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.