The 2023 Youth Derby Awards night, presented by the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance, was a memorable experience for the finalists, who enjoyed VIP access to the world of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The BGRA hosted 22 finalists and their family members for an action-packed evening. In addition to dinner and awards presentations, the group enjoyed an exclusive VIP experience at the Campbellville, Ont. oval with paddock tours, a harnessing demonstration, rides on double-seated jog carts and a VR harness driving experience.

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Jody Jamieson, James MacDonald and Doug McNair were a huge hit with the group during the Driver Meet & Greet. Finalists learned about what it takes to be a pro harness driver, had the chance to ask the drivers questions and have photos taken with them.

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Following dinner, the awards, sponsored by owner/breeder Tom Rankin, were presented to the finalists. Senior division winners were also awarded a certificate for Equine Guelph’s online Horse Behaviour and Safety courses by Gayle Ecker, Director at Equine Guelph.

The evening culminated with the group making a blanket presentation to the winner of the fifth race.

Below is the list of winners in their respective categories. The winners’ entries will be posted on the website bgracingalliance.ca.

Youth Literary Derby

Short Story - Junior (Grades 3-5)

Clara Smith, Niagara Falls, Ont., for "Snow Meets the World"

Short Story - Senior (Grades 6-8)

Amira Javaheri, Maple, Ont., for "The Adventure of the Meadow"

Poem - Junior - (Grades 3-5)

Sophia Zheng, Richmond Hill, Ont., for "Promise to Perfection"

Poem - Senior (Grades 6-8)

Lila Tipple, Burlington, Ont., for "My Little Foal"

Youth Art Derby

Junior

Riley Liang, Oakville, Ont., for "Freedom"

Senior

Maddy Surette, Guelph, Ont., for "Dreamer"

Youth Video Derby

Cam Kupec, Petrolia, Ont., for "Brooke Jogging Olczyk"

Youth Photo Derby

Brinsley Brickman, Sebringville, Ont., for "Sunset Jogging"

The BGRA would like to extend its sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to a very successful event:

• Owner/breeder Tom Rankin for attending the event and sponsoring the prize money
• Equine Guelph for donating the Horse Behaviour and Safety courses to the Senior division winners and Gayle Ecker, Director of Equine Guelph, for attending the event to make the presentations
• The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) for sponsoring the dinner for the finalists and their guests, along with the Drive With Us program
• Trainers Debi O’Brien Moran and Kenny Ellis for taking the kids for rides (Drive With Us) in the double-seated jog carts
• Ontario Racing for providing some great swag for the finalists
• Woodbine Mohawk Park for all of its contributions with providing the venue, set-up and gifts for the finalists.  A special thanks to Heather Flaherty, General Manager of Woodbine Mohawk Park
• Trainer Emma Christoforou for the harnessing demonstration
• Drivers Jody Jamieson, James MacDonald and Doug McNair for providing the group with insight into what it takes to be a harness driver and for answering a plethora of questions
• Customer Service Rep Mori White for the paddock tours

(BGRA)