The 2009 Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) Awards were presented on Saturday evening at the Greenwood Inn & Suites in Edmonton, Alberta
.
The 2009 Horse of the Year honours went to Swiftys First Star, previously a winner of the Champion Two-Year-Old Alberta-Sired Gelding award in 2008.
During his three-year-old campaign, Swiftys First Star won eight of his 12 starts with one second and one third to earn $124,392 for trainer Robert Sabourin, Jr. and owners Kurt and Kathy Schmidt of Leduc, Alta., who also bred the colt.
After capturing his three Alberta Sire Stakes divisions, Swiftys First Star dominated his rivals in the $100,000 Battle of Alberta Super Final winning by 12-1/2 lengths in a career best 1:54.4 over a frozen track on December 5 at Northlands Park. The son of As Promised-Swiftys Girl also captured his Western Pace elimination and finished second in the $100,000 final. 
Swiftys First Star’s feats on track in the 2009 season also earned him the Three-Year-Old Alberta Sired Colt award.
Veteran horseman Keith Clark, who was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2009, swept the Trainer, Driver and Horseman of the Year categories. Clark recorded 196 driving wins good for over $1.4 million in purses and 165 training wins for another $1.4 million in earnings. Those numbers helped him top the training and driving charts at Grande Prairie and Northlands Park. Clark also trained and drove ASHA award winners Rossridge Fortune, Incredible Beauty and Admired Beauty during their 2009 campaigns.
Here is a look at the complete list of 2009 ASHA Award winners:
Two-Year-Old Alberta Sired Filly (sponsored by Sky West Farms)
Rossridge Fortune
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding (sponsored by Kurt & Kathy Schmidt)
All Canadian MJJZ
Two-Year-Old Alberta Sired Colt/Gelding (sponsored by Crowfoot Liquor Stores)
Flak Jacket
Three-Year-Old Filly (sponsored by Tru-West Company)
Incredible Beauty
Three-Year-Old Alberta Sired Filly (sponsored by Prowerx Disposal)
A Special Lady
Three-Year-Old Colt (sponsored by Standard General)
Sixdaysontheroad
Three-Year-Old Alberta Sired Colt (sponsored by Evergreen Park)
Swiftys First Star
Four-Year-Old Alberta Sired Mare (sponsored by Rocky Mountain Turf Club)
Doober Hoozzitz
Four-Year-Old Alberta Sired Horse (sponsored by Alfa-Tec Products)
Timberline Court
Champion Aged Mare (sponsored by Meridian Farms)
Admired Beauty
Champion Aged Horse (sponsored by Alberta Downs-Lacombe)
Smart Shark
Champion Claimer of the Year (sponsored by Independent Jewellers)
Admired Beauty
Groom of the Year (sponsored by Raceway Tack)
Kim Scott – Jamie Gray Stable
Trainer of the Year – Under 200 Starts (sponsored by Olds Agricultural Society)
Ronnie Graham
Driver of the Year – Under 200 Starts (sponsored by Boston Pizza)
Gary Clark
Trainer of the Year (sponsored by Univet Pharmaceuticals)
Keith Clark
Driver of the Year (sponsored by Gunnholme Farms)
Keith Clark
Breeder of the Year (sponsored by Moore & Co. Veterinarians)
Bill Andrew – Meridian Farms
Owner of the Year (sponsored by Standardbred Canada)
Robert Murphy
Horseman of the Year (sponsored by Northlands Park)
Keith Clark
Breeders of the Year Recognition (sponsored by Bill & Denise Andrew)
Charles (Chuck) Ibey
Ron McLeod Award of Acheivement (sponsored by ASHA)
Darrell Waldner
Horse of the Year (sponsored by Horse Racing Alberta)
Swiftys First Star
(With files from ASHA)