2025 Westie Award Nominees

The third annual Westie Awards are set to take place on January 10, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. est available at The Western Pacer’s YouTube channel.

Unfortunately, due to the interruption of racing in British Columbia following the loss of Fraser Downs, there will be no B.C. nominee in the equine awards this year. However, sufficient racing was completed in the spring to allow for consideration in the human awards. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to featuring B.C. competitors again in the near future.

The following are the nominees for the 2025 Westie Awards, recognizing the hard work and achievements of the top harness racing horses 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 2026.

Heart of the West Award: Winner announced on Jan. 10th, 2026

Recognizing individuals or horses who began in Western Canada and have gone on to succeed and represent the region on larger stages.

Trainer of the Year

Manitoba: Sherri Mason

Starts: 89

Wins: 22

Earnings: $94,830

Utrs: 0.394

Alberta: Travis Ellis

Starts: 339

Wins: 80

Earnings: $479,893

Utrs: 0.378

B.C.: Rebecca Kanak

Starts: 78

Wins: 40

Earnings: $394,421

Utrs: 0.476

Driver of the Year

Manitoba: Darryl Mason

Starts: 84 (82 in MB)

Wins: 20

Earnings: $90,093

Udrs: 0.407

Alberta: Michael Hennessy

Starts: 831

Wins: 163

Earnings: $1,414,752

Udrs: 0.346

B.C.: Brandon Campbell

Starts: 727 (126 in BC)

Wins: 187 (46 in BC)

Earnings: $1,438,470 ($215,157 in BC)

Udrs: 0.407

Owner of the Year

Manitoba: Darryl & Sherri Mason

Alberta: Nathan Sobey

B.C.: Trevor Williams

Two-Year-Old Filly of the Year

Manitoba: Libbys Delight (Track Master D)

Starts: 3

Wins: 2

Earnings: $10,125

Lifetime Mark: 2:07

Accomplishments: MSSBA Juvenile Stakes

Owner: Aurel Vodon

Breeder: Aurel Vodon & Marc Fillion

Alberta: B A Dragon (Custard The Dragon)

Starts: 8

Wins: 5

Earnings: $93,841

Lifetime Mark: 1:551

Accomplishments: ABSS Starlet, ABSS Stardust, ABSS Superfinal

Owner: J J J Stables, Paul Saunders, Jamie Gray.

Breeder: Gigi Van Ostrand

Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding of the Year

Manitoba: Justcruiseonbye (Lambretta)

Starts: 10

Wins: 1

Earnings: $10,899

Lifetime Mark: 2:06.4

Accomplishments: MSSBA Kindergarten Stake

Owner: Cory & Deanna Manning

Breeder: Cory & Deanna Manning

Alberta: The Great Shark(Smart Shark)

Starts: 10

Wins: 6

Earnings: $67,429

Lifetime Mark: 1:54.3

Accomplishments: ABSS Rising Star, ABSS Lonestar, Rocky Mountain

Owner: Michelle Danroth, Brent Grundy

Breeder: Michelle Danroth

Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year

Manitoba: Pipers Luna (Im The Pied Piper)

Starts:9 (8 in MB)

Wins: 7

Earnings: $38,970

Lifetime Mark: 1:58.3

Accomplishments: MB Great Western, MSSBA Silk Lace Final

Owner: Lorraine Rey, Vince Sotheran

Breeder: Lorraine Rey

Alberta: Custard Dolce (Custard The Dragon)

Starts: 12

Wins: 8

Earnings: $242,488

Lifetime Mark: 1:54.0 (2024)

Accomplishments: ABSS Diamond, ABSS Marquis, Gord & Illa Rumpel Memorial, Century Casino Filly Pace.

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

Breeder: Jamie Gray

Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding of the Year

Manitoba: Van Goghing Fast (Trust The Artist)

Starts: 24 (10 in MB)

Wins: 6 (3 in MB)

Earnings: $37,010

Lifetime Mark: 1:57.2

Accomplishments: MSSBA Goldenboy Final

Owner: Marc Fillion

Breeder: Marc Fillion

Alberta: Momas Work Of Art (Outrageous Art)

Starts:12

Wins:3

Earnings: $156,408

Lifetime Mark: 1:52.4

Accomplishments: ASHA Ralph Klein Memorial,

Owner: Shelly Arsenault, Don M Jr Stables, Jackson Wittup

Breeder: Donald Monkman

Claimer of the Year

Manitoba: Chief Is Boss (Beren Hanover)

Starts: 29 (6 in MB)

Wins: 4 (3 in MB)

Earnings: $24,622

Lifetime Mark: 1:55.3

Owner: Garrett Isman, Trevor Williams

Breeder: Kenneth Dorman

Alberta: Litizor (Vertical Horizon)

Starts: 33

Wins: 14

Earnings: $57,410

Lifetime Mark: 1:53.4 (2024)

Owner: Don Howlett

Breeder: Jamie Gray, Neil Malloch

Aged Mare of the Year

Manitoba: Nonversation (Mystician)

Starts: 36 (12 In MB)

Wins: 9 (3 in MB)

Earnings: $45,830

Lifetime Mark: 1:54.1

Owner: Tara Isman, Jim Wilson, Richard Remillard, Trevor Williams

Breeder: Gigi Van Ostrand

Alberta: Stash The Cookies (Sunfire Blue Chip)

Starts: 19

Wins: 6

Earnings: $69,575

Lifetime Mark: 1:51.2 (2022)

Owner: Derek Gilbert

Breeder: William Andrew

Aged Horse/Gelding of the Year

Manitoba: Ginger Tree Finny (Captaintrecherous)

Starts: 23 (10 in MB)

Wins: 11 (7 in MB)

Earnings: $63,832

Lifetime Mark: 1:51.4 (2023)

Owner: Laverne Turnbull

Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms

Alberta: Shark Week (Vertical Horizon)

Starts: 23

Wins: 16

Earnings: $129,575

Lifetime Mark: 1:49.2 (2023)

Owner: Lorne Duffield, Rodney Hennessy

Breeder: Meridian Farms