Australian Harness Horse of the Year


The Australian Harness Horse of the Year is an honour that recognises the top harness racing horse in the Australia. The award is selected by industry people and media representatives.
The inaugural award was won in 1976 by Don't Retreat, a New South Wales pacer who won 14 of his 24 starts in the 1975-1976 season for a total of $122,415.
The first and only trotter to win the award was Maori's Idol in 1978, a season in which he won 22 of his 24 starts. The first three-year-old to win the award was a year later in 1979, when Run Joe Run won the award, since then a three-year-old has won the award three times. The youngest horse to win the award was Lombo Pocket Watch who won as a two-year-old in 2006.
The horses that has won the most awards are Westburn Grant, who won the award in 1989 as a three-year-old and again in 1991 and 1992, Our Sir Vancelot, who won the 1997, 1998 and 1999 awards and four time Interdominion winner Blakes A Fake in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Smoken Up was the original winner of the 2011 award but became ineligible due to his disqualification from the Inter Dominion.

Past winners

Horses that have been crowned Australian Harness Horse of the Year are:
Year
Horse

2019Tiger Tara
2018Lazarus
2017Smolda
2016Lennytheshark
2015Beautide
2014Beautide
2013Im Themightyquinn
2012Im Themightyquinn
2011Im Themightyquinn
2010Blacks A Fake
2009Mr Feelgood
2008Blacks A Fake
2007Blacks A Fake
2006Lombo Pocket Watch2 Year Old
2005Sokyola
2004Sokyola
2002Smooth Satin
2003Double Identity
2001Atitagain
2000Shakamaker
1999Our Sir Vancelot
1998Our Sir Vancelot
1997Our Sir Vancelot
1996Sunshine Band
1995Golden Reign
1994Weona Warrior
1993Jack Morris
1992Westburn Grant
1991Westburn Grant
1990Thorate
1989Westburn Grant3 Year Old
1988Village Kid
1987Rufus Young Blood3 Year Old
1986Village Kid
1985Preux Chevalier
1984Gammalite
1983Popular Alm
1982Gammalite
1981San Simeon
1980Pure Steel
1979Run Joe Run3 Year Old
1978Maori's IdolTrotter
1977Paleface Adios
1976Don't Retreat