Blue Ribbon Downs officials announced the 2003 Horsemen's Award winners last week.
The winner's received their awards at a banquet held on New Year's Eve at the Sallisaw racetrack.
The awards were originally scheduled for November, but due to the sale of Blue Ribbon Downs to the Choctaw Nation, which operates the track through Backstretch LLC, and the early conclusion of the 2003 meet, the ceremony was postponed until Dec. 31.
Rex Brooks of Sallisaw continued his reign as Best Trainer of the Meet, while Eddie Willis was named the top Quarter Horse trainer and Don Smith was named the top Thoroughbred trainer of 2003.
Debbie Freeman was again named the Top Jockey of the Meet and the Leading Quarter Horse Jockey. Mike Harvell took the top Thoroughbred rider honors.
The Horse of the Year was You R My Sunshine, a 2-year-old Appaloosa owned by Steve Neal and John Diediker. James Limbaugh of Sallisaw is trainer. You R My Sunshine was also named the Best Appaloosa of the Meet and the Best 2-Year-Old Appaloosa of the Meet.
The Quarter Horse of the Meet was Frostys Money Man, owned by Jeff Strange and trained by Rodney Reed of Wapanucka. Frostys Money Man was also named the Best 3-Year-Old of the Meet and the Best 3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding of the Meet.
Red Man Running was named the Best 2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding of the Meet. He is owned by Judith Ritz and is trained by Eddie Willis.
A Chick of Class, owned by Jo Rice and trained by Bobby Turner of Sallisaw, was named the Best 2-Year-Old Filly and the Best 2-Year-Old of the Meet.
Chic Easy Colours was named the Best 3-Year-Old Filly of the Meet. The filly is owned by Pompy Farm West LLC and is trained by Leon Meek.
A Toast To KC won three awards. He was named the Best 4-Year-Old or Older Colt or Gelding, the Best 4-Year-Old or Older Quarter Horse and the Best Claiming Horse. A Toast To KC is owned by the CCP Syndicate and is trained by Jim Brooks of Sallisaw.
Royal Quick Gal, owned and trained by Clifton Brooks of Sallisaw, was named the Best 4-Year-Old and Older Mare of the Meet.
J.D. Anderson's Heza Cut Above was named the Best Distance Horse of the Meet. Anderson also trains the gelding.
Dashing Tink, owned by Roy Tinker and trained by Tommy Rowland, was named the Best Oklahoma-bred Quarter Horse of the Meet.
Among Thoroughbreds, Carter's Boy was named the Thoroughbred of the Meet. Owned by T.J. Carter and trained by Kevin Macon of Sallisaw, Carter's Boy was also named the Best 4-Year-Old or Older Colt or Gelding of the Meet, the Best 4-Year-Old of the Meet and the Best Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbred of the Meet.
Slewbacca, owned by Brad Cast and trained by Carol Cast, was the Best 3-Year-Old of the Meet.
Opportunity Blues, owned by Chad Newcomb and trained by Dale Foster, took home two awards. She was named the Best 4-Year-Old or Older Mare of the Meet and the Best Claiming Horse.
In the Paint Horse category, Winner Storm, owned by Windy Bridges and trained by Jehu Lewis, was named the Paint of the Meet. Winner Storm was also named Bet 2-Year-Old of the Meet.
Talk To Me Texas was named the Best 3-Year-Old and Older Paint Horse of the Meet. He is owned by Jim Richardson and is trained by Dee Keener.
Im A Marble To, owned by the G & G Partnership and trained by Hubert Blankenship, was named the Best 3-Year-Old Appaloosa of the Meet.
