The following are the nominees for the first annual Westie Awards, recognizing the hard work and achievements of the top harness racing horse and horsepeople in Western Canada.
I, Trey Colbeck, determined the nominees based on performance over the past year. Each category has one nominee from each province, and the winner will be announced next week. Congratulations to everyone’s fantastic year. I can’t wait to do it all over again in 2024.
Trainer
Manitoba: Trevor Williams
Williams put up record numbers during the Manitoba summer meet. He has 47 winners over 107 starts and earned $163,399 in prize money. He also finished 2023 with a 75.7% top three percentage. This year, he added another Lady Crocus and Manitoba Great Western Stake to his resume.
Alberta: Nathan Sobey
Sobey finished 2023 after putting up the best numbers of his career. He had 76 wins in 462 starts and earned $836,384 in prize money. He also wrapped up the year with a 50% top-three finish rate. Sobey’s notable wins 2023 were with Matteuse (Custard The Dragon) in the Rocky Mountain Boys and ABSS Lone Star.
B.C.: Kelly Hoerdt
Eighty-five of Hoerdt’s 148 wins came at Fraser Downs. He finished with a top-three rate of 60.4% in B.C. Hoerdt’s biggest wins of the year were with Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon) in the B.C. Bred Stakes Final and ABSS Super Final for three-year-old colts. He won over $1 million in prize money between his time this year in B.C. and Alberta.
Driver
Manitoba: Blake Piwniuk
Piwniuk finished in the top three in 54.3% of his 94 starts in Manitoba. He won 51 times in Manitoba and 56 times this year. He accumulated over $200,000 in earnings, with $ 162,565 coming from Manitoba. This year, he added another Lady Crocus and Manitoba Great Western Stake to his resume.
Alberta: Brandon Campbell
Campbell outdid his 2022 with another impressive year. He had 178 wins in Alberta and earned $1,483,245 in the bike. Not only was he winning, but he finished in the top three 57.8% of the time. Campbell’s big win of 2023 was in the Century Casino Filly Pace with Side Piece (Shadow Play). He ended the year with $2,239,664 in total earnings.
B.C.: Scott Knight
Knight made 415 starts in 2023 and finished with 76 wins. He earned $609,120 in prize money and had a top-three finish rate of 51.4%. 2023 was the best statistical year of Knight’s career.
Owner
Manitoba: Fred & Alice Gilbert
Alberta: Pick 6 Stables
B.C.: J J J Stables
Two-year-old Colt & Geldings
Manitoba: Lookinlikeamillion
Lookinlikeamillion (Armbro Baylor) only made four starts in 2023, but he never finished worse than third in any of them. He visited the winnerās circle twice, and one time was after he clinched victory in the Kindergarten Stakes. He was the runner-up in the other two-year-old stake held in Manitoba, the Juveniles Stake. Darryl and Sherri Mason bred him. He is owned by Valerie, George, Tara and Garett Isman.
Alberta: Come On Santana
Come On, Santana (Santanna Blue Chip) has five wins to his credit, and he never finished outside the top three in his eight starts. He won the Century Casino Pace, ABSS Rising Star, Rocky Mountain Boys and the ABSS Super Final. Jamie Gray bred the filly and still co-owns her with Max Gibb, Riley Gray and Brie Gray.
B.C.: Buddy Knocks
The youngster, Buddy Knocks (Betterthancheddar), went perfect five for five, and won the B.C. Bred Stake Finals for two-year-old colts. He earned $75,500 during his rookie campaign. He was bred by Jim Marino and is owned by Veikko Pajunen.
Two-year-old Fillies
Manitoba: Trust Me Alot
In five starts, Trust Me A Lot (Trust The Artist) won the Juvenile Stakes and finished second in the Kindergarten Stakes. She only finished outside the top three once in her racing debut. She was bred and is still owned by Aurel Vodon.
Alberta: Byby Baby Byby
Byby Baby Byby (Vertical Horizon) won the ABSS Super Final and the ABSS Starburst. She won four races during her rookie campaign and only finished outside the top three once. She earned just shy of $80,000 over seven starts. She is homegrown by Bryan Brook and Diane Hennessy.
B.C.: Over Ice
Over Ice (Custard The Dragon) went perfect five-for-five. She earned $80,500 and capped the year off with a win in the B.C. Bred Stakes Final for two-year-old fillies. She was bred and is still owned by J J J Stables.
Three-year-old Colt & Geldings
Manitoba: Braxtons Boy
Braxtons Boy (Whosurboy) won five times in 2023 and never finished outside the top three during his time at the Loop. He won the Golden Boy Final and was the runner-up in the Futurity Final and Manitoba Great Western. He has now moved to Woodbine Mohawk Park. Braxtons Boy was bred and is still owned by Richard and Janet Rey.
Alberta: Virtual Horizon
The Vertical Horizon sired colt strung together 13 straight wins ranging from April to September. He earned $246,810 over 16 starts and took home events like the ABSS Plainsman, ABSS Maverick and the ASHA Ralph Klein Memorial. The win streak was ended when he finished second place in the Western Canada Pacing Derby eliminations. He only finished outside the top three once is 2023. William Andrew bred Virtual Horizon and was owned by Jodi Loftus, George Rogers and Raymond Henry. He has since been sold and relocated to New York.
B.C.: Mickie Mantle
Mickie Mantle (Custard The Dragon) started his year quietly with a few starts at Fraser Downs before moving to Century Downs. He competed well early during the Alberta stake season. After a sixth-place finish in the Western Canada Pacing Derby, he rallied a four-race win streak, which includes winning both the ABSS Super Finals and the B.C. Bred Stake Finals. Mickie Mantle visited the winner’s circle seven times, and he earned $151,950 in both Alberta and B.C. Surdale Farms bred Mickie Mantle, and Kelly Hoerdt owns him along with Fred Gilbert.
Three-year-old Fillies
Manitoba: Ak Black Badger
Ak Black Badger (Andreoli Hanover) came up big when it mattered and won the Silk Lace Final at the Loop. That was only her second win over the summer, but she has added two more after moving to Century Mile. She has continued to earn cheques when she steps onto the track. Kevin and Aline Hildebrandt owns her.
Alberta: G Ts Skyla
G Ts Skyla (Mysitician) recorded eight wins in 11 starts in 2023. She only finished outside the top three once in the Century Casino Filly Pace. At one point, she had a six-race win streak over the summer and earned $186,229. She was bred and is still owned by Gerald, Marjorie, Scott and Terry McGinn.
B.C.: Side Piece
With eight wins in ten starts, Side Piece (Shadow Play) was among the most dominating fillies. She strung together a five-race win streak, which included the Century Casino Filly Pace. She earned $190,092 and never finished worse than second place once this year. J J J Stables bred her and they co-owned with Jim Marino. She has now moved to new ownership in New York.
Aged Horses
Manitoba: Tuff As Buff
Although Tuff As Buff (Sunshine Beach) was racing as a $7.500 claimer in Manitoba, he was among the most challenging horses to beat. He won eight races in 12 starts during the summer season. He even won six straight to kick off his time in Manitoba. He was bred by Fred, Alice and Derek Gilbert and is still proudly owned by Alice.
Alberta: Shark WeekĀ
Not only is Shark Week (Vertical Horizon) one of the hottest horses in western Canada but he is one of the winningest horses in Canada this year. He finished 2023 with 20 wins in 24 starts and still has an impressive 16-race winning streak. 1:49.2 is not only Shark Week’s personal best but the fastest ever in Western Canada. He is owned by Lorne Duffield and Rodney Hennessy.
B.C.: Sunshine Boy
TheĀ Sunshine BeachĀ sired gelding finished his 2023 off strong with eight wins over 12 appearances in the Preferred at Fraser Downs. He won five races in a row at one point. Peter Chanak and Dana Shore bred him. He is currently owned by J J J Stables, Paul Sanders and Jim Marino.
Aged Mares
Manitoba: I Will Do It
I Will Do It (Camluck) won six of her seven starts in Manitoba this summer. She won her first six starts, most of which were in the Filly & Mare Open. Her only loss came in the Open Pace, where she finished second place and ended her 2023 campaign. Aurel Vodon and Trevor Williams own her.
Alberta: Stash The Cookies
The eight-year-old Sunfire Blue Chip sired mare won eight times in 2023. From Sep. 15 onwards, she won four races, all in the Filly & Mare Preferred at Century Mile. She finished in the top three in all but one start during the Century Mile Fall/Winter meet. The one hiccup was when she was placed eighth after she finished first on Oct. 20. She is owned by Derek Gilbert and was bred by William Andrew.
B.C.: Century Mach
Century Mach (Jk Royal Flush) was a fixture in the Filly and Mare Preferred at Fraser Downs during the spring and fall meets. She won eight times in 2023, and seven of those wins came in the Filly and Mare Preferred. She earned just shy of $80,000 while racing in B.C. and Alberta. She is owned by Kelly Hoerdt and was bred by Bryan Brook.
byĀ Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink