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 Blacks A Fake in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Smoken Up was the original winner of the 2011 award but became ineligible due to his disqualification from the Inter Dominion.[2]
Past winners
Horses that have been crowned Australian Harness Horse of the Year[3] are:
| Year |
Horse |
|
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | King Of Swing (NZ) | |
| 2019 | Tiger Tara (NZ) | |
| 2018 | Lazarus (NZ) | |
| 2017 | Smolda | |
| 2016 | Lennytheshark | |
| 2015 | Beautide | |
| 2014 | Beautide | |
| 2013 | Im Themightyquinn (NZ) | |
| 2012 | Im Themightyquinn (NZ) | |
| 2011 | Im Themightyquinn (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 |
See also
- A G Hunter Cup
- Australian Pacing Championship
- Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
- Miracle Mile Pace
- New Zealand Trotting Cup
- Queensland Pacing Championship
- Victoria Cup
- Harness racing in Australia
- Harness racing in New Zealand
References
- ^ "Australian Harness Racing Awards". Harness Racing Australia. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
- ^ a b c d e "Australian Harness Racing Awards - All Time". Harness Racing Australia. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
- ^ "Australian Harness Racing Awards - Aust Horse of the Year".