Sovereign Awards: Michael Williams named outstanding groom; media finalists

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Jockey Club of Canada has announced that Michael Williams is the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Groom Award. Currently employed by trainer Mike Doyle, Williams rubbed Canadian champion King Ruckus and Touch Gold as a 2-year-old in the 1990s for trainer Danny Vella.

Williams will be presented with the award at the 45th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on April 16 in Vaughan, Ontario.

The JCC also announced the Sovereign Award media finalists on Tuesday:

The writing category finalists are Dave Briggs for “Royal Victory for the Quintessential ‘Small Guy’ ”; Chris Lomon for “Thoroughbred Racing’s Beautiful Bond”; and Hayley Morrison for “Walcott Worry-Free After Surviving Brain Tumour”.

The digital audio/visual and broadcast category finalists are Horse Racing Alberta for Canadian Derby Invader; Horse Racing Radio Network for the 160th Queen’s Plate; and Woodbine Entertainment Group for the Queen’s Plate.

The photograph category finalists are Michael Bye for “Cyclone Dan, winner of the third race, with J. Gomez up”; Rebecca Brown for “Lenny Seecharan, Hastings 2019”; and Alex Urosovic for “Ricoh Woodbine Mile”.