PEISHOA set to hand out awards

The P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association awards banquet for the 2011 season happens this Saturday night at the Howard Johnston Dutch Inn in Cornwall with a reception starting at 6:30.

The association has announced Mark Ford will be the guest speaker for the banquet, which will close out the 2011 harness racing season on P.E.I.

Ford, best known for being the trainer of two-time O’Brien Award winner Gallo Blue Chip the richest pacer in the history of the sport with $4.2 million in earnings. He is the youngest trainer in history to reach $40 million in career earnings, during that time he has 17,332 starts as a trainer and 2,689 wins.

PEISHOA president Tom Clark said the committee is delighted to have Ford as a guest speaker for the banquet.

"He has perennially been one of the leading trainers in North America, and we really look forward to hearing about his operation and his views on the industry today.”

Expected to have a big night is the Island’s top driver for 2011 Marc Campbell who was the leading dash winner this season on the Island and also put up a big year as a trainer with likely 2-year-old filly nominee Malabrigo and a nominee in the direction of claiming horse Benny Rabbit is not out of the question.

Another likely candidate for Claiming Horse of the year comes from leading dash winning trainer Jackie Matheson in Keystone Dimitri, who enjoyed his first season in the Maritimes.

With Maritime Free-for-all stand out Formal Affair not eligible due to a start requirement, it gives local top class horses Ricarras Sun, Oakrock Almighty a chance at winning Aged Pacing Horse of the year.

The Aged Pacing Mare award will also be a toss up between a couple of iron tough mares including J K Special from the Joe Smallwood stable, the Wade Sorrie trainee Onehotvett, Grace and Harv trained by Wayne Bell, as well as the late addition to the Jackie Matheson barn General Luckypercy.

The most intriguing award of the night will likely come from the Two-year-old Pacing Colt category with a lot of local talent putting up some big numbers this season. Names such as Astronomical Union and Dukes Up trained by Albert Davies and owned by Reg MacPherson, as well Touch Of Lighting from the Earl Smith barn and Lyndale Royale trained by Terry Affleck and the late blooming Mr Thompson could all be in consideration for the award.

In the trotting category, three-year-old filly standout Maple Leaf Spirit is as strong of a sure thing as there can be, only being defeated twice in her sophomore season.

Aged Trotting mare will likely see Merdian Farms Warrawee Jade trained by Brian Andrew and Napanee Seelster trained and co-owned by Danny Macdonald nominated along side Campbell’s Diana Car.

For horses to be eligible for awards, owners must have their PEISHOA membership paid for the 2011 season.

Also included in the awards ceremony are Horsemen and Horsewomen of the year as well as the Fan Favourite award and Grooms of the Year.

Tickets for the banquet are $30 and can be purchased from PEISHOA committee members, Charlottetown Veterinary Clinic, or by contacting Tom Clark by email at tclark@clarkemotors.net .