Ideal Ticket punched his own ticket, converting an eight win season into Horse of the Year honours during Fredericton Raceway's annual awards banquet at the Fredericton Inn.
Arguably the most consistent horse on the grounds throughout the 2012 campaign, the son of Full Of Fun is owned by Dave Silliphant of Fredericton and Dan Crouse of Hanwell. The partners represent a combination of veteran owner (Silliphant) and newcomer to the sport (Crouse). The horse was acquired just before the start of last season from trainer Terry Piroski, who was racing Ideal Ticket against $6,000 claiming competition in mid-April at the now defunct Windsor Raceway in Ontario.
Silliphant was uncertain about the calibre of his new acquisition prior to Fredericton's Opening Day, but was immediately gratified by a 2:00 victory in his first start at the capital city oval. Ideal Ticket went on to score a 1:57.4 triumph by six open lengths during FREX Week. Brian Embleton trains and Gilles Barrieau drove the equine athlete to all seven of the wins he earned in Fredericton.
Barrieau earned Driver of the Year honours for a third consecutive campaign. He chalked up a .445 driving average, while earning 43 wins in 140 starts. It may have been a frustrating year at times for Barrieau, who spent considerable time recovering from various injuries.
Mike Downey was the Trainer of the Year. His stable reeled off 15 wins from 75 starters.
The Aged Horse of the Year was Joseph Michael, owned by Andrea Dolan's Capital A Investments and Valerie Phelan. A son of Jennas Beach Boy, Joseph Michael earned four of his eight wins last season at Fredericton Raceway. The others came at Saint John's Exhibition Park. Joseph Michael competed in the Maritime Free-For-All circuit for a portion of the season. He was a third-place finisher, beaten only a length in Fredericton's Chippin Memorial. His fastest win of the season came in 1:57.2 for driver Todd Trites.
Edgewater Shadofax took home Mare of the Year honours for owners Linda Hughes and Bill Smythe of Fredericton. She earned almost $10,000 in 26 starts. Her bankroll was boosted by a score in a claiming series during Old Home Week in Charlottetown. Her lifetime mark of 1:57.1 was taken in a preliminary leg of that series at the CDP. She used her trademark off-the-pace style to earn back-to-back triumphs for driver Mike Stevenson in Charlottetown.
Former driver and racing official Bill Thornton was inducted into the Raceway's Wall of Fame. Tidy Point, owned by Roy Goodine, and All Star Dragon, owned by Everette Hanson, Stacy Gay and Ian Donald, were the equine athletes earning a spot on the Wall.
(HRNB)