A terrific crowd – including a number of dignitaries which included special guest, Hall of Famer Doug Brown - turned out for Saturday’s Prince County Horsemen’s Club Awards Banquet at Summerside’s Credit Union Place to pay tribute to the top performers of the 2016 season.

“It’s a great honour to be here,” said multiple O’Brien Award-winning reinsman Doug Brown. “The Island has just been such a great supporter of harness racing for many years, and it’s a pleasure to be a guest speaker tonight.”

Also showing support for the event was Dr. Colleen Dickie, president of the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association, who presented the ‘Fan Favourite’ award.

“Harness Racing is a very important industry to the Island,” she said. “If we want to see the industry survive, then we should be willing to put our time and effort into doing that by volunteering. This is why you see so many people tonight because they want the industry to do well, and they are willing to volunteer their time and effort.”

Noonan Petroleum, ALC Red Shores and Meridian Farms were proud sponsors of the event.

Here is a complete list of the winners:

Top Driver (50+ Starts): Marc Campbell

Top Trainer (50+ Starts): Terry Gallant

Top Percentage Driver (25-49 Starts): Keith Campbell

Top Dash Winning Driver (25-49 Starts): Adam Merner

Top Percentage Trainer (25-49 Starts) Ralph Sweet

Top Dash Winning Trainer (25-49): Ralph Sweet and Sifroi Melanson

Groom of the Year: Madonna Morrison

Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Good Morning Ky

Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Mick Dundee

Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Revenueofwindemere

Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Howmacs Survivor

Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Every Time and Southfield Sassy

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Heart And Soul

Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Rustico Duchess

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Mr Bower

Fan Favourite: Minor Wisdom

Claimer of the Year: Casimir Luciano

Aged Trotter of the Year: I Aint No Lady

Aged Pacing Mare of the Year: Minor Wisdom

Aged Pacing Horse of the Year: Motorino

Horse of the Year: Casimir Luciano

Breeder of the Year: Wendell Williams

Frank Daniels Memorial: Sandra Cole

Standardbred Canada Owner of the Year: Shelly Gass

Philip and Henry Doucette Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award: Lloyd Hannah

Garth Schurman Memorial: Dale Sobey

Horsewoman of the Year: Deanna Clow

Horseman of the Year: Ralph Sweet

(With files from Journal Pioneer)