Manitoba's top performers from the 2025 harness racing season were celebrated at the annual Manitoba Standardbred Racing Industry Awards Banquet this past weekend at the Canad Inns Destination Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man.
The event, presented by the Manitoba Standardbred Sires & Breeders Association (MSSBA) and Manitoba Harness Horsemen Inc. (MHHI), was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Pipers Luna was named the top Manitoba-bred horse after a spectacular debut campaign in 2025 that included winning seven of her eight starts in the province. Among her six stakes victories, Pipers Luna won the 78th renewal of the Manitoba Great Western Stakes at The Loop in a three-year-old track record performance of 1:58.3 on Aug. 30 with Dean Rey driving for trainer Lorraine Rey, who bred and co-owns the filly with Vince Sotheran. Pipers Luna's sire and dam, Im The Pied Piper and Hammers Rainbow, were also honoured.
Also bred and owned by Lorraine Rey, five-year-old pacing mare Grit N Grace, a 2025 O'Brien Award finalist with a lifetime mark of 1:49.3 taken at Woodbine Mohawk Park, was honoured in a new award category for Breeder Excellence. The award is presented to a Manitoba resident breeder of a Manitoba-sired Standardbred that meets at least two or more of the following criteria: is an O’Brien Award finalist; attains a win mark under 1:50; attains lifetime earnings of greater or equal to $500,000; and/or wins a $100,000 race. A horse will only be eligible to receive the award once in its lifetime.
Darryl Mason was named Horseperson of the Year in addition to receiving the Ron Waples Award and honours for top driver for wins and URS -- the latter awarded was shared with Marc Fillion. Sherri Mason was top trainer for wins while Melanie Rey-Clark was top trainer for URS. It was a big night for the Mason family with Aaron also feted as a rising star.
A complete list of the award winners follows.
Manitoba-Bred Two-Year-Old Filly
Libbys Delight
Manitoba-Bred Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Justcruiseonbye
Manitoba-Bred Three-Year-Old Filly
Pipers Luna
Manitoba-Bred Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Van Goghing Fast
Manitoba-Bred Aged Mare
Fall Out Girl
Manitoba-Bred Aged Horse/Gelding
Fan C That
Top Manitoba-Bred
Pipers Luna
Aged Mare of the Year
Nonversation
Aged Horse/Gelding of the Year
Ginger Tree Finny
Claimer of the Year
Chief Is Boss & Fan C That
Broodmare of the Year
Hammers Rainbow
Sire of the Year
Im The Pied Piper
Top Driver - Wins
Darryl Mason
Top Driver - URS
Darryl Mason & Marc Fillion
Top Trainer - Wins
Sherri Mason
Top Trainer - URS
Melanie Rey-Clark
Horseperson of the Year
Darryl Mason
Rookie/Rising Star Award
Aaron Mason
Caretakers of the Year
Rita Vodon & Ann Fillion
MSSBA Owner of the Year
Cory Manning
MHHI Owner of the Year
Laverne Turnbull
Lifetime Breeders Achievement Award
Betty Manning
MSSBA Breeder Excellence Award
Grit N Grace
See Me Go Award of Sportsmanship
Ann Fillion
Ron Waples Award
Darryl Mason
Lifetime Membership Award
Richard Remillard
(Standardbred Canada)