Newcastle Award Winners

Kirsty and Michael Formosa.

The Hunter Valley Harness Racing Awards were held at Newcastle Paceway last Saturday night with 120 people in attendance.

Awards were presented by the Newcastle Harness Racing Club, the Caduceus Club of Newcastle, the Robin Dundee Club and the Hunter Valley Harness Racing Association.

The major award winners were:

NBN/Newcastle Horse of the Year

Ultimate Art - owned by Michael and Kirsty Formosa. The son of Modern Art has a fantastic 2YO season culminating with a win in the Group 1 Bathurst Gold Crown.

Newcastle trainer of the Year

Shane Tritton - this was his third trainer’s title in a row. He chalked 87 wins at Newcastle and taking in his winners at other tracks including Albion Park he surpassed 100 winners in a season.

Newcastle Driver of the Year

Rodney Pike - this was Pike’s first title and he drove sixty six winners at Newcastle and ninety five state-wide.

Newcastle Junior driver of the Year

Josh Osborn - Josh drove 49 winners at Newcastle and 67 state wide.

Newcastle Owner of the Year (presented by the NSW Standardbred Owners association)

David Proctor

Hunter Valley Lady Trainer

Margot Lennox

Hunter Valley Lady Driver

Kylie Barnes

Dick Osborn Medal

Henry Smith

Matthew Jenkins Junior Encouragement Award

Aaron Garaty

Ros Falconer Award

Judy Mexon