BHRC announces top Owner, Trainer and Driver 2015

The British Harness Racing Club (BHRC) has announced the leading owner, trainer and driver for the 2015 season and they will be lauded at the upcoming joint dinner with the Standardbred and Trotting Horse Association of Great Britain and Ireland (STAGBI) on Saturday, 27^th February.

BHRC Top Owner 2015 Raymond Huschka

With 31 winners, and 70 top 3 finishes in 2015, Raymond Huschka cemented himself at the top of the leading owner table for the second year in a row.  Raymond and brother Frank enjoyed success from the opening meeting at Tregaron with Mikey Camden, Serranohall and Merrington Motion to the penultimate meeting of the season at Corbiewood with Merringtoncheckm8.

After being dealt a blow early doors when tragically losing record-priced Rhyds Megastar, the 31 wins went some way to repay their faith and redress their fortune.  The wins are broken down as follows:

Merringtoncheckm8 – 6; Merrington Motion – 4; Burning Dust – 3; Camden Rocco – 3; Happy Hands – 3

Merringtonchekonme – 3; Mikey Camden – 3; Jack Frost – 2; Serranohall – 2 and Stamp Hill -2.

Of these wins, the highlights include Senior Welsh Dragon, where Serranohall beat the boys, Tregaron Spring Handicap Final and Pike Hall Handicap Final (Merrington Motion), leg of the Battle of the Big Guns at Wolverhampton (Stamp Hill) and a pulsating finish from Happy Hands in the Wolsingham Show Handicap Final in front of a record attendance.

As well as enjoying success on the track, the brothers played an important part in the successful PACT weekend at York which saw famous faces AP McCoy and John Parrott present to enjoy the harness racing spectacle.  They should also be commended for sponsorship generation across the UK through their business, Northern Trading and associated companies.

BHRC Top Trainer 2015 Alexis Laidler

2015 was another stellar year for Alexis Laidler, retaining her position as the leading trainer in the UK where she has reigned supreme for the last 8 years.  Alexis boasted 41 winners and 124 top 3 finishes.  Highlights of the season include:

Winning both Free For Alls at Wolverhampton with two top class horses, No Regrets and Stamp Hill

Following this up with a first and second with the same horses (1^st No Regrets, 2^nd Stamp Hill) at the Musselburgh showcase fixture Senior Welsh Dragon with Serranohall.

As well as various handicap final wins with Merrington Motion, Happy Hands and Merringtonchekm8, a win in the Le Trot Series with T’es Trop Foot and the sole saddle race in Scotland with Merrington Motion (Alexis herself in the saddle), which illustrates her versatility as a trainer.

BHRC Top Driver 2015 William ‘Rocker’ Laidler

The other half of the top trainer/driver duo, ‘Rocker’ Laidler, echoed wife Alexis’ eighth year of success with his eighth title in a row as top driver.  For the first time in 8 years, he found himself embroiled in a title race towards the end of the season against Grant Cullen of Scotland, which culminated in his success at the penultimate meeting of the season.

With 47 wins and 125 top 3 finishes, Rocker’s highlights include:

Serranohall’s victory against the country’s top 4YO colts in the Senior Welsh Dragon, in which Rocker showed tremendous patience awaiting a gap to appear with less than a furlong to go

The manner in which he galvanized Stamp Hill when under pressure from a persistent and tough Wellfield Ghost at Wolverhampton in the leg of the Battle of the Big Guns

Overhauling a five length deficit in the final furlong at Wolsingham Show, and managing to conjure up an epic finish to come four wide to win by a nose with Happy Hands.

The BHRC and the STAGBI will be co-hosting the awards dinner to celebrate both the STAGBI and BHRC awards winners for 2015.

The dinner event will be staged on Saturday 27th February at Daresbury Park Hotel, Warrington, WA4 4BB, located just off Junction 9 of the M56.

Starting at 7:00 pm to be seated for the three course meal at 7.30 pm, the evening will be hosted by respected announcer/commentator Darren Owen and the awards presentation will be followed by a disco (courtesy of Millstream Discos).

If you have any queries, please contact the BHRC office or STAGBI office.

By Sarah Thomas, for Harnesslink