Sylvain Filion and Richard Moreau retained their titles as Woodbine Entertainment Group’s (WEG) leading driver and trainer, respectively, after the 2013 Standardbred racing season came to a close Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
Filion finished with 248 wins at Woodbine and Mohawk Racetracks, five in front of Scott Zeron, who had 243 victories, while Jody Jamieson was third with 213, including a pair on the final night.
Moreau collected his third WEG training title after winning 126 races. Jeff Gillis had 81 wins, while Carmen Auciello wound up third with 76 victories.
Filion, who lives in Milton, Ont., had to share his first WEG driver championship with Jody Jamieson in 2012, each with 284 wins. But this year he stands alone.
“This past year has been a memorable one for me both on and off the track,” said Filion. “I drove many terrific horses and am very thankful for the opportunity. Winning with Boomboom Ballykeel [in the $683,000 Metro Pace for trainer Richard Moreau] was certainly unexpected and that was a great thrill. Off the track, my wife and I adopted a baby and that's something very special.|”
The 44-year-old Filion, who also led all drivers in purse earnings on the WEG circuit with over $5.3 million, is seeking a second consecutive O’Brien Award as Canada’s Driver of the Year, an honour he earned for the first time for his accomplishments last year.
The 49-year-old Moreau, who captured his first WEG title in 2010, also led all trainers in purse earnings with over $2.5 million. The Puslinch, Ont. resident is an O'Brien Award finalist for Canada’s Trainer of the Year.
Live racing returns to Woodbine on Monday, January 6 and continues on a three-day-a-week schedule (Monday, Friday and Saturday). First race post time is 7:25 p.m.
(WEG / Photo courtesy New Image Media)