Winter finally decided to end and the snow was gone from the track as the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association took center stage Saturday night to honor the 2017 association champions and top human connections at its annual banquet at Canterbury Park.  With horses arriving and the training track opening on Monday, it was also a good time to kick off the 2018 campaign.

Divisional winners included Hold For More, the winningest Minnesota bred at Canterbury Park in history, taking top older male; multiple stakes winner Honey’s Sox Appeal, top older female and Mystic Lake Derby winner Giant Payday as best Minnesota owned horse.

Curtis Sampson swept the breeders’ awards while Scott Rake was given the award for MTA Member of the Year.

Two time Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik was the guest speaker.

Here is the complete list of winners for the evening.

Older Male:  Hold For More  (Breeder-Wood-Mere Farm; Owner-Dale Schenian)

Older Female: Honey’s Sox Appeal (Breeder-Paul Knapper and Robert Lindgren; Owner-Robert Lindgren)

3-Year Old Male: Hot Shot Kid (Breeder/Owner-Warren Bush)

3-Year Old Female: Pinup Girl (Breeder/Owner-Gary and Brenda Bergsrud)

2-Year Old Male: Speeding Kid (Breeder-Scott Pierce; Owner-James Zahler)

2-Year Old Female: Firstmate (Breeder-Richard Bremer & Cheryl Sprick; Owner-Barry & Joni Butzow

Broodmare of the Year: Memory Divides (Owner: Ann Sachdev and Lori Bravo)

Minnesota Stallion: Kela

TOBA Breeder Award: Curtis A. Sampson

Bellingham Breeder Award: Curtis A. Sampson

Minnesota Owned Horse: Giant Payday (Lothenbach Racing Stables)

Minnesota Trainer: Mac Robertson (25 MN-bred wins)

MTA Member of the Year: Scott Rake

The 2018 racing season kicks off on Friday May 4 with a post time of 6:30 PM.