2023 Otago Harness Award winners announced

The Otago Harness Racing Awards were held last night at the ‘Loan and Merc’ in Oamaru.

Love N The Port (Love You) trained by Phil Williamson took out Otago Horse Of The Year, his three wins having included the 2023 Group One Rowe Cup.

Among the other awards, Dwindle Mist was named Otago Broodmare of the Year. Phil Williamson was named Otago Trainer of the Year, and Ian Munro was recognised for his work for the Kurow Trotting Club.

The full list of winners:

Central Otago Trotting Club Two Year Old Trotting Filly of the Year

Empire City (Volstead) 6-4-0-0 $108,338 – Trainer Phil Williamson

Waikouaiti Trotting Club Two Year Old Trotting Colt or Gelding of the Year

The Merc (Royal Aspirations) 5-0-1-1 $27,485 – Trainer Kaleb Bublitz

Kurow Harness Racing Club Three Year Old Trotting Filly of the Year

Isolate (Father Patrick) 5-2-1-0 $51,088 – Trainer Phil Williamson

North Otago Harness Racing Three Year Old Trotting Colt or Gelding of the Year

Missile (Trixton) 11-4-2-1 $39,908 – Trainer Phil Williamson

Forbury Park Trotting Club Three Year Old Pacing Filly of the Year

Flying Bird (Bettor’s Delight) 9-1-3-3 $16,890 – Trainer Matty Williamson

Tuapeka Harness Racing Club Three Year Old Pacing Colt or Gelding of the Year

Classic Mission (Vincent) 13-2-2-0 $18,008 – Trainer Brad Williamson

Oamaru Jockey Club Four Year Old Trotting Mare of the Year

Majestic Love (Majestic Son) 7-3-1-0 $26,010 – Trainer Phil Williamson

Roxburgh Trotting Club Four Year Old Trotting Entire or Gelding of the Year

Mad Jack (Love You) 10-2-3-0 $18,525 – Trainer Amber Hoffman

Oamaru Harness Racing Club Four Year Old Pacing Mare of the Year

Aint No Angel (Raging Bull) 16-3-2-2 $33,039 – Trainer Brad Williamson

Southern Harness Racing INC Four Year Old Pacing Entire or Gelding of the Year

Jovial Jay (Sweet Lou) 8-1-2-1 $11,382 – Trainers Graeme Anderson and Mike Love

Garrards Horse and Hound Five Year Old and Older Trotting Mare of the Year

Dwindle Star (Muscle Mass) 30-4-5-5 $45,978 – Trainer Phil Williamson

Majestic Horse Floats Five Year Old and Older Trotting Entire or Gelding of the Year

IRT Horse Freight Five Year Old and Older Pacing Mare of the Year

Boarding Call (American Ideal) 24-1-4-3 $20,201 – Trainer Matty Williamson

Otago Equine Hospital Five Year Old and Older Pacing Entire or Gelding of the Year

One Change (Bettor’s Delight) 13-1-2-1 $38,660 – Trainer Amber Hoffman

Best Otago-owned horse

Millwood Nike (Captaintreacherous) 9-9-0-0 $362,091 – Trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon

Horse with most wins

Jimmy Carter (The Pres) 6 wins – Trainer Phil Williamson

Otago Trainer of the Year

Phil Williamson 206-40-32-26 $758,416 UDR .3225

Otago Driver of the Year

Matthew Williamson 779 – 63-92-80 $1,044,841 UDR .1807

Otago Junior Driver of the Year

Kerryn Tomlinson 358-30-32-35 $336,825 UDR .1660

Strike Rate Trainer of the Year

Phil Williamson UDR .3225

Southern Region Amateur Driver of the Year

Barry White 16-3-3-2 $22,915 UDR .3333

Farmlands Broodmare of the Year

Dwindle Mist (Sundon) Dam of Harry Stamper (Majestic Son) 7-2-2-1 $35,300 (Australia) and Dwindle Star (Muscle Mass) 30-4-5-5 $45,978.

Breeder of the Year

Lex Williams

Contribution to Otago Harness Racing

Ian Munro (Kurow Trotting Club)

Otago Horse Of The Year 

Love N The Port (Love You)

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink