The Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced the winners of its 2023 ASHA Awards – Champions of 2022.
After carving a resounding sophomore campaign with only three losses from 17 starts, the Outrageous Art phenom Divine Art was voted the 2022 Horse of the Year. The Nathan Sobey trainee lost her last race of 2022 on June 25 – just her fourth start on the year – before uncorking a vicious winning streak which included victories in the Alberta Sires Stakes Diamond, Gord & Illa Rumpel Memorial, ABSS Marquis, the ABSS Super Final and the Century Casinos Pace. She carried that streak after being sold to Gerry Longo to 17 consecutive wins before suffering defeat on Feb. 19 at Cal-Expo. Divine Art was owned by Robert Jones, Diane Bertrand and John Hind and was bred by Diane Bertrand and Karen Sobey. Nate Sobey trained and served as her regular reinsman.
Nate Sobey was also honoured as Trainer of the Year as well as Horseperson of the Year. Driver of the Year was awarded to Brandon Campbell.
The list of winners appears below:
2023 ASHA Awards – Champions of 2022
Two-Year-Old AB-Sired Filly Winner
PROMISE KEPT
Two-Year-Old Open Filly Winner
CORA CORA CORA (Tie)
DEAR JOHN IM GONE (Tie)
PROMISE KEPT (Tie)
Two-Year-Old AB-Sired Colt or Gelding
VIRTUAL HORIZON
Two-Year-Old Open Winner
VIRTUAL HORIZON
Three-Year-Old AB-Sired Filly Winner
DIVINE ART
Three-Year-Old Open Filly Winner
DIVINE ART
Three-Year-Old AB-Sired Colt or Gelding Winner
ERNESTO DELACRUZ
Three-Year-Old Open Colt or Gelding Winner
ERNESTO DELACRUZ
Champion Aged Mare
STASH THE COOKIES
Champion Aged Horse
SHARK WEEK
Claimer (Fillies & Mares)
LOVETHATSIXPACK
Claimer (Colts & Geldings)
KOOTENAY LAGER
Fastest Girl
STASH THE COOKIES
Fastest Boy
CODENAME CIGAR BOX (Tie)
SHARK WEEK (Tie)
Rising Star of the Year
LOGAN GILLIS
Caretaker of the Year
JESSICA HENRIQUEZ (Tie)
MIKE KLEINSASSER (Tie)
Trainer of the Year - Under 150 Starts
J. F. GAGNE
Trainer of the Year
NATE SOBEY
Driver of the Year - Under 150 Starts
TYSON JACOBY
Driver of the Year
BRANDON CAMPBELL
Owner of the Year
J. F. GAGNE - PETER VAN SEGGELEN
Breeder of the Year (Six Mares or Less)
AL NEURAUTER - JAMES RHODES
Breeder of the Year
MERIDIAN FARMS - WILLIAM & DENISE ANDREW
Horseperson of the Year
NATE SOBEY
Horse of the Year
DIVINE ART
Breeders Award of Recognition
KATHLEEN & CLIFFORD COONFER
(with files from ASHA)