell and Mel Berkman were next in line, tied at 13.
The average television audience for The Horses live horseracing show on CTV Alberta increased for a third straight year. There was an average program audience increase of 45 per cent in 2006 and the television show promotional campaign delivered over 22 million viewer impressions and reached 82 per cent of Albertans in 2006.
The broadcast team of Jonathan Huntington, Crystal Leriger, Dawn Lupul, and Jeff Robillard will return in 2007 with 13 races. The series begins May 12 and ends October 20 and once again includes the Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity from the RMTC at Whoop-Up Downs, September 22.
As well, Horse Racing Alberta recently received awards in four categories at the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association Awards including Best of Show for a third consecutive year. The annual awards recognize excellence in marketing and communications within the national agricultural sector. The branding campaign The Horses - There’s A Horse For Everyone won the following categories: Best of Show - Consumer Directed Campaigns; Consumer Directed Campaigns, Television/Radio; Consumer Directed Campaigns, Education Materials, and Consumer Directed Campaigns, Sales Support Materials.
