The Sask. Standardbred Horse Association (SSHA) recently held its annual meeting and awards banquet at the Canadian Italian Club in Regina. Local standardbred owner and SSHA director Max McInnes attended the event as did several prominent Yorkton area harness racing personalities.
One of the main items on the AGM agenda was the elections of officers for the association. The new board of directors, most of whom are familiar to Yorkton harness racing fans, includes president, harness racing driver Glenn LeDrew of Regina, vice-president trainer Elaine Bell of MacNutt, and SSHA directors, standardbred owners Kevin Godlien of Regina, Glenn Grainger of Regina, Jerry Hagenaars of Hafford, Max McInnes of Yorkton and Fred Richards of Regina.
Race days for the 2012 season were discussed. Harness racing will likely go ahead in both Yorkton and Regina next year, McInnes reports. Unofficially, harness racing will begin sometime around the beginning of June in Yorkton, he says.
Harness racing in Regina, in its first season last summer, was very successful, especially for the McInnes stable. "Our horses did really well there on that nice half mile track," he says.
One of the horses, owed jointly by Debra McInnes and Samantha Tamblyn, Sophio Hanover set a track record and won three stake races in a one month period. Additionally Tangerine Dream and OJs Boy ran well at West Meadow raceway in Regina.
Sophio Hanover, added to the McInnes stable last summer, was selected as SSHA Horse of the Year at the awards banquet. The horse was voted as the top horse by owners, drivers, trainers, all SSHA members.
Sophio Hanover set a track record at the West Meadow Track in Regina of 1:59.1. He also set a season record of 8-7-3 in 22 starts this summer.
Tyler Redwood of Regina, well known to Yorkton harness racing fans, was acclaimed as both the top trainer and the top driver for the 2011 season.
Top claimers of the year were Stonebridge Camlot out of Manitoba and Minettas Liberty out of Lloydminster.
GGs Dominator owned by Glenn Grainger of Regina was named Saskatchewan Bred and Owned Horse of the Year.
Bill Welcher of Roblin received the 2011 Standardbred Canada Owner of the Year Award.
Trainer Shawn Worthen earned high praise from McInnes. "To us he's the Number 1 in our area," McInnes declares.
McInnes had a number of different drivers over the season, with Kirk Rogers, out of Manitoba, being the main driver for the McInnes stable. Rogers is originally from York-ton McInnes notes.
McInnes thanks the Yorkton Exhibition Board for bringing harness racing to the city. He also expressed his appreciation to the Melville AgriPark for allowing horses to train there after the close of the racing season in Yorkton.
He thanks all the local business sponsors of harness racing in Yorkton with steak nights and sponsorships for races. Finally, McInnes thanks all the race fans who come out during the sometimes wet Friday evenings.
