Daverick named horse of the meet

FORT ERIE, Ontario – Daverick was named Fort Erie’s 2010 horse of the year at the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association’s annual awards dinner on Friday evening.

Although the Fort Erie meeting runs through Tuesday, the human and equine winners in all categories except owner of the year were honored at the town’s Leisureplex facility.

The equine winners were determined through a consensus of HBPA directors.

Owned by Sante Cigana and trained by Justin Nixon, Daverick was the top male sprinter at the meeting. Top female sprinter laurels went to Hopes Pass.

The top male claimer for 2010 was Catch the Posse, while best female claimer honors went to Sunflower Drive.

In the route category, Kettle Rapids was a runaway winner. He was also named top turf male.

On the distaff side, African Rainbow took home route honors while Tree Lo was named best turf female.

The best claim of the year was deemed to be Trouble Today. Texas Blitz, trained by John Simms, was named top quarter-miler of the year

Taking home both the leading rider and top female rider awards was Krista Carignan.

Carignan started the year in a winning fashion and never looked back while heading towards the 90-win mark over the final four days of the meeting.

Brian Cheyne, with 40 wins heading into Saturday’s program, was named the top apprentice.

The outstanding rider award, a category voted on by his peers, went to jockey Christopher Griffith, who will finish third in the jockey standings.

Leading trainer laurels once again went to Nick Gonzalez, who will lead the field home by a wide margin. Simms will finish second in the standings.

Maree Richards, with the Martin Drexler barn, was named outstanding assistant trainer.

In a vote among her peers, Marilyn McMullen was selected as outstanding trainer.

Groom of the year honors went to Shirley Fiegar.

The highlight for the final day of the season is the Cheldon Tour de Fort Cup, which will be run over 2 miles and 70 yards.