The Truro Harness Horse Owners Association (THHOA) honoured the achievements of trainers, drivers, owners and horses from the 2025 harness racing season during an evening of celebration at its Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the Truro Horsemen’s Club.
Recognizing the dedication, hard work and passion that continue to strengthen the local harness racing community, the THHOA banquet included an awards presentation, food and fellowship, door prizes and a chance to reflect on memorable moments from the past season. Corey MacPherson, the winning driver of the 2025 Gold Cup & Saucer, was a guest speaker.
Trainer Danny Romo's Bettor On Than Off was named the 2025 THHOA Horse of the Year. The Bettors Delight-Lights Go Out gelding defeated the top pacers at Truro Raceway eight times in his six-year-old season and hit the board in a total of two-thirds of his 24 starts. The Romo trainee took his lifetime mark of 1:54 in a 9-1/2-length blowout victory on Oct. 26.
The stables of Clare MacDonald, George Rennison, Carrie Saunders and Dave Carey were in the spotlight throughout the night, receiving multiple awards.
MacDonald trained a trio of award winners including two-year-old male trotter West River Karuna, three-year-old filly pacer Woodmere Ohdoya and three-year-old male trotter West River Jet, who was also recognized for winning the Atlantic Breeders Crown. MacDonald was honoured as top driver in the category for 50-100 starts.
Rennison, top trainer with more than 100 starts, campaigned the winners of the two-year-old pacing categories, gelding Tobins Gem and filly Luna Bets. Rennison won 28 races through the 2025 Truro meet to lead all trainers.
Saunders was named Horsewoman of the Year and Owner of the Year in addition to being recognized as top trainer in the category for 50-100 starts. She was also the trainer of the award-winning claimers Western Phil and mare Saulsbrook Feisty.
Two awards winners were campaigned by Carey including McSeashore, honoured in the three-year-old male pacer category, and Lady N Paradise, who was named Mare of the Year.
Keith Legge took two driving awards in the categories for over 100 starts and highest percentage driver. He was Truro's leading driver in 2025 with 23 wins and a 0.352 UDRS.
The full list of THHOA award winners appears below.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt/Gelding - Tobins Gem
Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly - Luna Bets
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt/Gelding - West River Karuna
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt/Gelding - McSeashore
Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly - Woodmere Ohdoya
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt/Gelding - West River Jet
Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly - Majian Mystery
Claiming Horse of the Year - Western Phil
Claiming Mare of the Year - Saulsbrook Feisty
Horse of the Year - Bettor On Than Off
Mare of the Year - Lady N Paradise
Driver Over 100 Starts - Keith Legge
Driver Over 50 & Under 100 Starts - Clare MacDonald
Highest Percentage Driver - Keith Legge
Rookie Driver of the Year - Noah Whebby
Trainer Over 100 Starts - George Rennison
Trainer Over 50 & Under 100 Starts - Carrie Saunders
Senior Horseperson of the Year - Fred Saunders
Horsewoman of the Year - Carrie Saunders
Groom of the Year - Pat Arnold
Owner of the Year - Carrie Saunders
Youth Appreciation Awards - Lennox Brown, Brennan Crowe, Ellie Driscoll, Ahlea Fudge, Lane MacEachen, Benjamin Pickrem, Kaden Romeo
Atlantic Breeders Crown Champion Three-Year-Old Trotter - West River Jet
Jim Chambers Memorial Sportsmanship Award - Groom - Brett Johnson
Jim Chambers Memorial Sportsmanship Award - Driver - Neldie MacDonald
Jim Chambers Memorial Sportsmanship Award - Trainer - Lee Johnson
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Bettor On Than Off winning on Oct. 26, 2025 at Truro Raceway)