HORSE OF THE YEAR will be voted on by the BHRC Committee from the winners of the below categories in 2016. The winners of the below categories will be voted on at the AGM in December, with a further vote at a later date to finalise the Horse of the Year 2016.

Pacer of the Year
Evenwood Sonofagun
From 11 starts he has only been outside the top four twice. Most notably in August he won the Bells Field Heat and Final and within the week took the Welsh Classic Heat & Final at Tregaron. Owned by Raymond Huschka, trained and driven by William Laidler
Mikey Camden
With 7 wins in 2016, this horse travelled for most of the big handicap races – Appleby Spring, Musselburgh, Aberystwyth and Tregaron. He was well placed in all and winner of the Park Lodge Classic Heat & Final at Aberystwyth. Owned by Raymond Huschka and trained by William Laidler
Sports Trick
Winner of 7 races in 2016 including the Senior Welsh Dragon at Tregaron, Appleby Spring Sunday Handicap Heat & Final, the NWSA 4YO Championship at Tir Prince and of course The Famous Musselburgh Pace Heat & Final. He was also runner up in the Park Lodge Classic Final at Ceredigion, beaten by only 1 length. Owned by Leading Owner Claire Fletcher, trained by Teresa Haythornthwaite and driven by Alan Haythornthwaite.

Mare of the Year
Blytheview Peach
With 4 victories in 2016, this mare has advanced from Maiden through to Grade 3. Her first victory was at the Tregaron Festival in August, quickly followed by victories at Almeley and Tir Prince, with her four at York on Sale Day in October. Owned by Cheryl Podmore, driven by Jason Podmore and trained by Jason Podmore and Victoria Elvin from June.
Frisco Frisk
A tough and consistent mare who realised 3 victories from 12 starts in 2016. Her first victory was at Wolverhampton in June and the other two in 4YO stakes at Tir Prince; the NWSA 4YO Fillies Championship and Breeders Crown 4YO Mares. She realised £14,000 when offered for sale at Brightwells in October. Owned by the Fools Who Dream Syndicate and trained by Teresa Haythornthwaite.
Shades Of Grey
A terrific mare who has achieved 8 top 3 finishes from 14 races, 5 of which were victories. Her first win came at Wolverhampton in June, followed by a tough race at Musselburgh where she held on and won the top Heat of the Famous Musselburgh Pace. She won a Stayers Pace at Pikehall in some of the toughest conditions, a STAGBI Mares Pace at Tir Prince and a Red Mills sponsored Pace at Dundalk. Owned by Leading Owner Claire Fletcher, trained by Teresa Haythornthwaite and driven by James Haythornthwaite.

Trotter of the Year
Sacha Of Carless
A late import in 2016, he squeezed in 10 races and struck up a 50% strike rate. He has raced over varying distances and had victories at Musselburgh, Newcastle and Tir Prince including the 2 mile endurance trot in September. Owned by John Foy and trained by David Taff.
Sire Pazenais
Another fresh 2016 import for the Le Trot series, he has been victorious in one third of his starts, placed in one third and only out of the placings on three occasions. Owner by Paul L Mather Jnr and trained by Paul Mather.
Sulky du Blequin
2016 was his second season racing under BHRC, where from 13 starts he realised 11 top 3 finishes. Racing over varying distances and on all surfaces he had back to back victories at Wolverhampton in June, the Gold Le Trot at Musselburgh, the George Dixon Memorial Trot at Tir Prince, the Le Trot Saddle race at Tir Prince and lastly an impressive 11 length win at Chelmsford. Owned by John Foy and trained by David Taff and John Foy.
Tenor Meslois
Imported as part of the Le Trot initiative in 2016, this trotter has been very successful with 12 top 3 finishes from 15 races. He racked up 6 victories on a variety of tracks and over a variety of distances; Tregaron over 1¼ miles, Wolverhampton over 1m100yds, Monmouth over 1¼ miles, Tir Prince over 1 mile and 1¼ miles and Amman Valley over 1m940yds. Owned by Gwenan Thomas, trained and driven by Rhys Evans.

3YO Colt of the Year
Miraculous
Needing no introduction, he was the 2015 2YO Colt of the Year and is exactly as his name suggests. Leading Horse by number of wins in 2016 he is the champion of the Musselburgh 3YO Grass Championship, the NWSA 3YO Championship, the Barney Joyce Memorial 3YO, the Breeders Crown 3YO Colts, the Oakwood Stud BHRC Colts Derby and the BHRC Sire Stakes 3YO Colts. Owned by Arnie Flower, trained by Sally Teeboon and driven by Patrick Kane Jnr. Truly miraculous is every way.

3YO Filly of the Year
Jessies Conquest
2015 2YO Filly of the Year, her 3YO campaign lived up to all expectations. Winner of the Monmouth 3YO Fillies, the Ceredigion 3YO Fillies, the NWSA 3YO Fillies Championship, Little Welsh Dragoness 3YO, the Oakwood Stud BHRC Fillies Derby and the BHRC Sire Stakes 3YO Fillies. Bred, Owned, Trained and Driven by Marc T Jones. She boasts a very strong CV.

2YO Colt of the Year
Rhyds Decoy
From the mare CPR this colt was always expected to excel and add to the numerous stakes races of her other progeny. He didn’t disappoint, finishing in the top 3 of all his 6 starts and winning the Ceredigion 2YO Colts, a Vincent Delaney Prep at Tir Prince and also the BHRC Sire Stakes 2YO Colts. Owned by the BKB Syndicate, trained by Joanne Cairns and driven by Andrew Cairns.
Tyrion Hanover
Lightly raced as most 2YOs are, this colt was definitely rightly placed by owner John Howard and trainer Samboy Howard. He finished in the top 3 of 4 out of his 5 races, conquering the heat and final of possibly the most prestigious 2YO race of present; the Vincent Delaney Memorial.

2YO Filly of the Year
Rhyds Mystique
From a CPR line mare, this filly also has a catalogue of successful siblings. She proved to be the best yet winning 8 out of 9 of her starts including the NWSA 2YO Fillies, the Ceredigion 2YO Fillies, a Vincent Delaney Prep, the Breeders Crown 2YO Fillies, the Vincent Delaney 2YO Fillies Division, the Junior Welsh Dragoness, the Rhyds Stud BHRC Fillies Futurity and the BHRC Sire Stakes 2YO Fillies. Owned by Victoria Elvin, trained by John Gill and driven by Victoria Gill.

Overseas Horse of the Year
Any horse that has connections to an IHRA registered owner or trainer in the relevant season can be nominated under this category
Kickass Katie
4YO filly who has rarely been out of the placings all season. Under BHRC she finished 2nd in the Strata Florida Heat at Tregaron and 3rd in the final. In late September she made the trip over to Tir Prince for the Sire Stakes and was victorious in the 4YO fillies division in a very respectable time of 1.59.6. Owned and driven by John Richardson, and trained by William Flanagan.
Porterstown Road
First raced under BHRC in June at Tir Prince he finished 2nd in a Crock of Gold Heat, followed by second again in the FFA at Ceredigion. In July he took on the Crock of Gold heats again and was triumphant in a clock of 1.57.3, a run that gained him entry to the final in August when he excelled and held off the competition to take the Crock of Gold 2016. Owned by the family of the late RGB Webster, trained by Geoff Dunne and driven by Jonathan Dunne.

Special Contribution to Harness Racing
The winner of this category will be determined by the Awards Event Organisation Committee. All nominations will be considered and the winner announced along with Horse of the Year
Elizabeth O’Neil & Kareen New
Sarah Thomas
Heulwen Bulman
Sue Williams (Tir Prince)

Awards will be presented at the BHRC & STAGBI Annual Awards Event on Saturday 25th February 2017