Fort Erie wrapped up its 2026 racing season recently and the HBPA of Ontario hosted the annual awards to honour the season’s top performers.
The star of the show was MOMAXIE, a 3-year-old filly by Maximus Mischief who won all five of her starts at Fort Erie including the Crimson Maple Cup and Richard Grubb Cup. Momaxie, owned by Andy Stronach’s Pan-Am Racing and lawyer Alex Igelman, is trained by Steven Catchcart and was ridden by the year’s top jockey, Juan Crawford,
Momaxie was named the 2026 Horse of the Year, Female Distance Horse of the Year and Female Sprinter of the Year. Candice Warwick accepted the awards.
“She is a genuine, hard working, hard- thinking Thoroughbred filly,” said Warwick. “All around, she loves the game.”
Stronach purchased Momaxie for $15,000 as a 2-year-old in training at the June 2025 Ocala sale. She won her first two starts at Laurel in December of last year and January. She came to Fort Erie in June and won three sprints and two route races. Momaxie is from the mare Ms. Costello, by Uncle Mo.
CATHCART was voted Outstanding Trainer (not the same as Leading Trainer by wins) by the HBPA.
“Our team is great. Steve has been delighted to train [Momaxie]. [Assistant} Paula {Loescher] is such an asset to the team as are our grooms and exercise riders, blacksmith and all of our owners.”
Cathcart had the best season of his training career with 21 wins.
Leading all trainers by wins was JULIE MATHES, her fifth title.
FORT ERIE AWARDS-2026
HORSE OF THE YEAR – MOMAXIE
DISTANCE FEMALE OF THE YEAR
FEMALE SPRINTER OF THE YEAR
OUTSTANDING TRAINER – STEVEN CATHCART
OUTSTANDING JOCKEY – JUAN CRAWFORD
OUTSTANDING EXERCISE RIDER – DIMARIO BLACKMAN
GROOM OF THE YEAR – GAIL CHEYNE
ASSISTANT TRAINER OF THE YEAR – PAULA LOESCHER
LEADING TRAINER (by wins) JULIE MATHES
LEADING OWNER (by wins) BRUNO SCHICKEDANZ
LEADING JOCKEY (by wins) – JUAN CRAWFORD
MALE SPRINTER OF THE YEAR – GAROFOLI
DISTANCE MALE OF THE YEAR – IF YOU INSIST
BEST CLAIM OF THE YEAR – CANTUCCI
Owner/trainer Alan Bird
FEMALE CLAIMER OF THE YEAR – REALLY THIRSTY
FEMALE TURF OF THE YEAR – ALTA CALIBRE
MALE TURF OF THE YEAR – VERY DEBONAIRE
MALE CLAIMER OF THE YEAR – A LA CARTE
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