WTBOA Press Release February 25, 2023
The Washington Thoroughbred breeding and racing community got together on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at Emerald Downs to celebrate the horses and people who made 2022 a great racing year. Close to 200 were on-hand to cheer on those deserving horses and people who earned honors and and share fond memories of “The Cinematic Horse.”
This year’s theme celebrated the countless horses and their stories that we have enjoyed both at the movies and on television for nearly a 100 years. Each table held centerpieces with posters of movies such as Seabiscuit, Man from Snowy River, War Horses, Kentucky, National Velvet, Dreamer and The Black Stallion, as well as favorite television programs such as Mr. Ed and the Lone Ranger, whose theme was carried on with great fun at the “Super Table” for John Parker and friends.
Darlyne Krieg’s homebred Slew’s Tiz Whiz was named Richard Wright Memorial horse of the year and Scatter Creek Training Center champion older horse. Last year, as a four-year-old, the gelded son of Slew’s Tiznow won the historic Longacres Mile and also the Budweiser Stakes. Ten years earlier Darlyne and her late husband Karl had celebrated their first horse of the year title with Makors Finale. Both runners are and were trained by Tom Wenzel, who received the Backstretch Chaplaincy Special Training Achievement Award.
Alan Bozell was given the Scatter Creek Training Center Achievement Award for his work with stakes winner Zippin Sevenz and Washington most improved plater of the year Pearl River Delta.
Retiring clocker and longtime industry member Joan Hutchison received the Clemans View Farm Special Racetrack Achievement Award.
Lusk Racing’s Papa’s Golden Boy repeated as Duane Weber Insurance Inc. champion sprinter and Rainbow Meadows and Charlie Essex’s homebred Blazingbellablu added to her 2021 horse of the year and champion three-year-old titles by being named Castlegate Farm champion older filly or mare.
Retiring Washington Horse Racing Commissioner Dr. L. Everett Macomber became the 24th recipient of the S. J. Agnew Special Achievement Award since its inception in 1980. Macomber, who spent the better part of his 43 years as a veterinarian taking care of equines in the Centralia area, was also a successful Thoroughbred breeder before joining the WHRC as the Commission’s resident veterinarian at Emerald Downs. He then spent nearly ten years on the Commission, before his January retirement. Macomber was lauded for always putting the horse first and foremost.
Cacchiotti Ranch’s homebred Anthonys Cleopatra earned the Blue Ribbon Farm champion three-year-old award, as well as being named Pegasus Training and Rehabilitation champion sophomore filly.
The Clay Ward Agency LLC three-year-old colt or gelding title went to Friendship Stable, Q Stable and Craig Fredrickson’s Itsallabouttheride.
Two-year-old honors were split between Antonio Mendoza’s homebred Miss Dynamic (Freight NW champion filly) and Michael Bello LLC and Charles Bartlett’s Freight NW champion two-year-old and champion two-year-old colt or gelding The Big Wam. The son of Mr. Big was also the top Washington-bred earner in 2022 with $167,160 earned in his five starts split between Kentucky and California.
CLICK HERE for a complete list of award winners, both equine and human.
