The Raceway at Western Fair District Announces 2025 Award Winners

London, ON, January 5, 2025 – The Raceway at Western Fair District is proud to announce its 2025 award winners, recognizing the top performers from an outstanding season of harness racing. The annual Awards Night will take place on Saturday, February 21st in the Top of the Fair dining room, where the local industry will gather to celebrate.

This year’s honorees include standout horses, horsepeople, and connections who made their mark during the 2025 campaign. Notably, Ladies From Hell and The Great Reset return as repeat winners in their respective categories, continuing their dominance as top older pacing mare and older male trotter.

Ladies From Hell enjoyed another double-digit season with 10 trips to the winner’s circle and more than $67,000 in earnings for owners Shae and Michael Sumner of London. Meanwhile, London’s track record holder The Great Reset enjoyed another busy and productive campaign with 18 top three finishes from 31 trips postward and just over $46,000 earned for owners Lorne House of Dutton and Chantal Ruijs of Georgian Bluffs.

Austin Sorrie led the nation with 404 wins while compiling a personal best $2.7 million purse winnings. This helped him garner his first driving title at The Raceway. On the trainer’s side, Lindsey Kerr also enjoyed a career-best season with 83 wins, almost $550,000 in purse winnings and a sparkling U.T.R.S. of .373 to take down her first title at the London oval.

Nominations are now being accepted for Caretaker of the Year. To nominate someone for the award, email submissions with an explanation of why the nominee should be awarded to Manager of Equine Programming Amy O’Toole at aotoole@westernfairdistrict.com. Text messages or online messages will not be accepted. Those interested in being an award sponsor for the evening can also contact The Raceway at the same email address.

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:

2025 Award Winners

• Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt – CLEVELAND ROYALTY
• Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly – ROYAL FLUSH MAGIC
• Aged Trotting Horse – THE GREAT RESET
• Aged Trotting Mare – APRIL DUFORD
• Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt – SILVERWALLS
• Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly – TWIN B BODACIOUS
• Aged Pacing Horse – PRESTIGE SEELSTER
• Aged Pacing Mare – LADIES FROM HELL
• Claiming Trotter – O NARUTAC PERFETTO
• Claiming Pacer – LETJIMITAKEOVER
• Rookie Performer – LIQUOR TALKIN
• Leading Driver – AUSTIN SORRIE
• Leading Trainer – LINDSEY KERR
• Leading Owner – COLONEL SCHNEIDER JR.
• Caretaker – TBA
• Ruth Herbert Horsewoman of the Year – TBA
• Horse of the Year – TBA

The remaining award winners will be revealed during the event, adding excitement to what promises to be a memorable evening.

Stay tuned for ticket information and additional details on this celebration of racing excellence at The Raceway.

From The Raceway at the Western Fair District