The Jockey Club of Canada will present Rose Day with the 2025 Outstanding Groom Award, Tove Morgan with the Outstanding Off-track Worker Award, and Jodie Hiesinger with the inaugural Outstanding Western Canadian Backstretch Worker Award, the group announced via a press release that also included the media finalists for the 2025 Sovereign Awards.
Part of the Woodbine Racetrack community for nearly three decades, Day has been a groom for 22 years–13 of them with Sid and Larry Attard. Recognized for her consistently positive attitude and ability to motivate those around her, she has cared for some of the stable's top runners, including Kingsport and One Bay Hemingway.
A fixture with some of the most well-respected outfits in Canadian racing, Tove Morgan has spent time with Roger Attfield, Kinghaven Farms, and Adena Springs, and is currently an integral member of the Hill 'N' Dale Canada team, helping to foal out dozens of mares each year.
A graduate of the Olds College Exercise Rider program in 2012, Jodie Hiesinger has been an assistant trainer with Rod Cone since 2016, garnering the respect of staff and owners alike.
Listed in alphabetical order, the finalists for the 2025 Media Sovereign Awards categories are as follows:
Digital Audio/Visual and Broadcast Category
- FanDuel TV–Emma-Jayne Wilson: The Comeback, aired Aug. 16, 2025
- Horse Racing Alberta–The Career of Robertino Diodoro, aired Aug. 15, 2025
- Woodbine Entertainment–Free Rein: It Runs in the Family, aired Apr. 11, 2025
Photograph Category
- Clive Cohen–Love Illuminated, published Nov. 5, 2025 in The Paulick Report
- Santino Di Paola–The Roar, published Aug. 17, 2025 on HBPA-Ontario.com
- Jason Halsted–Running under the Harvest Moon, published Sept. 12, 2025 in the Assiniboia Downs Inside Track
- Will Wong–Corsia Veloce, published Dec. 16, 2025 on OntarioRacing.com
Writing Category
- Jamie T. Attard–A Long Way (and a long wait) to the Top, published Mar. 7, 2025 on CanadianThoroughbred.com
- Dave Briggs–How divine intervention led No Time to a Woodbine Oaks championship in Memory of Boss Lady J, published July 29, 2025 on TIP.OntarioRacing.com
- Eric Mitchell and Molly Rollins–Canadian Breeders Shaken by Tariff Threats, published Mar. 14, 2025 on BloodHorse.com
- Joe Nevills–Kentucky Derby Alum Mohaymen Living A Non-Traditional Stallion's Life In Ontario, published May 6, 2025 on The Paulick Report
- Natalie Voss–As Woodbine Opens Its Season, Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson Is Waiting In The Wings – For Now, published Apr. 28, 2025 on The Paulick Report
Judging for the Media Awards is performed by media professionals within the industry selected from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The winner in each of the three Media Sovereign Award categories will be announced, along with the other Sovereign Award winners and Canada's Horse of the Year, during the 51st Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony on the evening of Thursday, Apr. 23 at Paramount Eventspace in Woodbridge, Ontario.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
