Racing: Roberts has top night

Charles Roberts wasn't going to miss Saturday night though and he stole the show, in number of awards and variety of winning speeches. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Harness racing's grand old man Charles Roberts doesn't get on planes often these days.

He picked the right day to make an exception on Saturday when he cleaned up at the annual awards' dinner in Christchurch.

The 90-year-old Aucklander's health often restricts him from flying to see his amazing array of top pacers; he even missed his champion mare Adore Me winning the New Zealand Cup last November.

Roberts wasn't going to miss Saturday night though and he stole the show, in number of awards and variety of winning speeches.

His two superstars Christen Me and Adore Me monopolised the older pacing awards, both winning their sections before Christen Me won the Pacer of the Year and the ultimate prize, Horse of the Year. Adore Me was runner-up in the latter category.

He also won breeder of the year, his broodmare Scuse Me won her division and Roberts is the principal of Woodlands Stud, which stands stallion of the year Bettors Delight.

He also bred and owns 2-year-old pacing filly of the year Dream About Me and bred 3-year-old pacing winner Have Faith In Me.

While those feats would usually guarantee the owner of the year award, Roberts was pipped for that honour by Trevor Casey, who owned or part-owned the winners of 92 races Australasian-wide, headlined by Stent, who won aged trotter and trotter of the year.

The main shock was Chase The Dream downing stablemate Lazarus for 2-year-old male pacer, after the latter won the Harness Jewels.

The Orange Agent, Speeding Spur, High Gait, Conon Bridge were other one-sided winners, while Sunny Ruby's Jewels success earned her 3-year-old trotting filly, with Kincaslough the trotting mare of the year.

Westport racing identity John Reedy won the Outstanding Contribution award.