Category: News

The finest performers of the 2015 season in Manitoba were feted this past Saturday (November 14) at the Manitoba Harness Racing Awards Banquet.

The event took place at the Morris Multiplex and saw a couple of barns win multiple awards, including Trevor Williams in his rookie year, as well as Richard Rey in the breeders category.

The list of 2015 winners appears below

CARETAKER OF THE YEAR: Lance McLeod (from Trevor Williams Stables)

OWNER OF THE YEAR: Mike Williams

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Trevor Williams

HORSEPERSON OF THE YEAR: Roland Rey

RON WAPLES AWARD: Clayton Braybrook

SEE ME GO AWARD OF SPORTSMANSHIP: Arthur Rey

TOP TRAINER UNDER 40 STARTS – WINS: Lorraine Rey, Betty Manning

TOP TRAINER UNDER 40 STARTS – UDR: George Isman

TOP DRIVER UNDER 40 STARTS – WINS: Garett Isman, Jacques Lambert

TOP DRIVER UNDER 40 STARTS – UDR: Jacques Lambert

TOP TRAINER – WINS: Trevor Williams

TOP TRAINER – UDR: Trevor Williams

TOP DRIVER – WINS: Don Howlett

TOP DRIVER – UDR: Richard Remillard

TWO-YEAR-OLD MB-BRED OF THE YEAR: Baylor Out (from Marc Fillion Stables)

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY OF THE YEAR: Rocket To The Top (from Richard Rey Stables)

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING OF THE YEAR: Diggin A Trench (from Richard Rey Stables)

MB-BRED AGED MARE OF THE YEAR: Rocket Moma (from Cory Manning Stables)

MB-BRED AGED HORSE OF THE YEAR: Another Great Pick (from Roland Rey Stables)

BROODMARE OF THE YEAR: Uncovered (owned by Justin Rey)

SIRE OF THE YEAR: Mattarocket (owned by Darryl and Sherri Mason)

STANDARDBRED CANADA (MB-SIRED AND BRED) OWNER OF THE YEAR: Richard Rey

CLAIMER OF THE YEAR: Red Star Tiger (from Trevor Williams Stables)

AGED MARE OF THE YEAR: Fancy Camelot (from Trevor Williams Stables)

AGED HORSE OF THE YEAR: False Advertising (from Betty Manning Stables)

This years Western Regional Drivers Championship will take place in Alberta at the newly-launched Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.

Don Howlett will hold the Manitoba flag among some of Canada’s best across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba at the event being held on Sunday June 26th. Other provinces will hold championships on the following dates:

Western Regional — Century Downs; Sunday, June 26
(British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)

Ontario Regional — Grand River Raceway; Friday, June 24

Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional — Hippodrome 3R; Tuesday, July 12
(includes drivers that compete regularly at Kawartha Downs and Rideau Carleton Raceway in addition to Quebec)

Atlantic Regional — Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park; Saturday, June 25
(Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)

Regional events will feature either eight or nine drivers who will compete in a minimum of eight races. Drivers will receive points based on their finishing position and the top two point earners will advance to the NATIONAL

Driving Championship

Century Downs in Calgary, Alta. is a first time host for the Western Regional, and it also marks the first time since the inception of the NDC that an Alberta track will host this event.

Grand River Raceway in Elora, Ont., last hosted the Ontario Regional Driving Championship in 2008 to determine Ontario’s top two drivers for the 2009 National event.

Hippodrome 3R in Trois Rivieres, Que. is hosting the Quebec Regional event for the third time after serving as host track in 2014 and 2008.

Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park was the host track for the 2014, 2011 and 2007 NDC Finals. Red Shores has also hosted Regional events at either Charlottetown or Summerside in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2014.

Past winners of the NDC title include Jody Jamieson (2014 & 2011), Brad Forward (2009), and Gilles Barrieau (2007).
The winner of the 2016 National Driving Championship will represent Canada in the World Driving Championship, to be hosted in concert with the World Trotting Conference in Canada in August, 2017.

Manitoba horsemen Travis Cullen kicked off his five-win Friday performance on May 6 at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino with victories aboard his own trainees in the first three races of the evening.

The Cullen stable opened the eight-race card with Runway Model ($3), Cowgirl Poker ($3.50) and the Alberta newcomer Broadview Bridge ($2.50) all turning in winning efforts.

With his training triple, Cullen took the lead in the season’s national standings and now holds a one-win advantage (82-81) over three-time reigning Canadian Trainer of the Year Richard Moreau.

Cullen’s URS for training (.587) and driving (.566) also top the charts this year in Canada.

The 23-year-old horseman also drove the Shelly Arsenault trained Exclusive to a $28.40 upset victory in the fifth race and went right back to the winner’s circle after guiding his former trainee Wigesjet ($3.60) to victory for current conditioner Jamie Marchment.