The Saint John Harness Horsemen's Annual Awards Banquet was held on Saturday night at the Howard Johnson's Top of the Town to honour 2011's best in harness racing
.
The 2011 SJHHA award winners are listed below:
Two-Year-Old Filly of the Year
A As Glory
Owner/Breeder: Andrew Ward
Trainers: Andrew Ward and Gilles Barrieau
Two-Year-Old Colt of the Year
Big League
Owner: Dooley Boys Racing Stable
Trainer: Sean Dooley
Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year
Moon Landing
Owner/Trainer: Patrick Eastwood
Three-Year-Old Colt of the Year
Turntherigaround
Owners: Dooley Boys Racing Stables
Trainer: Sean Dooley
Claiming Horse & Gelding of the Year
Valeader
Owner/Trainer: Brian Foster
Driver: Mark Haig
Claiming Mare of the Year
IWish IWish
Owner: Peter Trecartin and Lindsay Kokotailo
Trainer: Peter Trecartin
Old Time Robbi Award
Md Hardlys Success
Owner: Bill Smith and Wayne Watson
Trainer: Andrew Ward
Most Improved Award
Magical Alex
Owners: Bob MacNeil and John Lavric
Trainer: Bob MacNeil
Magical Alex, in his previous 44 starts, had two wins and although he showed some flashes of brilliance winning an Atlantic Sires Stakes 'B' division in Summerside in 1:59.3, he struggled with consistency. That changed in 2011 hitting the board in 28 of 42 starts, and only missing four cheques all year. He gave his handlers the biggest thrill winning on Gold Cup & Saucer night at Charlottetown in a lifetime mark of 1:59.2.
Aged Mare
Tobins Paradise
Owner: Ultimate Stable
Trainer: Robert Laffin
Aged Horse
Real Bond
Owner: Ultimate Stable
Trainer/Driver: Robert Laffin
Groom of the Year
Kristen Quinn Phillips
Rookie of the Year
Dale Spence
Standardbred Canada Owner of the Year
Janet Shanks
Trainer of the Year
Robert Laffin
Driver of the Year
Gilles Barrieau
Horseman of the Year
Mitchell Downey
Downey has dedicated countless hours in the pursuit of moving harness racing in New Brunswick and all of Canada forward. He currently sits on the Coard of Directors of Standardbred Canada, as well as Horse Racing New Brunswick, and is the Vice President of the SJHHA.
Horse of the Year
Moon Landing
Owner/Trainer: Patrick Eastwood
(With files from SJHHA)