Waples On Sovereign Win

When aspiring photographer Matt Waples captured a priceless image of thoroughbred Not Bourbon after his Queen's Plate victory this year, the Sovereign Awards didn't even cross his mind. Now, after almost six months, the Canadian horse racing world knows that it should have been.

"I wasn't standing in the scrum. I was kind of off to the side and was just happy to be there," Waples, the 16-year-old son of Hall of Fame horseman Ron Waples and equine photographer Monica Thors, told Trot Insider.

"I was looking to get a shot, but there wasn't much opportunity with all of the commotion. For a brief second, one of the people in my line of vision lifted his arm. I was able to snap off the picture, and, given the situation, it turned out great."

The picture, the one that eventually earned Waples a Sovereign Award for Outstanding Photograph, is of Not Bourbon's owner, Charles Fipke, giving the Roger Attfield-trained colt a well-deserved smooch on the snout after his victory in the nation's top thoroughbred stakes event. The photo appeared in the August/September 2008 issue of Canadian Thoroughbred Magazine.

Waples' shot beat out those of veteran racing photographers Michael Burns Jr. and Sr., the talented pair that know a thing or two about what it takes to lock down a Sovereign from their work at Woodbine Racetrack, Canada's showplace of thoroughbred racing.

"This summer, photographer Dave Landry sort of took me under his wing," explained Waples. "I went down and shot the Hambo at the Meadowlands, the Breeders Crown at Mohawk, the Super Finals at Woodbine, and the Gold Rush and Xtreme Horsepower at Georgian Downs."

Waples told Trot Insider that the base of his photography is of standardbreds, explaining that the qualifying sessions at Mohawk Racetrack have also provided him with some prime opportunity to begin to hone his fledgling craft. "I bought my first digital camera in the summer of '07. Early this year I bought a Nikon D-300 and have really gotten into it."

Through his tight association with Landry, Waples got a chance to fire off shots at the Queens Plate -- not a bad location for just his second time framing the runners. "I never thought of submitting the photo for the Sovereigns," Waples told Trot Insider. "Landry and a couple of other people persuaded me to send it in.

"When I heard that I was a finalist for the award I couldn't believe it -- I was very happy and really surprised, as well. When I got to the Awards ceremony, I looked in the program and looked at the Burns' shots that I was up against. I figured I had no shot and just wanted to enjoy the evening."

Waples said that what came later that evening was a complete and total shock.

"When my name was announced as winner of the award, I was shocked, that's the only way I can put it. Even some hours after the awards I couldn't stop shaking a little."

From multiple accounts, Waples' acceptance speech was top notch and well delivered -- especially since there were no cue cards, no prepared words or delivery.

"I want to stay shooting in the horse business for now," Waples told Trot insider. "I do want to start doing some corporate and studio work, but I do truly love getting out with my camera and the horses."