Trot Insider has compiled a list of Canada’s 2017 leading drivers and trainers at racetracks across the country in recognition of their accomplishments.
Doug McNair led all Canadian drivers in purse earnings with $5,926,393 amassed in Canadian races, ending Sylvain Filion’s five-year streak atop the standings. McNair, a 28-year-old resident of Guelph, Ont., won the 2017 Fan Hanover at Mohawk with Scott McEneny trainee Bettors Up, and also captured a Breeders Crown title at Hoosier Park with two-year-old pacing colt Stay Hungry. In addition to capturing the earnings and dash-winning titles at Woodbine Racetrack this year, he also led all drivers in wins at Mohawk through the warmer months.
Asserting his dominance once again on the Ontario Signature circuit, Bob McClure was a runaway winner in terms of seasonal victories, having amassed 506 wins to outpace Louis-Philippe Roy’s 380 and McNair’s 318. In addition to his home track of Grand River Raceway, the 27-year-old McClure swept the driving titles at Flamboro Downs, Georgian Downs, and The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Richard Moreau, 53, earned the distinction of top trainer in Canada for the sixth straight year, winning 277 races and earning $3.7 million in purses. Moreau, far and away the leading trainer on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit, also captured top training honours at Georgian Downs, led Flamboro Downs and Western Fair's conditioners in purses earned, and Grand River Raceway trainers in races won.
Marc Campbell was the top-percentage trainer and driver in all of Canada, sporting a UDR of 0.449 and a UTR of 0.526 while campaigning across the Maritime provinces and also finishing third nationwide in training wins with 131.
All statistics include Canadian starts from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017.
Century Downs
Top Driver (Money) – Mike Hennessy ($537,477)
Top Driver (Wins) – Mike Hennessy (97)
Top Trainer (Money) – Kelly Hoerdt ($516,052)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Kelly Hoerdt (71)
Clinton Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Tyler Moore ($79,907)
Top Driver (Wins) – Ryan Holliday (22)
Top Trainer (Money) – Jim Watt ($47,412)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Jim Watt (14)
Dresden Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Garrett Rooney ($80,388)
Top Driver (Wins) – Garrett Rooney (26)
Top Trainer (Money) – Mark Steacy ($34,501)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Donnie Rankin, Jr. and Tyler Borth (8)
Exhibition Park Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Todd Trites ($26,486)
Top Driver (Wins) – Todd Trites (24)
Top Trainer (Money) – Mike Downey ($11,286)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Mike Downey and Robert MacNeil (7)
Flamboro Downs
Top Driver (Money) – Bob McClure ($952,000)
Top Driver (Wins) – Bob McClure (191)
Top Trainer (Money) – Richard Moreau ($280,808)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Patrick Shepherd (52)
Fraser Downs
Top Driver (Money) – Jim Marino ($644,806)
Top Driver (Wins) – Jim Marino (74)
Top Trainer (Money) – Jim Marino ($752,277)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Jim Marino (68)
Georgian Downs
Top Driver (Money) – Bob McClure ($267,780)
Top Driver (Wins) – Bob McClure (47)
Top Trainer (Money) – Richard Moreau ($120,569)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Richard Moreau (21)
Grand River Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Bob McClure ($416,955)
Top Driver (Wins) – Bob McClure (63)
Top Trainer (Money) – Mark Steacy ($168,914)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Richard Moreau (18)
Hanover Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Bruce Richardson ($115,289)
Top Driver (Wins) – Bruce Richardson (36)
Top Trainer (Money) – Keith Jones ($39,050)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Rebecca Geisel and Jim Watt (10)
Hiawatha Horse Park
Top Driver (Money) – Garrett Rooney ($122,868)
Top Driver (Wins) – Garrett Rooney (46)
Top Trainer (Money) – Laurie Bako ($31,973)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Laurie Bako (14)
Hippodrome 3R
Top Driver (Money) – Stephane Brosseau ($298,667)
Top Driver (Wins) – Stephane Brosseau (54)
Top Trainer (Money) – Maxime Velaye ($151,664)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Francis Richard (26)
Inverness Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Gilles Barrieau ($23,162)
Top Driver (Wins) – Redmond Doucet (23)
Top Trainer (Money) – Joseph Poirier ($17,711)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Joseph Poirier (18)
Kawartha Downs
Top Driver (Money) – Reg Gassien ($105,610)
Top Driver (Wins) – Reg Gassien (34)
Top Trainer (Money) – Mike Weller ($30,322)
Top Trainer (Wins) – David Gibson (10)
Leamington Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Tyler Borth ($82,209)
Top Driver (Wins) – Tyler Borth (29)
Top Trainer (Money) – Bill Kirkpatrick ($40,294)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Bill Kirkpatrick (11)
Mohawk Racetrack
Top Driver (Money) – Trevor Henry ($3,870,779)
Top Driver (Wins) – Doug McNair (155)
Top Trainer (Money) – Ron Burke ($1,498,122)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Richard Moreau (78)
Northlands Park
Top Driver (Money) – J.F. Gagne ($246,676)
Top Driver (Wins) – Brandon Campbell (34)
Top Trainer (Money) – Kelly Hoerdt ($292,248)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Kelly Hoerdt (34)
Northside Downs
Top Driver (Money) – Marc Campbell ($28,062)
Top Driver (Wins) – Gerard Kennedy (31)
Top Trainer (Money) – Marc Campbell ($20,360)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Heather Hawkins (26)
The Raceway at Western Fair District
Top Driver (Money) – Bob McClure ($851,492)
Top Driver (Wins) – Bob McClure (174)
Top Trainer (Money) – Richard Moreau ($258,778)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Victor Puddy (36)
Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at Charlottetown
Top Driver (Money) – Marc Campbell ($320,199)
Top Driver (Wins) – Marc Campbell (162)
Top Trainer (Money) – Marc Campbell ($203,608)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Marc Campbell (87)
Rideau Carleton Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Guy Gagnon ($860,167)
Top Driver (Wins) – Guy Gagnon (196)
Top Trainer (Money) – Jamie Copley ($420,135)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Jamie Copley (98)
Summerside Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Marc Campbell ($149,227)
Top Driver (Wins) – Marc Campbell (59)
Top Trainer (Money) – Marc Campbell ($79,418)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Marc Campbell (26)
Truro Raceway
Top Driver (Money) – Marc Campbell ($71,702)
Top Driver (Wins) – Todd Trites (50)
Top Trainer (Money) – Marc Campbell ($59,800)
Top Trainer (Wins) – George Rennison (26)
Woodbine Racetrack
Top Driver (Money) – Doug McNair ($1,890,752)
Top Driver (Wins) – Doug McNair (139)
Top Trainer (Money) – Richard Moreau ($1,449,860)
Top Trainer (Wins) – Richard Moreau (89)