The best of Alberta's harness racing industry were honoured at the annual Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) Awards Gala on Saturday, February 10 at the Northlands Park Paddock Theatre in Edmonton, Alta.
Outlaw Fireball was named Horse of the Year after an outstanding sophomore campaign. The daughter of Blue Burner - Watchasgirlsgoby never missed the board in 14 seasonal starts, sporting a stellar 8-4-2 summary. Her biggest win of the year came on September 30 in a come-from-behind score to capture the $132,390 Northlands Filly Pace for driver J.F Gagne.
Outlaw Fireball, winning at Century Downs
Majorie Dumont, trainer of Outlaw Fireball, also took home honours for Trainer of the Year Under 200 starts while owners Gagne, Peter Van Seggelen, Carl Warnaar Tapron Holdings Ltd. garnered the Owner of the Year Award.
Horseman Kelly Hoerdt had his hands full with hardware after winning Horseperson, Trainer and Driver of the Year honours. The Beaumont, Alta. native enjoyed one of his best years of his career numbers-wise, with 95 wins and $732,172 on the driving side to accompany a lifetime-best 117 training wins and $928,000-plus in purses for horses from his stable. Divisional winners from the Hoerdt stable include two-year-old pacing colt Custard Laststand and older pacing horse Iwondothatagain.
Custards Laststand and Kelly Hoerdt, winning at Northlands
The full list of winners appears below.
Two-Year-Old Alberta Sired Filly
Roaring Home
Two-Year-Old Filly
Maid In Alberta
Two-Year-Old Alberta Sired Colt/Gelding
Custards Laststand
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Paradise Hill
Three-Year-Old Alberta Sired Filly
Outlaw Fireball
Three-Year-Old Filly
Outlaw Fireball
Three-Year-Old Alberta Sired Colt/Gelding
Mateo
Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Da Magician
Champion Aged Mare
Tajmeallover
Champion Aged Horse
Iwontdothatagain
Champion Claimer (Fillies/Mares)
Take On Da Boys
Champion Claimer (Colts/Geldings)
Blue Eyed Cowboy
Fastest Girl
Watch My Luck (1:52.4 at Century Downs)
Fastest Boy(s)
Kokanee Seelster (1:51.4 at Century Downs)
Royal Renegade (1:51.4 at Northlands Park)
Caretaker of the Year
Mike Raymond
Trainer Under 200 Starts
Marjorie Dumont
Trainer of the Year
Kelly Hoerdt
Driver Under 200 Starts
Preston Shaw
Driver of the Year
Kelly Hoerdt
Owner of the Year
JF Gagne, Peter Van Seggelen, Carl Wamaar, Tapron Holdings
Breeder of the Year
Meridian Farms ~ Bill Andrew
Horseperson of the Year
Kelly Hoerdt
Breeders Award of Recognition
Gordon & Helen Empey
Ron McLeod Award of Recognition
Don Bougie
Horse of the Year
Outlaw Fireball