The Prince Edward Island Standardbred Horse Owners Association Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, April 5 at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel.
A large crowd attended the event to see the stars of the 2024 harness racing season honoured. The guest speaker for the evening was P.E.I.’s own Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle, who has spent time handicapping and calling races at many tracks across the country and serves as the track announcer at The Raceway at the Western Fair District in London, Ont.
The Harness Racing Industry Builders Wall of Fame was renamed this year in honour of the late Kent Oakes, who worked tirelessly to improve harness racing on the Island and across the country. Three horsemen were recognized this year: Ralph Annear, Norman Hall and Don Ling. All three have made a huge impact on P.E.I.’s harness racing industry over the years and have truly helped build this industry.
Tobins Chester captured 2024 Horse of the Year honours. As a three-year-old in 2024, Tobins Chester banked a record $127,618 racing exclusively in Atlantic Canada. The son of Shanghai Phil was a 12-time winner as a three-year-old in 2024, topped off with a 1:54 Atlantic Breeders Crown championship triumph. He’s owned by Donald MacRae of Vernon Bridge, P.E.I., with Ashley Gamester handling the training duties during his sophomore season and Jason Hughes his primary driver.
Below is a list of all the winners.
Horse Awards:
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt - West River Jet
Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly - Oceanview Rumours
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt - One Wicked Man
Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly - Badgirl Bridgette
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt - Rocket Blast
Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly - Dusty Lane Wee
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt - Tobins Chester
Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly - Galway Girl
Claiming Horse of the Year - Elroy Shiner
Claiming Mare of the Year - Elm Grove Mistress
Aged Trotter of the Year - New Legacy
Aged Pacing Horse - Twin B Tuffenuff
Aged Pacing Mare - Woodmere Heather M
Fan Favourite - Hemingway
Pacer of the Year - Tobins Chester
Trotter of the Year - Oceanview Rumours
Horse of the Year - Tobins Chester
Horseperson Award Winners:
Junior Trainer of the Year - Landon Campbell
Female Groom of the Year - Courtney MacLean
Male Groom of the Year - Mike Gregory
Young Guns Driver of the Year - Brady Sweet
Leading Percentage Driver - Marc Campbell
Leading Dash-Winning Driver - Marc Campbell
Leading Percentage Trainer Between 25-75 Starts - Trevor Hicken
Leading Percentage Trainer Over 75 Starts - Dave Dowling
Leading Dash-Winning Trainer - Jenn Doyle
Appreciation Award - Julie Jamieson
PEISHOA Owner of the Year - Jamie Whalen
Arnold Weeks Sportsmanship Award - Roy Reynolds
Horsewoman of the Year - Bobbi Jo Matheson
Horseman of the Year - Earl Watts
Kent Oakes Industry Builders - Ralph Annear, Norman Hall & Don Ling
Guest speaker Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle with his 93-year-old mother, Frances
Earl Watts, Horseman of the Year, with April Myers from Red Shores
Dr. Don Ling (middle), Kent Oakes Industry Builder Award recipient, with Blaine MacPherson, PEIHRIA chairman, James Perrot, PEISHOA director, and Nicholas Oakes, son of Kent Oakes, with his son Noah and partner Kyla.
Norman Hall (middle), Kent Oakes Industry Builder Award recipient
A replay of the PEISHOA awards broadcast can be viewed below.
(PEISHOA)