ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2024) — The 2023 California-bred Horse of the Year will be announced at the CTBA Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Le Meridien Hotel in Arcadia.
Finalists for Horse of the Year are, in alphabetical order, Ceiling Crusher, Kings River Knight and The Chosen Vron.
For ticket information for the Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting, click Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner | CTBA or contact Christy Chapman at Christy@ctba.com.
Other Cal-bred champions to be recognized at the banquet:
Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Male – Yo Yo Candy, bred by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, owned by Happy Tenth Stable and trained by Daniel Velazquez.
Champion California-bred Two-Year-Old Female – Grand Slam Smile, bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams and trained by Steven Specht.
Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Male – One in Vermillion, bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, owned by Jonathan Kalman, trained by Esteban Martinez.
Champion California-bred Three-Year-Old Female – Ceiling Crusher, bred by Harris Farms, owned by Wonderland Racing Stables, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman, trained by Doug O’Neill.
Champion California-bred Older Male – The Chosen Vron, bred by Tiz Molly Partners, owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker & Richard Thornburgh, trained by Eric Kruljac.
Champion California-bred Older Female – Closing Remarks, bred by owner Harris Farms, trained by Carla Gaines.
Champion California-bred Sprinter – The Chosen Vron, bred by Tiz Molly Partners, owned by Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker & Richard Thornburgh, trained by Eric Kruljac.
Champion California-bred Turf Horse – Closing Remarks, bred by owner Harris Farms, trained by Carla Gaines.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings – Grazen, property of Nick Alexander.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Number of Winners – Stay Thirsty, property of Terry Lovingier.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Turf Earnings – Grazen, property of Nick Alexander.
Champion Sire of California Conceived Two-Year-Olds by Earnings – Stay Thirsty, property of Terry Lovingier.
Trainer of the Year – Eric Kruljac.
Broodmare of the Year – Lutess, owned by Phil Lebherz and Connie & Mike Pageler.
Champion Breeder of California Foaled Thoroughbreds by Earnings – Richard Barton Enterprises.
CTBA Hall of Fame – Russell Drake, Clay Murdock, Soviet Problem, Tribal Rule.