2006 Horsemen Awards
Top Performers Honoured At Canada's Fastest Half-Mile Track
February 27, 2007
The top horses and top horse people of the year were honoured this evening (Tuesday) at flamboro downs 2006 Awards Night.
A total of eleven awards in nine separate categories were presented at the banquet held in flamboro downs’ Sports Emporium.
Milestone Awards - JODY JAMIESON - Dundas, ON (Jim Whelan accepting)
Jamieson had the 3,000th win of his career on February 11, 2006. He was also honoured by the North American Harness Writers Association with the Rising Star Award.
Milestone Awards - MARK MACDONALD Cambridge, ON (Curtis MacDonald accepting)
On December 10th, the PEI native equaled the national single season record he set the previous year with win number 692. Later that same night in the final race on the card, MacDonald set a new record with his 693rd winning trip. He finished the year with a total of 739 first place finishes in Canada, added another six winning trips in the United States, totalling745 wins in 2006. His career-best season included a win at the Little Brown Jug and a second consecutive O’Brien Award as Canada’s top driver.
Milestone Awards - LYLE MACARTHUR Paris, ON
On December 20th, 2006, Lyle reached a career milestone recording his 2000th driving victory. The long-time Flamboro Downs horseman has been a fixture at Canada’s fastest half-miler since 1976.
Ambassador Award - LINDA DUNCAN Stoney Creek, ON
In recognition of exemplary efforts in the promotion of Flamboro Downs and the sport of harness racing.
Groom’s Award - LARRY DESJARLAIS Waterdown, ON
selected by the horse people stabled at Flamboro Downs in recognition of the hard and important work done by those who “work in the trenches” every day. Larry has been involved with horses for a quarter of a century and, for the past nine years, has worked with trainer, Lyle MacArthur.
Owner of the Year - BRENDA RANKIN Dundas, ON
Awarded to the owner with the most entries at Flamboro Downs in 2006. The mother of four daughters and grandmother of two girls, Brenda is a long-time supporter of Flamboro Downs who started 185 horses at Canada’s fastest half-mile track in 2006.
Top Conditioned Horse - OSPREY RIDGE
Owned by David Carmichael of Upper Coverdale, New Brunswick, the 5 year-old son of Falcons Future won eight of twenty-four starts in 2006, earning more than $31,000.
Top Claiming Horse - ROCKYMOSA SEECURE
Claimed May 4th by Patricia and Emily Blondin of Dundas, Ontario, the 11 year-old son of Take A Look finished first or second in twenty-five of thirty-seven races in 2006.
Top Trainer - PHIL COLEMAN Dundas, ON
In 2006, the BC native won a whopping 31% of his starts, making 94 trips to the Winner’s Circle. Coleman is the father of two-time O’Brien Award Trainer of the Year, Casie Coleman.
Top Driver - JODY JAMIESON Dundas, ON (Jim Whelan accepting)
The former World Driving Champion made it to the Winner’s Circle 306 times in 2006. In a hotly contested duel with Mark MacDonald, the 30 year-old captured his fourth straight Flamboro Downs driving title on the last day of the year.
President’s Award - PAUL MACKENZIE Puslinch, ON
A native of Charlottetown, PEI, MacKenzie is an accomplished trainer. However, he is most recognized as Flamboro Downs’ all-time driving wins leader. In his harness driving career, MacKenzie has amassed purse earnings of nearly 29 million dollars on 5,596 wins - the majority of those trips to the Winner’s Circle coming at Flamboro Downs.
Photos courtesy of racehorsephoto.com
