Champion pacer Caribbean Blaster with driver Kate Gath in the sulky.
For the second straight season Caribbean Blaster is Victorian Horse of the Year.
The Andy Gath trained pacer, who is currently on a hiatus from the track at stud, was named the premier Victorian horse of the 2013-14 season at Harness Racing Victoria’s gala awards dinner last night at Tabcorp Park.
Caribbean Blaster had earlier in the evening taken out the Aged Entire/Gelding of the Year award, the son of Bettors Delight/Kalypso honoured for his season that saw him defeat Smoken Up to win the Group 1 SA Cup in a stirring finish with Kate Gath in the sulky, capture the Preux Chevalier Free-for-All at Tabcorp Park Melton, and twice finish narrow runner-up in premier races the Group 1 Victoria Cup and the Group 1 Hunter Cup.
He also placed in the Ballarat Cup and ran seventh in the Inter Dominion Grand Final at Menangle.
The awards night kicked off with the two-year-old colt/gelding of the year and it was taken out by Kept Under Wraps for trainer Brent Lilley.
The two-year-old fillies’ award was next with Paul and Kari Males trained Niki No No securing the prize.
Major Crocker, trained by Vince Vallelonga, was named three-year-old colt/gelding of the year, while Nike Franco won the fillies’ three-year-old section for trainer Dean Braun.
The two-year-old male trotting horse of the year went to Eljaykay Phoenix from the David Aiken stable, while Endsino won the fillies’ version for Andy Gath.
Our Twentyten gave Brent Lilley his second win in the three-year-old colts/geldings trotting section, while Claudys Princess was a most popular winner in the fillies’ section for trainer Mick Blackmore.
Aiken was to the fore again in the four-year-old pacing males category with Lennytheshark taking the prize.
The four-year-old mare of the year went to Im Smouldering for trainer John Yeomans, whose victory speech would have secured the three votes had judges been scoring on the night.
The aged mare of the year title went to pint-sized mare Gumdrops for trainer Steve Zammit, and the mighty cheer let out when she was named victorious highlighted her popularity.
And My High Expectations won aged trotter of the year, another win for the Aiken camp.
The Pearl Kelly Award went to long-time Stawell Harness Racing Club stalwart Lisa McIlvride, while Des Hughes picked up the Distinguished Service Award for his work at the Gippsland Harness Racing Training Centre over the years.
Earlier in the night the AVCHRC Volunteer Service Award was picked up by Kevin Pymer of Horsham, while Kyabram won Best Graduation Club and Secretary of the Year.
Shepparton won Best On-Course Promotion, Cobram was named Best Presented Track/Venue, Horsham won Best Local Media Traditional and Shepparton won Best Local Media Digital.
Mildura was named Best Country Cup Meeting, while Bob Watson won Secretary of the Year for a club with 16 meetings or less for his hard work at Cobram.
Country Club of the Year (16 meetings or less) saw another win head to hard-working Horsham, Yarra Valley’s Brett Shambrook won the Frank Ryan Memorial Secretary of the Year honour and Ballarat was named Country Club of the Year.
Merv Butterworth won the VHRSC Owner of the Year trophy, Jason Lee was named Equine Supplies Victorian Concession Driver of the Year, Chris Alford took out both the SBG Accountants Metropolitan Driver of the Year and the Melton Saddlery Victorian Driver of the Year prizes, while David Aiken was named Taylors Metropolitan Trainer of the Year and Mildura master Shayne Cramp was named Renown Silverware Victorian Trainer of the Year.