Ontario bred Queen Charlotte, owned, bred, and trained by James Bogar of Cameron, ON is the first female Quarter Horse of the Year at Ajax Downs since her dam won the same title in 2011.

© New Image Media

AJAX, ONT–MARCH 9, 2025–James Bogar's Ontario-bred filly Queen Charlotte was named the 2024 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse of the Year by the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario at an awards banquet March 8 at the Ajax Convention Centre. Queen Charlotte became the first female horse to win the prestigious award since her dam won the same trophy in 2011.

"This is a bucket list moment for me," said Bogar, who owns Cameron Steel in Cameron, Ontario, Canada. "Queen Charlotte had some bad luck at the start of last year, but I was pretty sure she was going to be a good one."

As a 4-year-old in 2024, Queen Charlotte, a fiesty daughter of One Fabulous Eagle from the champion Canadian mare Leanintoit, won the biggest race for older horses at Ajax Downs, the $50,000 Alex Picov Championship over males. That victory was her fourth consecutive win, which also included a victory in the $30,960 Princess Maturity. In total, Queen Charlotte won four of seven starts in 2024.

James Bogar (blue shirt) and his team receive Queen Charlotte's award from QROOI directors Chantelle Bourgeois (far left) and Bob Broadstock (far right).© New Image Media

Bogar, who owns, trains, and breeds at his farm he shares with wife Tina, also won High Point Owner, Breeder and Owner/Trainer at the ceremony.

"I wouldn't be here without my great team, in particular, Nicole Clark, my assistant." Bogar's 2024 purchase Hanover Hill Theresa won High Point Older Mare.

Jockey Brian Bell, from Lindsay, won his second consecutive High Point Jockey award and fourth overall, edging Diego Benitez 286 points to 224. Points are accumulated through placings first through fourth in various categories of races.

Pontypool's Jason Pascoe won his sixth straight Bruce Lawrence High Point Trainer award and his trainees last year included High Point 3-Year-Old Male HAWKIN THE STRAW, an Ontario bred owned and bred by Joyce and Erik Lehtinen and High Point Aged Male A Shades Of Cold, owned and bred by Amelie Aubut from Pont-Rouge, Quebec.

For the first time in QROOI and Ajax Downs history, there was an award for Thoroughbred of the Year, presented to the horse with the most points from the Battle of the Breed series which pits Quarter Horses against Thoroughbreds in 'hook' races (around a turn). SEA TO AIR, owned by Robyn Voyce and trained by her husband Jeff, was the inaugural winner of the Thoroughbred award as he won two Battle of the Breeds races. Sea to Air is based at Fort Erie racetrack.

"He's had a great winter playing in the snow, and hopefully, he will be back this year," said Jeff Voyce.

QROOI president Bob Broadstock's trainee Runaway Fate, owned and bred by Heste Sport, won High Point 2-Year-Old Male and Carol and Jamie Robertson's HAD TO BE FABULOUS was High Point 2-Year-Old Filly. John Wilson of New Liskeard celebrated the High Pont 3-Year-Old Filly award won by Rbybybaby, trained by Scott Reid.

The 58th Quarter Horse Season at Ajax Downs is set to begin on Wednesday, May 7.

For more information on Quarter Horse racing and how to become involved as an owner, contact the QROOI at (905) 426-7050 or visit www.qrooi.com. Ajax Downs' racing and events schedule can be found at www.ajaxdowns.com.

*********************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.