Monsoon Rain rated best in Manitoba

Monsoon Rain, who dominated the top distance stakes for his division at Assiniboia Downs in 2008, was named the province's horse of the year and top older male by the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at Manitoba's annual awards ceremony Saturday night.

Queen Tina, a 3-year-old filly who won a pair of restricted stakes, was honored as the Manitoba-bred horse of the year by the province's Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society.

Miss Missile, undefeated in four stakes starts at Assiniboia and the other leading candidate for for the horsemen's association's horse of the year honors, had to settle for the group's 3-year-old filly championship.

Others honored by the horsemen were Mr Exspeedient, 3-year-old male; Polynesian Kitty, older mare; Adventcia, 2-year-old filly; Prayforthesoldiers, 2-year-old male; Rock'n U S A, sprinter; and Time to Act, claimer.

Ardell Sayler, Assiniboia's leading trainer in races won; Alan Cuthbertson, leading jockey; Jim Tracy, top percentage trainer; and Off 2 Win, owner, also received awards from the horsemen's group.

Cam Ziprick swept the other horse society awards. Ziprick was named the province's breeder of the year and his stallion, Battle Cat, and broodmare, High Grades, were honored in their respective categories.

The horse society also presented awards to all Manitoba-breds who won stakes last year, a group consisting of Dreamin N Schemin, Bella Mariella, Blueberry Blonde, Brinello, Copper Badges, Custody Battle, La Wildcat, One on One, Queen Tina, and Spying Eyes.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed Adventcia as a Manitoba-bred award winner due to an error in a press release concerning the awards. The top Manitoba-bred 2-year-old filly of 2008 is Dreamin N Schemin.