Atlantic Breeders Crown Champion Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt Dixieland Band was named P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association (PEISHOA) Horse of the Year at their annual awards banquet on Saturday evening (April 16).

Dixieland Band was bred by Meridian Farms, and is co-owned by Reg MacPherson, David and Aaron MacKenzie, trained by Kevin MacLean, and driven by Gilles Barrieau.

Longtime trainer/driver Joe Smallwood was presented with the Horseperson of the Year award, which recognizes a lifetime of successful activity in Prince Edward Island harness racing. Smallwood also owned the Trotter of the Year, two-year-old High Bid.

Francis Lund was named Active Horsewoman of the Year. Lund was an O’Brien Media Award and Dan Patch Award winner for her photograph taken during the Gold Cup and Saucer post parade in 2015. Gary Poulton was honoured with the Active Horseman of the Year, in recognition of his volunteer contribution to the province’s harness racing associations.

Canada’s Horse of the Year State Treasurer, owned by the MacDonald family of Souris, P.E.I., was also recognized for his outstanding racing season that included winning the Canadian Pacing Derby as well as pacing the fastest mile in North America in 2015 at The Meadowlands.

Two longtime industry participants were also honoured when Boyd MacDonald was named the Standardbred Canada Owner of the Year and Jack Arsenault was named Most Dedicated Horseperson.

P.E.I. native Greg Blanchard, Racing Manager at Western Fair Raceway in London, Ont., updated the sellout crowd on the success their facility has enjoyed over the recent past.

“We were thrilled with the turnout for our event," said PEISHOA President Dr. Colleen Dickie. “We were also honoured to have Federal Agriculture and AgriFood Minister Hon. Lawrence MacAulay and P.E.I. Minister Responsible for Harness Racing Hon. Robert Mitchell in attendance, to show their support for P.E.I. harness racing.”

Other award winners were:

Fan Favourite Award
Caliban Hanover - owned by Wendell MacDonald, trained and driven by Ronnie Gass

Two-Year-Old Colt Trot
High Bid - bred by Meridian Farms, owned and trained by Joe Smallwood, and driven by Walter Cheverie

Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
Time Warp - bred by Meridian Farms, co-owned by Dan Ross, Bill and Brian Andrew, and Boyd MacDonald, trained and driven by Danny MacDonald

Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt
Lukes Cowboy - bred and co-owned by Philip Valley, with co-owners Jeff Ruch and Glenn Bechtel, trained and driven by Kenny Arsenault

Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly
Glory Jean - bred and owned by Blair Hansen, trained by Tommy Weatherbie, and driven by Gordie Hennessey

Three-Year-Old Colt Trot
JK Blaze - bred by Meridian Farms, owned and trained by Joe Smallwood, and driven by Walter Cheverie

Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Paymenowpaymelater - bred by Eldred Nicholson and Peter Buchanan, owned by Wade Peconi, trained by Earl Watts, driven by Kenny Arsenault and Marc Campbell

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt
Dixieland Band - bred by Meridian Farms, co-owned by Reg MacPherson, and David and Aaron MacKenzie, trained by Kevin MacLean, and driven by Gilles Barrieau.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly
Elm Grove Joanette - bred by the late Louis McIsaac, owned by Peter and Don Smith, Gerald Morrissey and Larry Chappell, trained and driven by Kenny Arsenault

Claiming Horse of the Year
Forever Paradise was a 16-time winner in 2015 - bred by Art Millar, owned by Reg MacPherson, trained by Kevin MacLean, and driven by Marc Campbell

Claiming Mare of the Year
Outrageous Spirit - co-owned and trained by Kevin Peters, co-owned by Paul Holmes, and driven by Gordie Hennessey

Aged Trotting Horse
Frill Seeker - owned by the Ebbsfleet Stable of Don and Marion MacDougall, trained and driven by Kenny Arsenault

Aged Trotting Mare
Pleasure Girls - owned by Shelly Gass, trained by father Ronnie, and driven by Ronnie and Corey MacPherson

Aged Pacing Horse
All Turain was a 1:56.1 winner at the CDP with earnings of over $21,000 - owned by Lee Hicken, trained by Trevor Hicken, and primarily driven by Corey MacPherson

Aged Pacing Mare
Rambling Lily was a 14-time winner, including a 1:55.1 clocking at the CDP - co- owned by Normand Leger, co-owned and trained by Allan Jones, and driven by Marc Campbell

Trotter of the Year
High Bid - bred by Meridian Farms, owned and trained by Joe Smallwood, and driven by Walter Cheverie

Pacing Horse of the Year
Dixieland Band - bred by Meridian Farms, co-owned by Reg MacPherson, and David and Aaron MacKenzie, trained by Kevin MacLean, and driven by Gilles Barrieau

Grooms of the Year
Hailey Cole and Austin Sorrie

Mr Trot Challenge
Walter Cheverie

Leading Percentage Driver
Gilles Barrieau

Leading Dash-Winning Driver(s)
Marc Campbell and Jason Hughes (tie)

Leading Percentage Trainer
Earl Watts

Standardbred Canada Owner of the Year
Boyd MacDonald

Most Dedicated Horseperson
Jack Arsenault

Active Horseman Award
Gary Poulton

Active Horsewoman Award
Frances Lund

Horseperson of the Year
Joe Smallwood

Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association Awards

Atlantic Breeders Crown Winning Owners:

Two-Year-Old Trotter
Glencove Zani
Owner: Edward Smallwood

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt
Dixieland Band
Owners: Reginald MacPherson, David MacKenzie and Aaron MacKenzie

Three-Year-Old Trotter
Paymenowpaymelater
Owner: Wade Peconi

Atlantic Breeders Crown Champions Breeders:

Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly
Howacscanasta
Breeder: Blaine MacPherson

Two-Year-Old Trotter
Glencove Zani
Breeder: Carl Bagnall

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt
Dixieland Band
Breeder: Meridian Farms

Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly
Dustylane Mcvickie
Breeder: Meridian Farms

Three-Year-Old Trotter
Paymenowpaymelater
Breeders: Eldred Nicholson and Peter Buchanan

(With files from PEISHOA)