This past Saturday (February 17) at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland, Maine, the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association held its annual awards ceremony.
Several horsemen, legislators and industry members turned out to congratulate all of the award winners in the Maine Sire Stakes Program in 2017.
The divisional season champion winners included:
Two-year-old filly pacer
Pembroke Passionly (Western Maverick-B. Passionate)
Owned by William Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe
Trained by Valerie Grondin
Two-year-old colt pacer
Hoppi (Western Maverick-Barbara Ann)
Owned by KDK Standardbreds
Trained by Kevin Switzer
Two-year-old filly trotter
Pembroke Dancer (CR Power Glide-Spring Laughter)
Owned by William Varney
Trained by Valerie Grondin
Two-year-old colt trotter
Hesalilbitnoble (Noble Venture-Litany Hanover)
Owned by William Phipps
Trained by Gretchen Athearn
Three-year-old filly pacer
Pembroke Perfect (Western Maverick-Perfect Launch)
Owned by William Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe
Trained by Valerie Grondin
Three-year-old colt pacer
Princeoftheforest (Baron Biltmore-Barbara Ann)
Owned by KDK Standardbreds and Anthony Sivik, Jr.
Trained by Kevin Switzer
Three-year-old filly trotter
Noble One (Noble Venture-Demeter)
Owned by Douglass Hutchins, DVM
Trained by Ivan Davies
Three-year-old colt trotter
Fox Cast (Current Cast-Celebrity Image)
Owned by Thomas Dillon and Walter Hight
Trained by Donald Richards
The leading trainer and driver based on points were awarded to Valerie Grondin and Heath Campbell.
The leading sire for two and three-year old trotters was Noble Venture. Noble Venture stands at Dupuis Farm in Saco, Maine.
The leading sire for two-year-old pacers and three-year-old pacers was Western Maverick and Baron Biltmore, respectively. Both sires reside at the Dupuis Farm.
The top broodmares of the year were awarded to Beluga for trotters and Perfect Launch for pacers.
Gretchen Athearn was awarded with the MSBOA Trainer of the Year Award for the 2017 season.
For their continued support and dedication to the Maine Sire Stakes program, Daniel and Patti Chamberlin and Roger and Mindy Smith were given Special Commitment Awards. Charles Main was honoured with the Distinguished Service Award.
In recognition for his contributions to the Maine Sire Stakes program, William Faucher was given the prestigious President’s Award.
Over $4,500 was raised during the evening’s auction to benefit the scholarship program.
(MSBOA)