Otago harness racing awards

The Otago Harness Racing Horse of the Year function for 2016 was held at Forbury Park in Dunedin on Saturday night.

 

The winner of horse of the year was Titan Banner who is currently being trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen in Canterbury in readiness for a New Zealand cup tilt later in the year. 

 

Titan Banner had previously been trained at Westwood by Graeme Anderson, who races him in partnership with David McHugh, John Cheesman, Pauline Gillan, Janet O’Connor and Ann Blakely.

The Art Major gelding has fashioned a good record so far winning 10 races from 27 starts and has also collected 10 minor placings and amassed close to $100,000 in stakes over the 2 years he has been racing. Earlier in the year he convincingly beat Christen Me over the cup journey of 3200m when trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen,  proving he will be a major force when the great race rolls around in November.

 

The Anderson stable also had other achievements on the night with Eamon Maguire, Hopes And Dreams, Belkmyster and Motu Moonbeam(Exported to America) all collecting awards.

 

The Phil Williamson stable took the trainer award after winning  a record 58 races with trotters in the season.

 

Brad Williamson won the Driver and junior driver award after he finished 7th on the national drivers premiership and he won the junior section with 70 wins over the season. 

 

John and Judy Stiven from Arden Lodge took the breeder award this year.

 

Bethany the the dam of Lazarus took the brood mare excellence award after Lazarus swept all before him in the 3yo races during the season.

 

Neville Simpson received the award for significant contribution for services to the Oamaru Harness Racing Club

 

The young achiever award was given to Genevieve Crawford  a junior driver with the Geoff and Jude Knight stable of Roxburgh. Genevieve does a lot of work with re-homing retired standardbreds.

 

Field Marshal won the best Otago-owned horse award. He is owned by Syd and Shona Brown, of Mosgiel and won the 4yo Jewels impressively earlier in the year.

 

 

2YO: Eamon Maguire

3YO Male: Zenmach

3YO Filly: Hopes And Dreams

4YO Male: Titan Banner

4YO Mare: Motu Moonbeam

5YO+ Male: Belkmyster

5YO+ mare: Maybe Flyin

 

2YO: Madison Jane

3YO Male: Blazing Under Fire

3YO Filly: Alderbeck

4YO Male: Springbank Eden

4YO Mare: Madam Spur

5YO+ Male: Springbank Sam

5YO+ Mare: Pyramid Monarch

 

 

Harness horse of the year: Titan Banner

Trainer: Phil Williamson

Driver and Junior Driver: Brad Williamson

Broodmare: Bethany.

Breeder: Arden Lodge (John and Judy Stiven)

Best Otago-owned horse: Field Marshal

Significant contribution: Neville Simpson

Young achiever: Genevieve Crawford