The Raceway announces purse increase, award winners

London, January 3, 2025 — As The Raceway at Western Fair District shifts to its four-day-a-week harness racing schedule in the new year, the track has announced that purses will be increased by 10 per cent in all classes beginning with the Friday, January 10^th program.

The track’s top performers of 2024 have also been announced and will be honoured at the annual Awards Night on Saturday, February 22^nd.

Pacing mare Ladies From Hell (Cams Card Shark) has been named top Older Pacing Mare. She enjoyed a brilliant 10-year-old season with 11 wins and more than $60,000 in earnings for owners Michael and Shae Sumner of London.

Sauble Lila, with 13 wins at The Raceway, and It Takes Two with 10 wins were named as Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly and Older Pacing Horse of the year respectively.

Cassidy Schneider will take home her third consecutive Trainer of the Year title on the strength of a 47-win season which saw her stable earn just shy of $300,000. Her father Colonel Schneider Jr. was the leading owner for the second straight year with 34 winners for earnings of $196,000.

Garrett Rooney captured his first driving title in London, steering home 156 winners with purse earnings of more than $906,000.

The annual Awards Night celebration will once again take place at the Top Of The Fair restaurant. Tickets will go on sale soon and horsepeople can stay tuned to the track’s website and social media media channels for full details as they are announced.

Nominations are now being accepted for Caretaker of the Year. To nominate someone for the award, you are asked to email your submission and reasons why to gblanchard@westernfairdistrict.com, sdoyle@westernfairdistrict.com or aotoole@westernfairdistrict.com. Text messages or online messages will not be accepted.

To be eligible, a person must race primarily at The Raceway and have worked in a caretaker capacity for a minimum of three years. A voting committee will select the winner, based on nominations, which will be announced the night of the award ceremony along with other selected categories including overall Horse of the Year.

The horse awards are based on the highest earnings with a minimum of six starts at The Raceway during the calendar year while the claiming awards are based on the number of claiming wins at The Raceway during the same period. The complete list of this year’s winners, including categories that will be announced the night of the event, are listed below:

3YO Trotting Colt – Chip Happened

3YO Trotting Filly – Summer Crush

Aged Trotting Horse – The Great Reset

Aged Trotting Mare – Lass Shot

3YO Pacing Colt – Hazee Coast

3YO Pacing Filly – Sauble Lila

Aged Pacing Horse – It Takes Two

Aged Pacing Mare – Ladies From Hell

Claiming Trotter – Champagne Bettina

Claiming Pacer – Favaro Seelster

Rookie Performer – Wayne Stone

Leading Driver – Garrett Rooney

Leading Trainer – Cassidy Schneider

Leading Owner – Colonel Schneider Jr.

Caretaker – TBA

Horsewoman – TBA

Overall Horse of the Year – TBA

From The Raceway at the Western Fair District