by the MSBOA

Portland, ME, — The Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (MSBOA) held their annual banquet and awards ceremony at the Italian Heritage center in Portland, Maine, on Saturday (Feb. 18). We would like to congratulate all award winners for the 2016 season.

Photo courtesy of the MSBOA

By the end of the evening, all the horses and appropriate individuals in Maine were honored for their outstanding seasons on Saturday evening.

The top point earners in each division were crowned as seasonal champions and are as follows:

Two-year-old colt or gelding trotter–King Cast (Current Cast-Queen Charlotte), owned by Tom Dillon and Walter Hight, trained by Donnie Richards, 9-6-3-0 ($57,987)

Two-year-old filly trotter -Pembroke Conifer (Noble Venture-Wild Pine Princess), owned by Bill Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe, trained by Heath Campbell, 10-5-0-3, ($33,894)

Two-year-old colt or gelding pacer-Princeoftheforest (Baron Biltmore-Barbra Anne), owned by KDK Standardbreds and Anthony Sivik Jr., trained by Kevin Switzer, 9-8-0-0, ($59,359)

Two-year-old filly pacer-Pembroke Perfect (Western Maverick-Western Launch), owned by Bill Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe, trained by Heath Campbell, 10-8-2-0 ($60,155)

Three-year-old colt and gelding trotter-Hes A Cast Off (Current Cast-Celebrity Woman), owned by Tom Dillon and Walter Hight, trained by Donnie Richards, 2016 record 13-8-3-2 ($46,336 seasonal earnings)

Three-year-old filly trotter-Gonnakissmeornot (Noble Venture-Wild Pine Princess), owned by Kevin Sywyk, Lynn-Marie Plouffe and Ron Cushing, trained by Heidi Gibbs, 2016 record 15-12-1-2 ($70,105 seasonal earnings)

Three-year-old colt and gelding pacer-Seeley Man (Western Maverick-Perfect Launch), owned by Kevin Sywyk, Ben Bill and Will Stable and Flo O’Keefe, trained by Heidi Gibbs, 2016 record 13-13-0-0 ($101,793 seasonal earnings)

Three-year-old filly pacer-Western Step (Western Maverick-French Step), owned by Jim Dunn, trained by Jim Dunn, 2016 record 16-10-3-1 ($94,259 seasonal earnings)

Also recognized during the evening was all final winners of the MSBOA Sire Stakes finals. They are as follows:

Two-year-old trotting colt or gelding-King Cast

Two-year-old trotting filly-Noble One

Two-year-old pacing colt or gelding-Princeoftheforest

Two-year-old pacing filly-Pembroke Perfect

Three-year-old trotting colt or gelding-Noble Yaz

Three-year-old trotting filly-Miss Flaggy Meadow

Three-year-old pacing colt-Seeley Man

Three-year-old pacing filly-Western Step

Based on points, the leading trainer and driver honors were awarded to Heidi Gibbs and Ron Cushing, respectively.

The MSBAO board is pleased to award new stake records for the program with Bilt For Delight setting a mark of 1.57.1 at Windsor Fair for 2-year-old colts. Western Step 1.54.3 at Windsor Fair for 3-year-old pacing fillies and Seeley Man went in 1.54.4 at Fryeburg Fair for 3-year-old pacing colts.

Also, Noble Venture made his mark in Maine by taking top stallion honors for 2-and 3-year-olds on the trotting side, while Western Maverick dominated the 3-year-old pacing side. Baron biltmore dominated the 2-year-old pacing division.

Broodmares of year go to Dynamite Donna for pacers and Sassy Cathy for trotters.

The MSBOA would also like to recognize and congratulate Kevin Switzer for reviving the Trainer of the Year, meanwhile giving John (Jack) Kelley the Special Commitment Award for his dedication to the association.

Special service awards where also given to Carolyn Corso and Barbara Dresser for their donations of support and time provided to help the MSBOA.

The MSBOA also held a live auction for the scholarships, which brought in more than $3,000.

The MSBOA would like to thank all those who attended the evening and once again, congratulate all the winners. We wish the best of luck to everyone in 2017.