2024 Westie Award Nominations

The second annual Westie Awards are set to take place on January 11, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. est available at The Western Pacer’s YouTube channel.

The following are the nominees for the 2024 Westie Awards, recognizing the hard work and achievements of the top harness racing horse and horsepeople in Western Canada.

I, Trey Colbeck, determined the nominees based on performance over the past year. Each category has one nominee from each province, and the winner will be announced next week. Congratulations to everyone for a fantastic year. I can’t wait to do it all over again in 2025.

Trainer of the Year


Manitoba: Mathew Howlett

Starts: 89 (51 in MB)

Wins: 34 (20 in MB)

Earnings: $134,575 ($76,811 in MB)

Utrs: 0.519

Alberta: Brandon Campbell

Starts: 333 (All in AB)

Wins: 77 (All in AB)

Earnings: $841,851 (All in AB)

Utrs: 0.377

B.C.: Rod Therres

Starts: 215 (All in BC)

Wins:70 (All in BC)

Earnings: 528,095 (All in BC)

Utrs: 0.480

Driver of the Year

Manitoba: Donald Howlett

Starts:77 (57 in MB)

Wins: 28 (22 in MB)

Earnings: $110,015 ($85,996 in MB)

Urds: 0.507

Alberta: Phillip Giesbrecht

Starts: 770 (673 in AB)

Wins: 170 (138 in AB)

Earnings: $1,485,610 ($1,110,211 in AB)

Urds: 0.361

B.C.: Kelly Hoerdt

Starts: 845 (327 in B.C.)

Wins: 150 (83 in B.C.)

Earnings: $1,132,556 ($479,702 in B.C

Urds: 0.318

Owner of the Year

Manitoba: Laverne Turnbull

Alberta: Rodney Starkewski & Clauzette Byckal

B.C.: J J J Stables

Two-Year-Old Filly of the Year

Manitoba: Girl On The Go (Armbro Baylor)

Starts: 2 (All in MB)

Wins: 0 (All in MB)

Earnings: $1,740 (All in MB)

Lifetime Mark: N/A

Accomplishments: Fourth place in MSSBA Kindergarten Stake

Owner: Darryl & Sherri Mason

Breeder: Darryl, Sherri & Paula Mason

Alberta: Custard Dolce (Custard The Dragon)

Starts: 9 (All in AB)

Wins: 8 (All in AB)

Earnings: $139,437 (All in AB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:54 (Century Downs)

Accomplishments: ABSS Super Final Winner, ABSS Stardust Winner, Brad Gunn Winner, ASHA Filly Winner, ABSS Starlet Winner.

Owner: Jamie Gray, Jackson Wittup, Max Gibb & Derek Wilson

Breeder: Jamie Gray

B.C.: Heavens Lil Dragon (Custard The Dragon)

Starts: 6 (All in BC)

Wins: 4 (All in BC)

Earnings: $70,125 (All in BC)

Lifetime Mark: 1:57.4 (Fraser Downs)

Accomplishments: Betty Millbank Memorial BC Bred Stake Winner

Owner: Rod Therres, Ralph Therres, KFC Farms

Breeder: Surdale Farms, Allan Neurauter, Kathleen Neurater & James Rhodes,

Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding of the Year

Manitoba: Shady Roan (Mr Rock)

Starts: 2 (All in MB)

Wins: 1 (All in MB)

Earnings: $7,825 (All in MB)

Lifetime Mark: 2:04.3 (The Loop)

Accomplishments: MSSBA Juvenile Stake Winner

Owner: Katie Maclennan & Aurel Vodon

Breeder: Aurel Vodon

Alberta: Momas Work Of Art (Outrageous Art)

Starts: 8 (All in AB)

Wins: 3 (All in AB)

Earnings: $78,616 (All in AB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:55.2 (Track On 2)

Accomplishments: Norm Kennedy Winner, ABSS Rising Star Winner.

Owner: Shelly Arsenualt, Don Jr Stables & Jackson Wittup

Breeder: Donald Monkman

B.C.: Fubar Bundy (All Bets Off)

Starts: 5 (All in BC)

Wins: 5 (All in BC)

Earnings: $76,000 (All in BC)

Lifetime Mark: 1:54.3 (Fraser Downs)

Accomplishments: Robert Millbank Memorial Final Winner & BC Bred Stake Winner.

Owner: Rod Therres, Ralph Therres & KFC Farms

Breeder: Surdale Farms

Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year

Manitoba: Choozetocruise (Lambretta)

Starts: 18 (12 in MB)

Wins: 9 (8 in MB)

Earnings: $47,874 ($35,331)

Lifetime Mark: 1:55.2 (The Meadows)

Accomplishments: MSSBA Silk Lace Winner, Lady Crocus Winner, Manitoba Great Western Stake Winner.

Owner: Trevor Williams

Breeder: Betty Manning

Alberta: Outlawguns N Roses (Captive Audience)

Starts: 13 (All in AB)

Wins: 11 (All in AB)

Earnings: $285,270 (All in AB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:51.3 (Century Downs)

Accomplishments: ABSS Super Final Winner, Century Casino Winner, ABSS Princess Winner, Gord & Illa Rumpel Memorial Winner, ABSS Diamond Winner.

Owner: Rodney Starkewski & Clauzette Byckal

Breeder: Outlaw Stable

B.C.: Over Ice (Custard The Dragon)

Starts: 17 (5 in B.C.)

Wins: 6 (4 in B.C.)

Earnings: $162,813 ($88,500 in B.C.)

Lifetime Mark: 1:53.3 (Century Downs)

Accomplishments: Mary Murphy Stake Final Winner, BC Sale Stake Winner

Owner: J J J Stables

Breeder: J J J Stables

Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding of the Year

Manitoba:Lookinglikeamillion (Armbro Baylor)

Starts: 14 (10 in MB)

Wins: 6 (5 in MB)

Earnings: $37,426 ($27,926 in MB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:53.2 (Woodbine Mohawk Park)

Accomplishments: MSSBA Golden Boy Final Winner, MSSBA Futurity Winner.

Owner: Tara, Valeria, George, & Garett Isman

Breeder: Darryl & Sherri Mason

Alberta: Grey Horizon (Vertical Horizon)

Starts: 14 (All in AB)

Wins: 9 (All in AB)

Earnings: $251,100 (All in AB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:53 (Century Downs)

Accomplishments: ABSS Super Final Winner, Western Canada Pacing Derby Final Winner, ABSS Plainsman Winner, ABSS Ralph Klein Winner, Moores Mile Winner.

Owner: Jodi Loftus, Raymond Henry & George Rogers

Breeder: Gigi Van Orstand

B.C.: Wannabeabigstar (Shadow Play)

Starts: 12 (All in B.C.)

Wins: 4 (All in B.C)

Earnings: $78,005 (All in B.C.)

Lifetime Mark: 1:54 (Fraser Downs)

Accomplishments: Robert Murphy Memorial Stake Final Winner

Owner: J J J Stables, Jim Marino, Paul Sanders

Breeder: Jane Kelly

Claimer of the Year

Manitoba: Litizor (Vertical Horizon )

Starts: 24 (15 in MB)

Wins: 9 (7 in MB)

Earnings: $41,655 ($29,850 in MB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:53.3 (Century MIle)

Owner: Donald Howlett

Breeder: Jamie Gray & Neil Malloch

Alberta: Outlaw Spiced Rum (Blue Burner)

Starts: 38 (28 in AB)

Wins: 20 (14 in AB)

Earnings: $103,174 ($68,774 in AB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:53.4 (Fraser Downs)

Owner: Rod Therres

Breeder: Outlaw Stable

B.C.: Forever Furley (Domitian Hanover)

Starts: 26 (All in B.C.)

Wins: 8 (All in B.C.)

Earnings: $30,905 (All in B.C.)

Lifetime Mark: 1:54.2 (Fraser Downs)

Owner: Kelly Hudon

Breeder: Kelly Hudon

Aged Mare of the Year

Manitoba: Singing Ramona (Sportswriter)

Starts: 38 (12 in MB)

Wins: 10 (6 in MB)

Earnings: $46,346 ($20,499 in MB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:56 (Buffalo Raceway)

Owner: Donald Howlett

Breeder: Breeder: Jamie Smith & Hubert Macdonald

Alberta: Stash The Cookies (Sunfire Blue Chip)

Starts: 17 (All in AB)

Wins: 11 (All in AB)

Earnings: $98,250 (All in AB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:51.2 (Century Downs)

Owner: Derek Gilbert

Breeder: William Andrew

B.C.: Grey Sea (Custard The Dragon)

Starts: 33 (21 in B.C.)

Wins: 9 (7 in B.C.)

Earnings: $90,200 ($60,500 in B.C.)

Lifetime Mark: 1:52.4 (Century Downs)

Owner: Seaspray Stables

Breeder: Seaspray Stables

Aged Horse of the Year

Manitoba: Armycaptin Hanover (Captaintreacherous)

Starts: 33 (12 in MB)

Wins: 14 (6 in MB)

Earnings: $77,587 ($27,537 in MB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:51.3 (Fraser Downs)

Owner: Laverne Turnbull

Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms

Alberta: Shark Week (Vertical Horizon)

Starts: 10 (All in AB)

Wins: 9 (All in AB)

Earnings: $78,750 (All in AB)

Lifetime Mark: 1:49.2 (Century Downs)

Owner: Lorne Duffield & Rodney Hennessy

Breeder: Meridian Farms

B.C.: Itll Be Fine (Hes Watching)

Starts: 38 (24 in B.C.)

Wins: 11 (8 in B.C.)

Earnings: $86,281 ($69,160 in B.C.)

Lifetime Mark: 1:51.1 (Fraser Downs)

Owner: Leslie Godlien & Richard Lancaster

Breeder: Denarben Stables & Auciello Stables

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