The top performers from the 2023 season at The Raceway at Western Fair District have been announced and will all be honoured during the annual Awards Night, which takes place this year on Saturday, March 2.
Trotting mare Okeeheelee was the only multiple award winner from 2023, taking home both the Aged Trotting Mare and Claiming Trotter Of The Year awards. The daughter of Il Sogno Dream-Phoenix Goal won seven times at the London, Ont. oval during the season while banking just shy of $42,000 for owner-trainer Jack Wray of London.
The father-daughter duo of Colonel and Cassidy Schneider teamed up for another stellar season in London and will take home the Owner Of The Year and Trainer Of The Year hardware, respectively. Schneider-owned starters clicked for 33 wins during the meet while amassing just over $194,000 in earnings. Cassidy Schneider led all trainers with 53 wins and just over $322,000 in purse winnings to capture her second consecutive trainer’s title.
Despite giving up his full-time driving status at The Raceway part way through the season, Tyler Borth captured another London driving title by virtue of his 192 trips to the winner’s circle and $1.183 million in earnings while sporting a sparkling .401 UDRS. Borth finished second in the nation for wins behind reining O’Brien Award winner James MacDonald.
The annual Awards Night celebration will once again take place at the Top Of The Fair restaurant. Tickets will go on sale soon and horsepeople can stay tuned to the track’s website and social media media channels for full details as they are announced.
Nominations are now being accepted for Caretaker of the Year. To nominate someone for the award, you are asked to email your submission and reasons why to gblanchard@
To be eligible, a person must race primarily at The Raceway and have worked in a caretaker capacity for a minimum of three years. A voting committee will select the winner, based on nominations, which will be announced the night of the award ceremony along with other selected categories including overall Horse of the Year.
The horse awards are based on the highest earnings with a minimum of six starts at The Raceway during the calendar year while the claiming awards are based on the number of claiming wins at The Raceway during the same period. The complete list of this year’s winners, including categories that will be announced the night of the event, are listed below:
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt – Punchesinbunches
Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly – Yoda Queen
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt – Acefortyfour Elvis
Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly – April Duford
Aged Pacing Horse – Cheddar Bay
Aged Pacing Mare – So Frisky
Aged Trotting Horse – Bucktober
Aged Trotting Mare – Okeeheelee
Claiming Pacer - Big Bad Jenn
Claiming Trotter - Okeehelee
Rookie Of The Year – Just Ask Joe
Driver Of The Year – Tyler Borth
Owner Of The Year – Colonel Schneider Jr.
Trainer Of The Year – Cassidy Schneider
Caretaker Of The Year – TBA
Horsewoman Of The Year – TBA
Overall Horse Of The Year – TBA
(Western Fair District)