The 75-year-old former football star – turned construction entrepreneur, has persisted in getting the best mares in his band for more than 30 years. It paid off in 2012. Graham won his first Sovereign Award for Canada’s Outstanding Breeder thanks to four nifty young racehorses and one fabulous grey filly. Windhaven-breds collected $2.25 million including 20 winners, six stakes winners and five stakes placed winners in Canada.

The top of the class was Uncaptured, a son of Lion Heart from Captivating, by Arch who was named Canada’s Horse of the Year and Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. It was the first time a two-year-old has been named Horse of the Year since Ruling Angel in 1986. Uncaptured, bought by American John Oxley as a yearling at Keeneland September for $290,000, won six of seven races including two graded stakes events at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and Iroquois Stakes (GIII).

Graham also bred River Seven, a son of Johannesburg from his mare Sans Souci Island, by Chester House, who won the Grade III Grey Stakes for juveniles at Woodbine and was a finalist for champion two-year-old colt. He was a $80,000 Keeneland September sale yearling and a $60,000 Florida two-year-old purchase by Tucci Stables. The third Graham-bred juvenile star of 2012, Star Contender, also owned by Oxley, who won the prestigious Cup & Saucer Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Star Contender is a son of Henny Hughes out of Sanibel Star by Unbridled’s Song who cost $80,000 at the CTHS Ontario sale.

Bosco, a Street Cry – Fly Borbeleta, by Pulpit colt, was the fourth top two-year-old of 2012 bred by Graham as a winner of the Edmonton Juvenile Stakes at Northlands Park.

On the international front, Graham’s breeding program produced the top American-based, Canadian-bred filly Joyful Victory, by Tapit out of Wild Lucy Black, who won the Tiffany Lass Stakes and was second in the Grade I Zenyatta Stakes and second or third in four other graded stakes races. Joyful Victory was also one of America`s top three-year-old fillies of 2011.

Graham got hooked on Thoroughbreds through a trip to Gulfstream Park racetrack in Miami with his late wife Valerie in the 1970s. As owner of Graham Bros. Construction, founded in 1959, he has divided his time between his business and his horses. His first major runners included Grade I winner Proud Lou, winner of the 1974 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park, Majestic Kahala, a graded stakes winner in 1977 and more recent filly stars Blondeinamotel, a cleverly named Bates Motel chestnut filly who won the 1989 Woodbine Oaks and champions Cotton Carnival and Fantasy Lake.

Graham, who was inducted into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Ontario Road Builders Association Hall of Fame in 2009, has also sat on the Ontario Racing Commission and has had a long tenure a director at Woodbine.

“I still have a passion for it all,” said Graham. “It has been an honour to be part of Woodbine and its growth over the years.”

Graham’s Stats

2012 Stakes Winners – Stakes Placed Runners

Acting Naughty – stakes placed

Bosco – stakes winner

Dancing Raven – stakes placed

Head Honcho – stakes placed

Henny’s Heart – stakes placed

Joyful Victory – stakes winner

Peyton – graded stakes placed

River Seven – graded stakes winner

Time Sharing – stakes winner

Uncaptured – graded stakes winner