Trotting’s high achievers were celebrated Saturday night in a special dinner at Tabcorp Park Melton, with great deeds on and off the track lauded.
The Victorian Square Trotters Association celebration saw the announcement of the association’s horse of the year awards as well as its individual honours.
Fred Spiteri won the Colin Redwood Award for Passion and Perseverance, recognising his long-term commitment to the gate that included training nine winners and 21 placings last season. Among those to score were trotters Eletrojet, Fling About and Megeve.
Pat Driscoll of Yabby Dam Farms and Haras Des Trotteurs was presented with the Bob Conroy Excellence in Trotting Award, celebrating Driscoll’s outstanding influence and success in squaregaiting. The stable’s strength was on display Saturday night when Hopeful Beauty won the Aldebaran Park Trot and was second in the TAB Uncle Petrika Trotters Free For All.
Tayla French won the Dick Lee Rising Star Award, which is presented to an outstanding industry participant aged under 25. French finished third in Victoria’s Concession Drivers’ Premiership last season, amassing 68 wins from 472 starts.
The night also celebrated the VSTA trotter of the year awards. The recipients were as follows:
2YO male: Plymouth Clubb
2YO female: Aldebaran Vera and Just A Bit Touchy
3YO male: Parisian Artiste
3YO female: Queen Elida
Chris E Howe Country Trotter of the Year: Kalarney Heidi
Trotter of the Year: Kalarney Heidi
Trotting Racemare of the Year: Kalarney Heidi
Trotting Sire of the Year: Bacardi Lindy
Trotting Broodmare of the Year: Elusive Charm
Trotting Driver of the Year: Chris Alford
Trotting Trainer of the Year: Brent Lilley
Trotting Breeder of the Year: Yabby Dam Farms
