Page 18 - The Game November 2006

18 The Game, November 2006 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
HBPA’s Conrad Cohen (right) presents the Outstanding Trainer trophy to Vern Fernandes.
Fort Erie Awards Night, October 26 ‘06
A Great Way to End the Season
The HBPA of Ontario hosted the 2006 Fort Erie Awards at the Leisureplex in Fort Erie on October 26, 2006. The awards were handed out after a tasty buf- fet dinner and the party extending into the night with a DJ and dancing. This year’s award winners are:
Colt/Geld Claimer - Vorticity Colt/Geld Turf Horse - Fire the Firm Filly/Mare Claimer - Majestic Delight Colt/Gelding Distance - Cold War Filly/Mare Turf - Lindsey’s Dove Colt or Gelding Sprinter - Shipman Filly or Mare Distance - Grab the Cat Filly/Mare Sprinter - Harvest Singing
Best Claim of the Year - Grab the Cat 1/4 Mile Champion of the Year - Bermuda Triangle
Horse of the Year - Cold War Leading Apprentice - Dean Deverell Leading Rider - Robert King Jr. Leading Trainer - Nick Gonzalez Asst. Trainer of Year - Natalie Brinda Groom of the Year - Debbie Johnson Leading Owner - Bruno Schickedanz Outstanding Trainer - Vern Fernandes Outstanding Rider - Robert King Jr. Best acceptance speech of the evening - Trainer Robert Williams for Bermuda Triangle
Jockey agents Mike Mazza (left) and Scott Lane (right) present the Outstanding Jockey award to Robert King Jr.
Dr. James Crawford (left) presents the Leading Trainer trophy to
Nick Gonzalez
Natalie Brinda was named Assistant Trainer of the Year for overseeing a string of horses at Fort Erie for trainer Justin Nixon. Kevin van der Weir of Minor Bros made the trophy presentation.
Fort Erie’s Director of Operations, Herb McGirr Sr. is flanked by Vern Fernandes and his wife Pat as they accept the award for Horse of the Year for Cold War
Jockey Jack Lauzon (right) presents the award for Leading Rider to Robert King Jr.
(left) Daily Racing Form’s Ted Labanowich (The King) presents owner Bruno Schickedanz with the trophy for Leading Owner
(left to right) Broadcaster Elissa Blowe; Awards Night Co-ordinator Candace Warwick; Fort Erie’s Director of Communications, Daryl Wells Jr.; HBPA’s Colleen Murphy and Lorrie Scott, did a terrific job of making the evening a fun time for everyone.
Photo Right: Patti Hanco of Omega Alpha got into the Hawaiian spirit, which was the theme of this year’s awards night
Photo Left:
The Game’s Stacie Roberts presents Assistant Trainer Beresford Lee (left) and owner Steve Chircop with the trophy for Shipman, for Colt or Gelding Sprinter