by Wendy Ireland, MSBOA President

On Saturday, (Feb. 17) at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland, Maine, the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (MSBOA) held their annual awards ceremony. Several horsemen, legislators and industry members turned out to congratulate all of the award winners in the Maine Sire Stakes Program in 2017.

Double Tee Photography

Wendy Ireland, MSBOA president, presents William Faucher with the President’s Award.

The divisional season champion winners included:

– Two-year-old filly pacer- Pembroke Passionly (Western Maverick-B. Passionate), owned by William Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe, trained by Valerie Grondin ($58,824)
-Two-year-old colt pacer- Hoppi (Western Maverick-Barbara Ann), owned by KDK Standardbreds, trained by Kevin Switzer ($70,226)
-Two-year-old filly trotter- Pembroke Dancer (CR Power Glide-Spring Laughter), owned by William Varney, trained by Valerie Grondin ($64,385)
-Two-year-old colt trotter- He’salilbitnoble (Noble Venture-Litany Hanover), owned by William Phipps, trained by Gretchen Athearn ($29,896)
– Three-year-old filly pacer- Pembroke Perfect (Western Maverick-Perfect Launch), owned by William Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe, trained by Valerie Grondin ($60,372)
– Three-year-old colt pacer- Princeoftheforest (Baron Biltmore-Barbara Ann), owned by KDK Standardbreds and Anthony Sivik, Jr., trained by Kevin Switzer ($80,474)
-Three-year-old filly trotter- Noble One (Noble Venture-Demeter), owned by Douglass Hutchins, DVM, trained by Ivan Davies ($53,382)
– Three-year-old colt trotter-Fox Cast (Current Cast-Celebrity Image), owned by Thomas Dillon and Walter Hight, trained by Donald Richards ($39,497)

The leading trainer and driver based on points were awarded to Valerie Grondin and Heath Campbell.

The leading sire for 2-and 3-year old trotters was Noble Venture. Noble Venture stands at Dupuis Farm in Saco, Maine.

The leading sire for 2-year-old pacers and 3-year-old pacers was Western Maverick and Baron Biltmore, respectively. Both sires reside at the Dupuis Farm.

The top broodmares of the year were awarded to Beluga for trotters and Perfect Launch for pacers.

Gretchen Athearn was awarded with the MSBOA trainer of the year award for the 2017 season.

For their continued support and dedication to the Maine Sire Stakes program, Daniel and Patti Chamberlin and Roger and Mindy Smith were given Special Commitment Awards. Charles Main was honored with the Distinguished Service award.

In recognition for his contributions to the Maine Sire Stakes program, William Faucher was given the prestigious President’s award.

Over $4,500 was raised during the evening’s auction to benefit the scholarship program.