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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