Australian Harness Horse of the Year

The Australian Harness Horse of the Year is an honour that recognises the top harness racing horse in the Australia. The award is selected by industry people and media representatives.[1]

The inaugural award was won in 1976 by Don't Retreat, a New South Wales pacer who won 14 of his 24 starts in the 1975-1976 season for a total of $122,415.[2] The first and only trotter to win the award was Maori's Idol in 1978, a season in which he won 22 of his 24 starts.[2] The first three-year-old to win the award was a year later in 1979, when Run Joe Run won the award, since then a three-year-old has won the award three times.[2] The youngest horse to win the award was Lombo Pocket Watch who won as a two-year-old in 2006.[2]

The horses that has won the most awards are Westburn Grant, who won the award in 1989 as a three-year-old and again in 1991 and 1992, Our Sir Vancelot, who won the 1997, 1998 and 1999 awards and four time Interdominion winner Blakes A Fake in 2007, 2008 and 2010.[2]

Past winners

Horses that have been crowned Australian Harness Horse of the Year are:[2]

Year
Horse

2011 Smoken Up (NZ)
2010 Blacks A Fake
2009 Mr Feelgood (USA)
2008 Blacks A Fake
2007 Blacks A Fake
2006 Lombo Pocket Watch 2 Year Old
2005 Sokyola (NZ)
2004 Sokyola (NZ)
2002 Smooth Satin
2003 Double Identity
2001 Atitagain (NZ)
2000 Shakamaker
1999 Our Sir Vancelot (NZ)
1998 Our Sir Vancelot (NZ)
1997 Our Sir Vancelot (NZ)
1996 Sunshine Band
1995 Golden Reign
1994 Weona Warrior
1993 Jack Morris (NZ)
1992 Westburn Grant
1991 Westburn Grant
1990 Thorate
1989 Westburn Grant 3 Year Old
1988 Village Kid
1987 Rufus Young Blood 3 Year Old
1986 Village Kid
1985 Preux Chevalier
1984 Gammalite
1983 Popular Alm
1982 Gammalite
1981 San Simeon
1980 Pure Steel
1979 Run Joe Run 3 Year Old
1978 Maori's Idol Trotter
1977 Paleface Adios
1976 Don't Retreat

References

  1. "Australian Harness Racing Awards". Harness Racing Australia. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Australian Harness Racing Awards - All Time". Harness Racing Australia. Retrieved 2011-03-25.