The 2024 Youth Derby Awards Night, presented by the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA), provided finalists an unforgettable experience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park this past Saturday afternoon and evening.

The BGRA hosted 21 finalists and their family members for an action-packed evening. The top three finalists in each of the seven categories were invited to attend. In addition to dinner and awards presentations, the group enjoyed a 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. Hall of Famer Ron Waples and Doug NcNair were on hand at the VR Drive To Win Experience to chat with the finalists and give them some pointers, while Scott Young was on hand in the winner’s circle to talk to the finalists as they waited for their turns on the double-seated jog carts.  During dinner, Anthony Haughan stopped by to meet and chat with finalists and their family members.

The awards were presented after dinner, and for the second consecutive year, were sponsored by owner/breeder Tom Rankin. Finalists who were 13 years of age and over were also awarded a certificate for Equine Guelph’s online Horse Behavior and Safety courses by Jackie Bellamy Zions, Communications Manager at Equine Guelph.

The evening culminated with the group making a blanket presentation to the winner of the fourth race, pacing mare Glenboro and driver Travis Cullen.

Below is the list of winners in their respective categories. The winners’ entries have been posted on the BGRA website at bgracingalliance.ca.

Youth Literary Derby

Poem, Junior - (Grades 3-5)

• Sarah Moore of Amherstburg for “Unexpected Victory”
• Ian McLaughlin of Woodstock for “Thunder, My Standardbred”
• Page Daniels of Thornbury for “On Your Marks”

Poem, Intermediate (Grades 6-8)

• Sophia Zheng of Richmond Hill for “Champion In The Making”
• June Ibbotson of Hanover for “Sunset’s Glory”
• Lauren Scott of Brinston for “I Will Forever Be Your Biggest Fan”

Short Story, Junior (Grades 3-5)

• Katherine Scott of Brinston  for “Big Ask (Clifford)”
• Anna Dennis of Embro for “Scrump And The Ultimate Race”
• Sadie Follings of Hanover for “Katie’s Big Race”

Short Story, Intermediate (Grades 6-8)

• Perina Baklinski of Combermere for “Micky’s Big Day”
• Eda Baklinski of Combermere for “Midnight Adventures”
• Mikala Acton of Woodstock for “The Life Of A Standardbred”

Youth Art Derby

Junior

• Mila McLean of Combermere for “Light Footed Determination”
• Korbin Stock of London for “Dee Dee”
• Brielle Zonnekeyn of Peterborough for “Spread Your Wings”

Intermediate

• Clara Baklinski of Combermere for “Born To Win”
• Hailey Jeffery of Rodney for “And They’re Off”
• Calissa Curry of Owen Sound for “Standardbred Portrait”

Senior

• Alexandra Homorcean of Burlington for “Chasing The Wind”
• Deanna Packet of Wyoming for “Armbro Flight”
• Olivia Brosseau of Kitchener for “Prizeman’s Portrait”

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

• Owner/breeder Tom Rankin for sponsoring the prize money;
• The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) for sponsoring the dinner for the finalists and their guests, along with the Drive With Us program, and President Bill O’Donnell for attending the dinner;
• Equine Guelph for donating the Horse Behavior and Safety Courses to the finalists 13 years of age and over, and Jackie Bellamy Zions, Communications Manager of Equine Guelph, for attending the event to make the presentations;
• Drive With Us and participants Reverend Hanover driven by Braiden Reibeling, Lux Seelster driven by Nate Harding and Shadows Shadow driven by Evan Stephenson;
• Joanne Colville, Brittany Booth, Rachel Kukulewich, Michael Whelan, Josh McKibbon and Bob McClure for all of their help with Drive With Us;
• Trainer Emma Christoforou for the harnessing demonstration;
• Woodbine Mohawk Park for all of its contributions with providing the venue, set-up and gifts for the finalists;
•  Heather Flaherty, General Manager Woodbine Mohawk Park;
• Anthony Haughan, Doug McNair, Ron Waples and Scott Young for providing the finalists with insight into what it takes to be a harness driver and for answering the many questions;
• Customer Service Rep Mori White and and Lori Jennex for the paddock tours;
• BGRA volunteers Nancy Milcz and  Melisa Hamilton for all of their hard work at the event.

(With files from Bill Galvin Racing Alliance)