Romanet of France getting Sovereign

Louis Romanet, director general of France Galop and chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities will be the recipient of a special Sovereign Award this year, the Jockey Club of Canada announced Tuesday.

The award will be presented in recognition of Romanet's many years of service to the international racing and breeding industry.

Louis Romanet, who will retire as director general of France Galop on Dec. 31, will continue to serve as chairman of the international federation until October 2009.

The Romanet family has been associated with French racing since 1907, and in 1978 Jean Romanet, Louis Romanet's father, was the recipient of a special Sovereign Award.

Louis Romanet will receive the award on Friday, Dec. 14, at the 33rd Sovereign Award ceremonies.

The last recipient of a special Sovereign Award was Awesome Again, who won the Breeders' Cup Classic but did not start in Canada in 1998.