Snow Moose was named Quarter Racing Owners Of Ontario's Horse of the Year at the annual Awards Banquet on Saturday (Feb 24).

© Clive Cohen / New Image Media

AJAX, ONT–FEBRUARY 25, 2024–The popular grey Ontario-bred Snow Moose took the highest honor, Horse of the Year, at the Quarter Racing Owners Of Ontario's annual Awards Banquet on Saturday (Feb 24).

The awards, celebrating the best of Ajax Downs racing in 2023, were held at the Ajax Convention Centre, and a large crowd included local Ajax MP Patrice Barnes, members of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming, and Ontario Racing.

Owned and bred by Milena Kwiecien of Burlington, ON, and trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, Snow Moose won five of nine races as a 3-year-old in 2023 including the QROOI Derby and Ontario Bred Derby.

The son of Seperate Interest from the mare Favorite Pearl won two other races, one being the Alex Picov Championship, but he was disqualified from both.  The Horse of the Year was voted on by the board of directors of the QROOI.

QROOI's Bob Bradstock presents the Horse of the Year trophy to Snow Moose's owner Milena Kwiecien (turquoise) and her winning team. © Jacob Cohen / New Image Media

Snow Moose was also the year's High Point 3-year-old with 45 QROOI points, just one more than runner-up Sour Candy, who defeated Snow Moose in the Picov Derby.

AQHA named Snow Moose the Canadian Racing Champion last month in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Kwiecien began racing Quarter Horses nine years ago and her Snow Pony Stable was the 2023 High Point owner and leading owner by wins for the third consecutive year. Pascoe, who trains the Kwiecien horses, won his fifth straight High Point Trainer Title.

Veteran rider Brian Bell was 2023's top jockey by QROOI points and wins and Amanda McCormack of Peterborough, won her first Owner/Trainer trophy. James Bogar of Cameron won his first High Point Breeder award as his homebreds won 18 races in 2023. Bogar raced his first Quarter Horse eight years ago and his first homebreds began racing in 2020.

Other award winners from the 2023 season included:

GENERAL SKYWALKER - High Point 2-year-old Male
Owned/bred by Marie Broadstock, tr - Bob Broadstock

PRETTY MAGICALL - High Point 2-year-old Filly
Owned by Milena Kwiecien, tr - Jason Pascoe

HAD TO BE IVY / VALIANT CHICK INSNOW (tie) High Point 3-year-old Filly
Owners Carol and Jamie Robertson / Milena Kwiecien

FIRST COLD WAVE - High Point Aged Male
Owner/breeder Robert Bailey, tr - Jason Pascoe

SW THE TEMPEST - High Point Aged mare
Owned/trained by Chantelle Bourgeois

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The 2024 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse Season is set to begin on May 8, 2024, the first of 25 race dates. For more information on Ajax Downs racing, visit www.ajaxdowns.com, or to learn how to get involved in owning a Quarter Horse, visit qrooi.com.