The reigning Horse-of-the-Year, Colt Thirty One, has gone back-to-back at tonight’s TAB Queensland Harness Awards in Brisbane.
For a successive year, the Grant Dixon-trained pacer was awarded the state’s highest accolade, edging out a host of strong contenders following another stunning campaign that included victory in the $250,000 Blacks A Fake.
Having won 13 of 17 starts throughout 2018/19, Colt Thirty One was also named the Queensland Aged Pacer of the Year and the Albion Park Harness Racing Club Horse of the Year.
Colt Thirty One joins Slipnslide, Blacks A Fake, Majestic Mach and Avonova as a multiple Horse-of-the-Year winner.
Not surprisingly, Dixon, who trained a state-high 340 winners, was named the Queensland Trainer of the Year, as well as the Driver of the Year among a raft of other accolades.
His 10-year-old gelding, Our Overanova NZ, was awarded the Queensland Trotter of the Year.
There was success on the evening for the Anna Woodmansey-trained, Pelosi, who was named the Queensland Filly or Mare of the Year and the 2YO Pacer of the Year after winning all but two of her eight starts including two Group 1 victories.
The Kylie Rasmussen- trained Smart As Camm Be won seven of eight starts including the Group 2 QBRED 3YO Triad Final to be awarded the Queensland 3YO Pacer of the Year, while her dam Too Smart For You was named the Queensland Broodmare of the Year.
“Colt Thirty One is an exceptional pacer and a deserving Horse-of-the-Year winner once again,” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“The $250,000 TAB Blacks A Fake featured three of the top-five place getters from this year’s Grand Circuit including Inter Dominion champion, Tiger Tara, which demonstrates the strength of his Group 1 win.
“Grant Dixon enjoyed another record-breaking season and deserves all the plaudits that come his way, while we also saw some exceptional standardbreds being acknowledged including Pelosi, Smart As Camm Be and Our Overanova NZ.”
During the evening, Taleah McMullen was recognised with the Queensland Young Female Achiever Award, while Matt Elkins was awarded with the male’s equivalent and the Queensland Concession Driver of the Year.
Once again, Kevin and Kay Seymour were named the Queensland Breeder of the Year and the Queensland Owner of the Year.
Racing Queensland also used the occasion to induct Warren Cummins into the Hall of Fame.
Having spent more than half a century involved in the industry, Cummins, who commenced his involvement as a trainer and then Clerk of Course at the RNA, was acknowledged for his incredible contribution as a director for the Albion Park Harness Racing Club and the former Queensland Harness Racing Board.
In total, over 30 Awards of distinction were presented at Moda Events Portside.
2019 TAB Queensland Harness Award Winners
- TAB Queensland Harness Horse of the Year – Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon)
- Garrard’s Horse and Hound Trotter of the Year – Our Overanova NZ (Grant Dixon)
- Garrard’s Horse and Hound Trainer of the Year – Grant Dixon
- Racing Queensland Driver of the Year – Grant Dixon
- Sky Racing Hall of Fame – Warren Cummins
- Ladies in Racing Magazine Filly or Mare of the Year – Pelosi (Anna Woodmansey)
- Garrard’s Horse and Hound Aged Pacer of the Year – Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon)
- McGarry Equine Veterinary Services 3YO Pacer of the Year – Smart As Camm Be (Kylie Rasmussen)
- APG 2YO Pacer of the Year – Pelosi (Anna Woodmansey)
- QRIC Broodmare of the Year – Too Smart For You
- QRIC Breeder of the Year – Solid Earth P/L
- Garrard’s Horse and Hound Owner of the Year – Solid Earth P/L
- Racing Queensland Concession Driver of the Year – Matt Elkins
- Kevin & Kay Seymour Queensland Young Achiever Award (Female) – Taleah McMullen
- Kevin & Kay Seymour Queensland Young Achiever Award (Male) – Matt Elkins
Albion Park Harness Racing Club
- Horse of the Year – Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon)
- Drivers’ Premiership – Grant Dixon
- Trainers’ Premiership – Grant Dixon
- Owner of the Year – Solid Earth P/L
- Mare of the Year – Eleniark
Redcliffe Harness Racing Club
- Horse of the Year – Feel The Reign (Chantal Turpin)
- Drivers’ Premiership – Grant Dixon
- Trainers’ Premiership – Grant Dixon
- Concession Driver of the Year – Matt Elkins
- Mare of the Year – Stevie Dee
- Redcliffe Pegasus Award – Queensland Junior Harness Racing Club
Marburg Harness Racing Club
- Horse of the Year – Stoned Again (Lisa Bahr)
- Drivers’ Premiership – Pete McMullen
- Trainers of the Year – Darrel Graham
Breeders Owners Trainers and Reins-persons Association of Queensland Awards
- BOTRA Rising Star (Male) – Ben Battle
- BOTRA Rising Star (Female) – Tayla Gillespie
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Trainer – Grant Dixon
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Trainer – Jack Butler
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Trainer – Chantal Turpin
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Grant Dixon
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Pete McMullen
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Narissa McMullen
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Nathan Dawson
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Adam Richardson
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Matt Elkins
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Brendan Barnes
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Kylie Rasmussen