Local pacing star Punchesinbunches was the big winner Saturday (March 2) night at The Raceway’s annual awards night, taking home both Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt honours and winning a ‘unanimous’ decision as overall Horse Of The Year.
The pride of his owner-trainer Doug Schweitzer of West Lorne, Ont. enjoyed a stellar three-year-old season in which he amassed 12 wins and 25 top-three finishes from 29 starts with a mark of 1:55 taken over London’s half-mile oval. Punchesinbunches, a son of Dali-Tommy White Sox, wrapped up his 2023 campaign with more than $77,000 in seasonal earnings.
The other double winner on the night was female trotter Okeeheelee, who took home both Aged Trotting Mare and Claiming Trotter honours on the strength of eight wins and more than $41,000 earned during an excellent 2023 season.
Tyler Borth, who finished runner-up in Canada for wins last year, was The Raceway’s Driver of the Year while Cassidy Schneider, fresh off her O’Brien Award as Canada’s 'Rising Star,' took home a second consecutive Trainer of the Year title.
Two other winners were not announced until Saturday evening’s celebration – those were the Ruth Hebert Horsewoman of the Year, which went to Angie Carroll, and the Caretaker of the Year, which was given to Logan McMurren.
The Raceway is in the midst of another record-setting season and is entering the homestretch of its current meet, which culminates with the Camluck Classic program on Friday, May 31. Live racing happens every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:50 p.m.
The complete list of 2023 award winners at The Raceway is listed below:
Rookie of the Year – Just Ask Joe
Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly – April Duford
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt – Acefortyfour Elvis
Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly – Yoda Queen
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt – Punchesinbunches
Claiming Trotter – Okeeheelee
Claiming Pacer – Big Bad Jenn
Aged Trotting Mare – Okeeheelee
Aged Trotting Horse – Bucktober
Aged Pacing Mare – So Frisky
Aged Pacing Horse – Cheddar Bay
Owner of the Year – Colonel Schneider Jr.
Trainer of the Year – Cassidy Schneider
Driver of the Year – Tyler Borth
Ruth Herbert Horsewoman – Angie Carroll
Caretaker of the Year – Logan McMurren
Horse of the Year – Punchesinbunches
(Western Fair District; Photo from left to right: Garrett Rooney, Doug Schweitzer, Erin O'Donnell [M&T Printing sponsor] and Katie Schweitzer accept the trophy on behalf of Raceway Horse of the Year, Punchesinbunches)