Following the AGM on Sunday 26th November, the voting rights of the BHRC came together to decide the winners of the Annual Awards for 2017. Winners are:

Pacer of the Year – EVENWOOD SONOFAGUN
5yo son of The Firepan, winner of three Grade 1 races, setting new Track Records and a World Record, plus ended the season as the joint winner of the Crock of Gold taking his winning streak to a straight 15 (11 of them in 2017 making him Leading Horse by number of wins)
Owned by Raymond Huschka, trained by Alexis Laidler

Mare of the Year – RHYDS PASSION
Recorded 5 wins and 5 seconds from 12 starts in 2017. Started the season as a Maiden and progressed to winner of the Red John Memorial at Musselburgh, a heat of the Blossom Kelly at York in 1.59.7 and runner up in the Welsh Classic Final at Tregaron.
Owned and trained by Sally Teeboon

Trotter of the Year – T’ES TROP FOOT
Raced 6 times, this 10yo gelding finished the season with a run of 3 straight victories on three different surfaces; Almeley, Wolverhampton and York
Owned by Millstream Stud, trained by Simon Clarke

3YO Colt of the Year – RHYDS ROCK STAR
Winner of a host of juvenile races in 2017; NWHOA 3YO colts at Tir Prince, Breeders Crown Heat & Final at Tir Prince, Bells Field 3YO Grass Championship, Sire Stakes and the Top Notch Colts Derby. He won his first two races at York early in the season and a heat of the Appleby Spring Sunday Handicap, finishing second in the final.
Owned by Claire Fletcher, trained by Teresa Haythornthwaite

3YO Filly of the Year – RHYDS MYSTIQUE
2yo Filly of the Year 2016, Mystique carried successes into her 3yo campaign year. Outside of the top 3 only once during the season she was victor in a heat of the Appleby 3YO (3rd in final), York Major 3YO Fillies Heat & Final, Ceredigion 3YO, Barney Joyce Memorial 3YO at Portmarnock, a heat of the Breeders Crown Fillies (4th in Final) and the Sire Stakes Fillies.
Owned by Victoria Elvin, trained by Victoria Gill

2YO Colt of the Year – MATTICULOUS
Winner of 6 out of 9 starts and placed second in the other 3, this colt was at the forefront of the majority of juvenile stakes – Ceredigion 2YO, Sire Stakes Colts, Breeders Crown Colts Heat & Final and the most prestigious in the Vincent Delaney Memorial Heat & Final at Portmarnock.
Owned by BKB & Morgan, trained by Alexis Laidler (Joanne Cairns in early season)

2YO Filly of the Year – GREENHILL HANOVER
A Bettors Delight/Artaffection filly who had a four race winning streak – the Junior Welsh Dragoness Heat & Final at Tregaron, the Group 1 Fillies Futurity and the SHRC Futurity. She was placed in her first 5 starts of the season in the NWHOA 2YO, the Ceredigion 2YO, a VDM Prep race and the Vincent Delaney Fillies Heat & Final – never out of the top 3 all season.
Owned by Marina Thomas, trained by Sheelagh Lord

Overseas Horse of the Year – ROBYN CAMDEN
Winner of the NWHOA 2YO at Tir Prince and Ceredigion 2YO Fillies. At Portmarnock she was the victor of a VDM Prep race and the Vincent Delaney Memorial Fillies Heat & Final Champion recording sub two minute performances in both these last two races. Unbeaten during 2017.

Special Contribution to Harness Racing will be announced shortly.

Each of the above horses will now be put forward to the voting rights of the BHRC as a candidate for HORSE OF THE YEAR 2017. The votes will be cast, collated and the winner of this esteemed accolade announced at the BHRC & STAGBI Awards Event on 3rd February 2018.

In addition there are of course:
Leading of Horse of the Year – EVENWOOD SONOFAGUN (11 wins)
Leading Owner of the Year – RAYMOND HUSCHKA (43 wins)
Leading Trainer of the Year – ALEXIS LAIDLER (68 wins)
Leading Driver of the Year – WILLIAM LAIDLER (63 wins)

All awards will be presented at the BHRC & STAGBI Awards Event which will again be hosted by the much respected Thoroughbred and Harness Racing commentator, Darren Owen, on Saturday 3rd February 2018 at the Mercure Hotel Haydock (WA11 9SG).
Full details to follow shortly.