The Truro Harness Horse Owners Association held its awards banquet for the 2022 racing season at Truro Raceway on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Debert Hospitality Centre in Nova Scotia.
Guests were entertained by Jayson Baxter of CTV News at 5, and the person who brought us the story of "Saving Sammy" and again followed it up with another story of "Saving Sammy: Return to the Races."
Due to not having a banquet in 2021, awards were also given for the 2021 racing season.
American Risk was awarded the Horse of the Year for 2021 and 2022. The American Ideal gelding is owned by Risky Bizz Group and is trained by George Rennison. American Risk also provided his ownership group with one of the Owner of the Year awards; the second Owner of the Year was awarded to Pam Moore.
The top Mare of the Year was awarded to Whistlen Cricket, owned by Gloria Carey, Gail Skelhorne, Heather Gatti and Margaret Hobson, and trained by Dave Carey.
The Jim Chambers Sportsmanship awards were presented to Rob Tait for Groom, Chuck O'Connor for Trainer and Jeff Ellis for Driver. The Jim Chambers Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bernard "Pooker" McCallum. The Neldie Haley High Percentage Driver Award was presented to Todd Trites.
With youth being the future of our industry, there were three Junior Grooms presented with awards. Ahlea Fudge, Brennan Crowe and Lane McEachen were recognized for their involvement with the horses with special video messages from Ben Hollingsworth, Sugar Doyle and Ambyr Campbell.
The Future Star award was presented to Ellis Driscoll with a special video message from James MacDonald.
The following is a list of all the awards winners:
2021 Horse Awards
Two-Year-Old Colt – Rollwithhottytoddy
Two-Year-Old Filly – West River Glo
Three-Year-Old Colt – Fifth Estate
Three-Year-Old Filly – Havarti
Claiming Horse – Livley Freddy
Claiming Mare – Khitam Image
Horse of the Year – American Risk
Mare of the Year – Lady N Paradise
2022 Breeders Crown Awards
Breeder – Greg MacKenzie
Two-Year-Old Colt – Malignity
2022 Horse Awards
Two-Year-Old Colt – Malignity
Two-Year-Old Filly – Woodmere Clara
Three-Year-Old Colt – Woodmere Denver
Three-Year-Old Filly – West River Glo
Two-Year-Old Trotter (Filly) – Miss Braylee Ridge
Three-Year-Old Trotter Filly – Up Helly AA
Three-Year-Old Trotter Colt – Majian Salsa
Claiming Horse – Dontstandinmyway
Claiming Mare – Camco Willow
Horse of the Year – American Risk
Mare of the Year – Whistlen Cricket
Fan Favourite – Well Did
2022 Achievement Awards
Top Dash Winning Driver over 50 under 100 – Andrew Campbell
Top Dash Winning Driver over 100 – Paul Langille
Top Dash Winning Trainer over 50 under 100 – Danny Romo
Top Dash Winning Trainer over 100 – George Rennison
Horseman – Pooker McCallum
Horsewoman – Heather Gatti
Junior Groom of the Year – Lane McEachen, Ahlea Fudge & Brennan Crowe
Future Star Award – Ellie Drisccoll
Groom of the Year – Helen Landry & Tristan MacLane
Jim Chambers Sportsmanship Driver Award – Jeff Elllis
Jim Chambers Sportsmanship Trainer Award – Chuck O’Connor
Jim Chambers Sportsmanship Groom Award – Rob Tait
Jim Chambers Lifetime Achievement Award – Pooker McCallum
Owner of the Year – Risky Bizz Group & Pam Moore
(Truro Harness Horse Owners Association)