The Queensland Harness Awards, held at Victoria Park on Sunday, March 1, will recognize the Sunshine State’s outstanding pacers, trotters and competitors over the past year.
Always consistent pacesetter The Concierge (Always B Miki) and trotting superstar Gus (Majestic son) join three-time reigning Horse of the Year Leap To Fame (Gambler’s delight) in the running for the top gong.
Leap To Fame, who won both the Group 1 Inter Dominion Pacing Final and the Group 1 NZ Pacing Free-For-All, also leads the finalists for Queensland Aged Pacer of the Year.
Other Group 1 artists among the award nominations on the night include Fire And Passion, Fate Awaits and Cool And Classy.
“The Queensland Harness Awards are always a fitting way for the industry to celebrate the achievements of our equine and human competitors,” said Lachlan Murray, CEO of Acting Racing Queensland.
“We have once again seen some incredible achievements in our industry over the past year, highlighted by Leap To Fame and Gus achieving success here at home, on the highway and abroad.
“We have also seen the success of a reimagined Queensland Constellations Carnival, which once again included a high-quality performance of the Inter Dominion Championship.
“The strength in our harness rankings is highlighted by this year’s finalists, and I look forward to welcoming our competitors for what should be an enjoyable evening.”
In total, almost 30 awards will be presented to Queensland’s outstanding achievers, including Horse of the Year, Trotter of the Year, Trainer of the Year and Driver of the Year.
The Albion Park, Redcliffe and Marburg club awards will also be presented, along with prizes for our future running stars with the Mini Trotting Driver of the Year and Young Achiever awards as selected by BOTRA.
The newest inductees into the Queensland Harness Racing Hall Of Fame will also be announced, as well as the Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year.
Click here for more information about the 2025 Queensland Harness Awards.
Finalists of the Harness Awards 2025
Under established voting criteria, horses must be trained in Queensland for a minimum of six months to qualify as finalists.
Queensland Harness Horse of the Year
Guus NZ – trained by Chantal Turpin
Season 2025: 13 starts with five wins, six placements and $342,006 in prize money.
Highlights: Winner of Group 1 NZ Dominion Trot and Group 1 NZ Trotting Free-For-All. Placed in Group 3 Menangle Park Trotters Cup. Finished fourth in the Group 1 Inter Dominion Trotting Final.
Leap to fame – trained by Grant Dixon
2025 season: 22 starts for 16 wins, six placements and $1,758,424 in prize money.
Highlights: Winner of the Group 1 Inter Dominion Pacing Final, Group 1 NZ Pacing Free-For-All, Group 2 Newcastle Mile, Group 2 Cranbourne Cup, Listed The Race by betcha and Listed Melton Casey Classic. Second in Group 1 Blacks A Fake, Group 1 NZ Cup, Group 1 Hunter Cup, Group 1 Miracle Mile and Group 1 Victoria Cup.
The concierge – trained by Chantal Turpin
2025 season: 15 starts for nine wins, four placings and $221,276 in prize money.
Highlights: Winner of the 2025 Group 3 4YO Championship and Be Good Johnny Sprint.
Runner-up of Group 1 The Rising Sun and Group 2 Sunshine Sprint. Finished third in Group 1 Blacks A Fake.
Queensland Old Pacer of the Year
- Call to order
- Leap to fame
- The concierge
Queensland Trotter of the Year
- Golden sunset
- Guus NZ
- Not as promised
Queensland 3YO Pacer of the Year
- Arrival
- Cool and stylish
- Fate awaits
Queensland 2YO Pacer of the Year
- Fight for victory
- Fire and passion
- Sitting at eight
Queensland Youth Trotter of the Year
- Aspiring Victree
- Kicking horse
- Laydownluna
Queensland Filly or Mare of the Year
- Arrival
- Cool and stylish
- Golden sunset
Queensland Broodmare of the Year
- Argyle Beach NZ
- Charming Alie
- Washington Lass NZ
Queensland Breeder of the Year
- Burwood Stud
- Lindsay and Mary Vagg
- Monarch farm
- Solid Earth Pty Ltd
Queensland Owner of the Year
- Jonas Hutchinson
- Solid Earth Pty Ltd
- Top Bloodstock
- Rose Patrick
By Racing Queensland
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