Williams reflects on a monumental year  

Harness racing has a long and proud history in Manitoba. There are a lot of long-standing traditions and records that will likely always be intact. However, the increase in race days and purse sizes has allowed some to venture into uncharted territory. One man who is hitting numbers no one has ever seen before in Manitoba is Trevor Williams.

“It feels really good, especially because it was super unexpected. It feels amazing to get off on the right foot at the Loop, and hopefully, it is a sign of seasons to come. It was a different year, for sure. I have to credit my owners because they sent me some horses that I didn’t think would be barn burners, but they ended up having a hell of a summer.”

The 37-year-old trainer had an unheard-of meet over the summer. He finished the 14-day schedule with 47 wins and $163,654 in earnings. This number was thought to be unattainable for a circuit that traditionally only has ten days of racing and purses that barely surpassed $2000 a race. He also was batting a 43.9 % winning average over the entire season.

“It could have been a lot higher if we didn’t have two entries in every race,” Williams laughed. “The best I could do is only 50%. We overachieved what we initially set out to do. Anytime you’re over the 30% win mark is remarkable at any track, so being well over 40% is even better.”

Now, the season length being extended with the new addition of the Loop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, along with a committed partnership with the Red River Exhibition Association and the Government of Manitoba has provided an opportunity to make more money. Williams has been one of the top trainers in Manitoba over the last several years, but he took the chance to expand his earning potential and ran with it.

“For only a 14-day race schedule here in Manitoba, I never would have dreamed about making this much based on what purse sizes have been in the past,” said Williams. “It’s turning into legitimate career earning money now, and hopefully, this grabs the attention of other stables that want to come to Manitoba to race.”

Williams started hot during the mini-meet held at Miami Fair. He had 27 starts over the three days held at the fair track and won 14 of them. He only had one start during that time that needed to finish better to earn a cheque. The biggest gem for Williams came when Keystone Tenacious (So Surreal) set a new track record of 1:55.4.

The transition to the Loop didn’t hinder Williams, as he welcomed the new track with a hat trick. The barn kept rolling throughout August and ended the month with 11 wins. The biggest win for Williams that month was the Lady Crocus Stake with Maching Millions (Andreoli Hanover).

LADY CROCUS STAKE DIVISION 1 REPLAY

Williams didn’t want September to end because it was his top month. Another 17 wins were added to his total, and he also added to his stake race resume. He started by sweeping the first legs of the three-year-old Manitoba-sired stakes. The sophomore colt, Irish Luke (Youshouldseemenow), captured the first leg of the Golden Boy in 2:04. The young pacer was coming off a win in the Futurity Stakes elimination, and he was asserting himself as one of the top colts in the province.

GOLDEN BOY LEG 1 REPLAY

On the filly side in the Silk Lace, Maching Millions continued her early success and claimed the first leg. She shaved off over a second from her mile time in the Lady Crocus and went 2:02.3.

SILK LACE LEG 1 REPAY

The biggest win of the year for Williams was the Manitoba Great Western Stakes with Handsome Dan (State Treasurer). Williams only had the gelding in his care for three races, but they secured two wins and a second-place finish.

MANITOBA GREAT WESTERN STAKE REPLAY

The last few weeks of racing were challenging for the Williams barn as an unforeseen obstacle swept through the stable.

“We got unlucky near the end of the summer,” Williams replied. “We had a horrible virus storm through the barn, one of the worst things I have seen. We would have piled up the stats even more if we avoided that hiccup. However, the health of the horses comes first.”

The wins and trophies are great, but it was only possible because Williams had the right personnel on his team. Williams has had Blake Piwniuk as his driver over the last couple of years, and the two have been a deadly force.

“Finding guys who fit my style is important,” said Williams. “Blake (Piwniuk) drove great. When he catches on fire, he is very hard to beat.”

With the racing season in the rear-view mirror in Manitoba, it is time for Williams to focus on 2024. Several of his horses are racing in Alberta. Williams’s stats likely will stay the same as his horses are under trainer Travis Ellis. However, as preparation for another Manitoba racing season begins, it will still be business as usual.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink