Manitoba's top performers from the 2025 harness racing season were celebrated at the annual Manitoba Standardbred Racing Industry Awards Banquet this past weekend at the Canad Inns Destination Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man.

The event, presented by the Manitoba Standardbred Sires & Breeders Association (MSSBA) and Manitoba Harness Horsemen Inc. (MHHI), was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

Pipers Luna was named the top Manitoba-bred horse after a spectacular debut campaign in 2025 that included winning seven of her eight starts in the province. Among her six stakes victories, Pipers Luna won the 78th renewal of the Manitoba Great Western Stakes at The Loop in a three-year-old track record performance of 1:58.3 on Aug. 30 with Dean Rey driving for trainer Lorraine Rey, who bred and co-owns the filly with Vince Sotheran. Pipers Luna's sire and dam, Im The Pied Piper and Hammers Rainbow, were also honoured.

Also bred and owned by Lorraine Rey, five-year-old pacing mare Grit N Grace, a 2025 O'Brien Award finalist with a lifetime mark of 1:49.3 taken at Woodbine Mohawk Park, was honoured in a new award category for Breeder Excellence. The award is presented to a Manitoba resident breeder of a Manitoba-sired Standardbred that meets at least two or more of the following criteria: is an O’Brien Award finalist; attains a win mark under 1:50; attains lifetime earnings of greater or equal to $500,000; and/or wins a $100,000 race. A horse will only be eligible to receive the award once in its lifetime.

Darryl Mason was named Horseperson of the Year in addition to receiving the Ron Waples Award and honours for top driver for wins and URS -- the latter awarded was shared with Marc Fillion. Sherri Mason was top trainer for wins while Melanie Rey-Clark was top trainer for URS. It was a big night for the Mason family with Aaron also feted as a rising star.

A complete list of the award winners follows.

Manitoba-Bred Two-Year-Old Filly
Libbys Delight

Manitoba-Bred Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Justcruiseonbye

Manitoba-Bred Three-Year-Old Filly
Pipers Luna

Manitoba-Bred Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Van Goghing Fast

Manitoba-Bred Aged Mare
Fall Out Girl

Manitoba-Bred Aged Horse/Gelding
Fan C That

Top Manitoba-Bred
Pipers Luna

Aged Mare of the Year
Nonversation

Aged Horse/Gelding of the Year
Ginger Tree Finny

Claimer of the Year
Chief Is Boss & Fan C That

Broodmare of the Year
Hammers Rainbow

Sire of the Year
Im The Pied Piper

Top Driver - Wins
Darryl Mason

Top Driver - URS
Darryl Mason & Marc Fillion

Top Trainer - Wins
Sherri Mason

Top Trainer - URS
Melanie Rey-Clark

Horseperson of the Year
Darryl Mason

Rookie/Rising Star Award
Aaron Mason

Caretakers of the Year
Rita Vodon & Ann Fillion

MSSBA Owner of the Year
Cory Manning

MHHI Owner of the Year
Laverne Turnbull

Lifetime Breeders Achievement Award
Betty Manning

MSSBA Breeder Excellence Award
Grit N Grace

See Me Go Award of Sportsmanship
Ann Fillion

Ron Waples Award
Darryl Mason

Lifetime Membership Award
Richard Remillard

(Standardbred Canada)