The following are the nominees for the first annual 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
Mike Hennessy won six races including the Alberta Sires Stakes Two-Year-Old Filly Super Final with precocious Byby Baby Byby. Yet, Hennessy was still upstaged by Doug McNair, who was flown into Edmonton from Ontario by Alberta trainer Jamie Gray for Saturday’s Super Final card at Century Mile.
There was no shortage of action on the packed Saturday (Nov. 4) evening card at Century Mile with the ABSS Super Finals on tap as the main event with headliners featured by the longest win streak of the year extended by Shark Week and a $10 million career milestone earned by trainer Jamie Gray.
Harness racing driver Doug McNair, about 2,600 kilometres west of his home track, stole the show in the Alberta Sires Stakes Super Finals on Saturday (Nov. 4) at Century Mile as the Ontario-based reinsman won three of the four $75,000 events. Come On Santana (Santana Blue Chip) captured the first Super Final for two-year-old colts
After posting a 32-1 upset in the elimination, Blue Star Mercury returned on Saturday (Oct. 21) evening at Century Mile to win the $110,710 Western Canada Pacing Derby from gate-to-wire.