Sovereign races down to wire

TORONTO - The 28th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony, honoring the best in Canadian Thoroughbred racing and breeding, will take place at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel here Saturday evening.

The leading candidates for the 2002 Canadian Horse of the Year title are Wake at Noon, a 5-year-old horse who is odds-on to be voted Canada's outstanding sprinter and also is a candidate for older male honors, and Added Edge, an undefeated 2-year-old colt who should get the nod in his category.

The horse of the year, plus nine other divisional champions, will be announced at the formal dinner-dance hosted by the Jockey Club of Canada.

The winners in four media categories, as chosen by panels of judges, also will be announced.

Roland "Roly" Roberts, former treasurer of the Jockey Club of Canada who has served the industry in many capacities through the last 45 years, will be presented with a Special Sovereign Award.