Old Forester , who stands at T.C. Westmeath Stud Farm in Ontario, Canada, topped the Thoroughbred Improvement Program stallion awards list. A total of $400,000 in award money was distributed to stallion owners based on the success of Ontario-sired progeny in North American races in 2011.
Old Forester earned $50,000. Runner-up Bold Executive earned $30,000, and third-place finisher Philanthropist earned $20,000.
The leading first-crop sire, Vibank, earned $50,000.
Old Forester was the Ontario sires award top earner for the first time with progeny earnings of $3,106,650. The son of Forestry sired 41 winners from 81 runners in 2011 including stakes winners Citius, Jenna's Wabbit, Kitty's Got Class, and Weekend Romance.
Bold Executive, by Bold Ruckus, sired 50 winners from 114 runners in 2011 and had progeny earnings of $2,868,169. A six-time leading sire in Canada, Bold Executive was represented by stakes winners Sand Cove and Sans Sousi. Bold Ruckus died in 2011 at the age of 27
Philanthropist. who stands at Gardiner Farms Limited, concluded his 2011 season with 17 winners from 41 runners and progeny earnings of $2,687,594. The son of Kris S. sired stakes winners Bear It's Time, Grace Phil, Run in Aruba, and Pender Harbour.
Vibank, by Silver Deputy, sired three winners from 13 runners in 2011 with progeny earnings of $245,841. He stands at Park Stud.
Each year through the Thoroughbred Improvement Program, stallion awards totaling $400,000 are distributed to stallion owners for their successful eligible progeny. This program is made up of two categories: stallion year-end points awards, where $250,000 was distributed to 46 individual stallion owners on the basis of points earned by the progeny of the stallion during the 2011 calendar year; and year-end top stallions awards, where $150,000 is distributed to stallion owners whose progeny achieved the highest in North American earnings last year.