2025 Queensland Harness Awards Finalists unveiled

Racing Queensland has unveiled the finalists for the 2025 Queensland Harness Awards. 

Staged at Victoria Park on Sunday, March 1, the Queensland Harness Awards will acknowledge the Sunshine State’s outstanding pacers, trotters and participants throughout the past year. 
 
Ever-consistent pacer The Janitor and trotting superstar Gus join three-time reigning Horse of the Year Leap To Fame in the running for the top gong. 
 
Leap To Fame, who claimed both the Group 1 Inter Dominion Pacing Final and Group 1 NZ Pacing Free-For-All, also leads the finalists for Queensland Aged Pacer of the Year. 
 
Other Group 1 performers amongst the nominations for an award 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 accomplishments of our equine and human participants,” RQ Acting CEO Lachlan Murray said.  
 
“We have again seen some incredible accomplishments in our industry over the past year, highlighted by Leap To Fame and Gus enjoying success here at home, interstate and overseas. 
 
“We have also seen the success of a reimagined Queensland Constellations Carnival which included another high-quality running of the Inter Dominion Championship. 
 
“The strength in our harness ranks is highlighted through this year’s finalists, and I look forward to welcoming our participants for what should be an enjoyable evening.” 
 
In total, close to 30 Awards of distinction 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 awards for our future harness racing stars with the Mini Trotting Driver of the Year & Young Achiever prizes as selected by BOTRA. 
 
The latest Queensland Harness Racing Hall Of Fame inductees will also be announced, as well as the Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year. 
 
Click here for more information on the 2025 Queensland Harness Awards. 

 
2025 Harness Awards Finalists

The established voting criteria states that horses must be trained in Queensland for a minimum of six months to be eligible as finalists.

Queensland Harness Horse of the Year 
 
Gus NZ – trained by Chantal Turpin
Season 2025: 13 starts for five wins, six placings 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 Group 1 Inter Dominion Trotting Final.
 
Leap To Fame – trained by Grant Dixon
Season 2025: 22 starts for 16 wins, six placings 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. Runner-up in Group 1 Blacks A Fake, Group 1 NZ Cup, Group 1 Hunter Cup, Group 1 Miracle Mile, and Group 1 Victoria Cup. 

The Janitor – trained by Chantal Turpin
Season 2025: 15 starts for nine wins, four placings and $221,276 in prize money.
Highlights: Winner of the Group 3 2025 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 Aged Pacer of the Year

• Call To Order
• Leap To Fame
• The Janitor

Queensland Trotter of the Year  

• Golden Sunset
• Gus NZ
• Not As Promised

Queensland 3YO Pacer of the Year 

• Arrive
• Cool And Classy
• Fate Awaits 

Queensland 2YO Pacer of the Year 

• Fight For Victory
• Fire And Passion
• Sitting On Eight

Queensland Juvenile Trotter of the Year 

• Aspiring Victree
• Kicking Horse
• Laydownluna

Queensland Filly or Mare of the Year 

• Arrive
• Cool And Classy
• Golden Sunset

Queensland Broodmare of the Year  

• Argyle Beach NZ
• Charming Allie
• Washington Lass NZ

Queensland Breeder of the Year  

• Burwood Stud
• Lindsay & Mary Vagg
• Monarch Farm
• Solid Earth Pty Ltd

Queensland Owner of the Year 

• Jonah Hutchinson
• Solid Earth Pty Ltd
• Summit Bloodstock
• Ross Patrick