Honours bestowed for excellence, passion, and dedication
By Brent Briggs
Western New Brunswick horse people Robert Kitchen and Catherine Davies, along with Dr. Mitchell Downey of Saint John, were among the top honorees at the Woodstock Driving Club Awards Banquet, held Saturday night, Feb. 7, at the Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Centre.
Kitchen was named Connell Park Raceway’s leading trainer for 2025, and one of his trainees, Tobins Hottie, earned top honours as the track’s Four-Year-Old of the Year. Tobins Hottie is owned by Bala Stables, an ownership group managed by Kitchen, which was also recognized as Owner of the Year.
Davies captured Rookie Trainer of the Year honours, while two horses she both owns and trains—Lady Spencer, a two-year-old filly, and Summer Vibes, a three-year-old filly—were winners in their respective categories.
Nuttin But Finesse, owned by Dr. Downey and driven by his father, Mike Downey, was named Overall Horse of the Year for 2025. The standout pacer recorded five wins in eight starts, including a 1:54.1 victory in the Rod Goguen Memorial, and finished second in Miki Shan N’s track-record 1:51.4 performance.
The Downey father-son duo also earned top honours with Fire And Blood as Two-Year-Old Colt of the Year and Therealprincess as Aged Mare of the Year. Mike Downey additionally received recognition as the leading dash-winning driver, while Ellen Stevenson, trainer of Fire And Blood and Therealprincess, was named leading dash-winning trainer.
Another local standout was Papa Clare, owned by Robert Wilson, who was named Three-Year-Old of the Year.
After a breakout 2025 season, Colin Decourcey was honoured as Driver of the Year, while his niece, Scottie Decourcey, earned the Young Owner of the Year award.
Four young grooms were also recognized for their kindness, work ethic, and exceptional care of their horses: Lexie Dickison, Jordan White, and Kassie Dickison, all from Carleton County, along with Isabelle Shepard of Fredericton.
The Woodstock Driving Club also recognized several dedicated individuals for their contributions during the 2025 season with the Andy Sutherland Volunteer Award, including Robert Wilson, Owen Davies, Ian Kitchen, Joyce Jones, Scott Jones, and Tanya Jones.
