Pink Lloyd Named Canada's Horse of the Year

Toronto, ON–Pink Lloyd (Old Forester) became a fan favorite in 2017 winning a stakes race in each of his eight starts and Thursday night in Toronto at the Canadian Sovereign Awards the 6-year-old gelding collected three trophies, including the coveted Horse of the Year Honors.

For Frank Di Giulio Jr., the majority owner of the Entourage Stable which campaigns the horse, and Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Bob Tiller, it capped off an unbelievable season, something straight out of a fantasy. Pink Lloyd did not begin racing until his 4-year-old season because of numerous issues.

“The old saying goes that patience is a virtue, but in horse racing patience is a necessity because horses will make you wait, and it was never more true than with this horse,” Di Giulio told the crowd. “He had problem after problem and setback after setback. I never looked forward to a 4-year-old maiden's first race more than this horse. His story is something a fiction novel may be written about; something about a horse that didn't make his first start until he was four and winning eight stakes in a row at five when most horses are retired and ended up winning three Sovereign Awards (Champion Older Male and Champion Male Sprinter).

“So it's really ridiculous when you think about it. We really appreciate the fact we were part of him. It does mean a lot to us. We've had a lot of fun with him and, hopefully, he'll carry on. His racing career was a long time coming, but it definitely was worth the wait.”

It was the second time Di Giulio, who has been a major contributor to Canadian horse racing in many capacities; and Tiller, who has been training for 36 years, won Horse of the Year Honors. They took home the 2001 award Win City (Slew City Slew).

Di Giulio praised Tiller, saying his work with Pink Lloyd was the best of any horse they've had together since the conditioner began with Di Giulio's father, Frank Sr., back in 1981.

“To be able to get a horse for a peak effort for one race is one thing. To get him to string three or four races together is another,” he said. “To be able to string eight wins in a row from April to November is an extraordinary accomplishment and he should be recognized for that.”

Bred by John Carey out of the Great Gladiator mare Gladiator Queen, the horse's name is a takeoff on the rock group Pink Lloyd. He won three of five starts, one of them a stakes, in his first season of racing. What followed afterward became part of Pink Lloyd's interesting story. He raced on Woodbine's opening day of the 2017 season winning the Jacques Cartier S., then ran the table in his next seven starts–the Overskate S., Kenora S., Shepperton S., GIII Vigil S., Achievement S., New Providence S. and GII Kennedy Road S. He collected purse earnings of $663,000, but more importantly he won over the hearts of racing fans and the people closely associated with him.

Tiller praised his wife, Gail, and his late mother-in-law, Jean Moorhead, who passed away in April, 2017, for their support in his career. He also thanked rider Eurico Rosa Da Silva, who was aboard the horse for all of his starts last year. Tiller thanked all his barn help, whom he said are 'so important to me. I love them all. This game isn't just about winning and losing. It's about the backside people that work their butts off. They really work hard.'”

Tiller thanked the Entourage Stable for having the best-managed horse on the racetrack. He noted he is in Pink Lloyd's stall six to eight times a day checking the horse's legs.

“Pink Lloyd has given me the biggest thrill of my life,” he said. “I love you Pink Lloyd. I love everybody in this place and thank you Pink Lloyd.”

Pink Lloyd makes his season debut when the Woodbine season begins Saturday at Woodbine. He is expected to follow the same racing schedule in 2018.

In the other categories:

Outstanding Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Rey Williams

Outstanding Trainer: Mark Casse

Outstanding Owner: Chiefswood Stable

Outstanding Breeder: Adena Springs

Outstanding Broodmare: Victorious Ami (Victory Gallop)

Outstanding Turf Male: Johnny Bear (English Channel)

Outstanding Turf Female: Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind)

Champion Two-Year-Old Male: Admirality Pier (English Channel)

Champion Two-Year-Old Female: Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro)

Champion Three-Year-Old Male: Channel Maker (English Channel)

Champion Three-Year-Old Female: Holy Helena (Ghostzapper)

Champion Female Sprinter: Ami's Mesa (Sky Mesa)

Champion Older Female: Ami's Mesa (Sky Mesa)

Special Sovereign Award: Sam Lima

Sovereign Award Scholarship: Tyson Lautenschlager

Outstanding Handicapper: Michael Eisen

Outstanding Groom: Alfredo Ramos

Outstanding Photograph: Dave Landry

Outstanding Writing: Perry Lefko

Outstanding Digital Audio/Visual and Broadcast: Horse Racing Alberta