Knob Hill Stable
Encyclopedia
Knob Hill Stable was a Canadian
Thoroughbred
horse racing
and breeding operation established by Toronto
businessman, Steve Stavro
.
The stable bred and raced a number of champions such as Canadian Horse of the Year honourees, Benburb and Thornfield
. In 1992, Steve Stavro was voted a Sovereign Award
as both outstanding breeder and owner. In 1993, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association voted him their North American Breeder of the Year Award.
In 1992 the Knob Hill colt Benburb earned Canadian Horse of the Year and Champion 3-year-old male
honours after winning the classic Prince of Wales Stakes
and defeating United States star A.P. Indy
while winning the Molson Export Million Stakes
. The following year, Stavro's filly Apelia was Champion Sprinter
and Bold Debra won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare
. Thornfield and another champion, Saoirse
, came later. Thornfield was 1999 Horse of the Year and Champion grass male
after winning the Canadian International Stakes
. Saoirse was Champion Older Female Horse
in 2000.
Although successful at both, Stavro prided himself on breeding, as opposed to buying, winning thoroughbreds. He campaigned such other important winners as Debra's Victory, Granacus, Megas Vukefalos, Schossberg, and Zadracarta. Granacus and Schossberg were winners south of the border. Granacus won the 1988 Grade I
Blue Grass Stakes
at Keeneland Race Course, and Schossberg captured the Jerome Handicap
and the Philip H. Iselin Handicap
.
After his death in 2006, one of his horses he had purchased at the Keeneland Yearling sale, Leonnatus Anteas
was awarded the Sovereign Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male Horse
In 2007, Alezzandro won the Sovereign Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and breeding operation established by Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
businessman, Steve Stavro
Steve Stavro
Steve Atanas Stavro, CM , born Manoli Stavroff Sholdas, was a Macedonian Canadian businessman, grocery store magnate, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, sports team owner, and a noted philanthropist....
.
The stable bred and raced a number of champions such as Canadian Horse of the Year honourees, Benburb and Thornfield
Thornfield
Thornfield is a Canadian Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Regally bred by Steve Stavro's Knob Hill Farm, he was sired by Eclipse and Sovereign Award and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Sky Classic, a son of the English Triple Crown winner, Nijinsky...
. In 1992, Steve Stavro was voted a Sovereign Award
Sovereign Award
The Sovereign Award is given annually since 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada to the outstanding horses and people in Canadian Thoroughbred racing.The most prestigious award for horses is Sovereign Horse of the Year....
as both outstanding breeder and owner. In 1993, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association voted him their North American Breeder of the Year Award.
In 1992 the Knob Hill colt Benburb earned Canadian Horse of the Year and Champion 3-year-old male
Sovereign Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse
The Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada, it is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top 3-Year-Old male Thoroughbred horse competing in Canada.Past winners:...
honours after winning the classic Prince of Wales Stakes
Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and three sixteenths . In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the...
and defeating United States star A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy is a champion stallion Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky, USA, by William Farish III and William Kilroy. He is known for his ancestry, his own record, and his successful progeny. He was sired by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew through mare Weekend Surprise, who herself was sired...
while winning the Molson Export Million Stakes
Woodbine Mile
The Woodbine Mile is a Grade I stakes race on turf for Thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up held annually in mid September at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada...
. The following year, Stavro's filly Apelia was Champion Sprinter
Sovereign Award for Champion Sprinter
The Canadian Champion Male Sprint Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor that is part of the Sovereign Awards program awarded annually to the top Thoroughbred Male competing in sprint races in Canada...
and Bold Debra won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare
Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare
The Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is a lifetime achievement award given annually to a top broodmare in Canada....
. Thornfield and another champion, Saoirse
Saoirse (horse)
Saoirse is a Canadian Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by Steve Stavro's Knob Hill Stable, her Gaelic name means "freedom or Liberty" and is pronounced "Seer sha"Saoirse was sired by 1980 Laurel Futurity Stakes winner, Cure the Blues...
, came later. Thornfield was 1999 Horse of the Year and Champion grass male
Sovereign Award for Champion Male Turf Horse
The Canadian Champion Male Turf Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor that is part of the Sovereign Awards program awarded annually to the top 2-Year-Old male Thoroughbred horse competing in Canada...
after winning the Canadian International Stakes
Canadian International Stakes
The Canadian International Stakes is a $2 million Grade I Canadian stakes race on Turf for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario....
. Saoirse was Champion Older Female Horse
Sovereign Award for Champion Older Female Horse
The Canadian Champion Older Female Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top Thoroughbred Filly four years of age and older competing in Canada.Past winners:...
in 2000.
Although successful at both, Stavro prided himself on breeding, as opposed to buying, winning thoroughbreds. He campaigned such other important winners as Debra's Victory, Granacus, Megas Vukefalos, Schossberg, and Zadracarta. Granacus and Schossberg were winners south of the border. Granacus won the 1988 Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
at Keeneland Race Course, and Schossberg captured the Jerome Handicap
Jerome Handicap
The Jerome Stakes is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each fall at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $150,000. The race is a prep race to several races of the Breeders' Cup....
and the Philip H. Iselin Handicap
Philip H. Iselin Handicap
The Philip H. Iselin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to horses three years of age and older, the race was first run in 1884...
.
After his death in 2006, one of his horses he had purchased at the Keeneland Yearling sale, Leonnatus Anteas
Leonnatus Anteas
Leonnatus Anteas is a Canadian Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned by the Steve Stavro estate, the grandson of Storm Cat was sold by Denali Stud as agents for Josham Farms of Ontario at the September 2005 Keeneland Sales...
was awarded the Sovereign Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male Horse
Sovereign Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male Horse
The Canadian Champion Two-Year-Old Coltis a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada, it is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top 2-Year-Old male Thoroughbred horse competing in Canada.Past winners: -References:*...
In 2007, Alezzandro won the Sovereign Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse
Sovereign Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse
The Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada, it is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top 3-Year-Old male Thoroughbred horse competing in Canada.Past winners:...
Facilities
- Newmarket, OntarioNewmarket, OntarioNewmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
- 100 acre (0.404686 km²) breeding and training facility and Canadian headquarters - KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
- 300 acres (1.2 km²) US breeding and training facilities