EAST Maitland-trained pacer Starryart was yesterday crowned the Newcastle Horse of the Year during the Caduceus Club of Newcastle awards luncheon at the Blackbutt Hotel.
Starryart is prepared by first-season trainer Ty Robson. The daughter of Art Major-Star Order raced 10 times for six wins and 10 placings earning $61,068 in prizemoney.
Her victories included the NSW Sires Stakes final for three-year-old fillies and the Newcastle Guineas.
She beat the Glenn Frew-trained Promises Kept for the prestigious award. Promises Kept, which won the listed Teeny Teeny Stakes at Harold Park, raced 27 times for four wins and eight placings, earning $48,897 in prizemoney.
Shane Tritton, with 64 winners, claimed his first Newcastle trainers' premiership, while Michael Formosa, who drove 72 winners at the Newcastle International Paceway, retained his Newcastle drivers' title.
It is the fifth time in the past seven seasons he has won the title.
Talented young trainer-driver Josh Osborn claimed the Matthew Jenkins Memorial Rising Star award while veteran studmaster Hughie Carmody was presented with the Dick Osborn Medal for his services and contribution to the harness racing industry.
A special presentation was made to former deputy chairman of the NSW stewards panel Ron Bottle for his support of the Caduceus Club of Newcastle since it was formed in 1992.