In a thrilling night at The Raceway on Saturday (March 2), local pacer Punchesinbunches emerged as the standout, clinching both the prestigious Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt accolade and a unanimous decision as the Overall Horse of the Year.
Owned and trained by Doug Schweitzer from West Lorne, Ontario, Punchesinbunches enjoyed a remarkable three-year-old season, securing an impressive 12 victories and finishing in the top three in 25 out of 29 starts, with a notable time of 1:55 clocked on London's half-mile circuit. The son of Dali-Tommy White Sox capped off his successful 2023 campaign with earnings exceeding $77,000.
Joining Punchesinbunches in the winner's circle was Okeeheelee, a talented female trotter who claimed both the Aged Trotting Mare and Claiming Trotter titles. Okeeheelee's stellar 2023 season featured eight victories and earnings surpassing $41,000.
The accolades didn't stop there, as Tyler Borth, who finished as the runner-up for wins in Canada last year, was named The Raceway's Driver of the Year. Cassidy Schneider, recently honoured with Canada's 'Rising Star' O'Brien Award, clinched her second consecutive Trainer of the Year title.
Adding to the excitement of the evening were the announcements of two more deserving winners - Angie Carroll was named the Ruth Hebert Horsewoman of the Year, while Logan McMurren was awarded Caretaker of the Year.
As The Raceway continues its record-breaking season, the current meet approaches its climax, culminating with the highly anticipated Camluck Classic program on Friday, May 31st.