2026 WINNER’S CIRCLE
On October 17th, the BGRA hosted the Finalists of the 2026 Youth Derby contests as well as their guests at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The finalists had the opportunity to ride around the track on a double seated jog cart, have a tour of the paddock and a harness demonstration, “drive” in a race on the virtual reality display Drive To Win and even got a chance to meet some top drivers. Following dinner, the awards were presented and the entire group participated in a winner’s circle presentation following the 5th race.
The evening was made possible by some of our generous sponsors. Tom Rankin sponsored the prize money for the two contests - Youth Literary Derby and Youth Art Derby. Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) sponsored the dinner and the Drive With Us program; Equine Guelph presented certificates for free access to their online Youth Horse Behavior and Safety courses for finalists 13 years of age and over and Standardbred Canada presented the winners of each division with a gift bag and a one year free Junior Membership.
Finalists in each division are listed below. Click on the name of their entry to see their submissions.
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1st - Olivia Schiedel, Ayton, ON Age 10
2nd - Karis Vyn, Ridgetown, ON
3rd -Anya Mathihalli, Caledon, ON Age 11
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1st - Supreet Kaur, Brampton, ON Age 14
2nd - Sophia Zheng, Richmond Hill, ON Age 13
3rd - Chloe Yee, Newmarket, ON Age 12
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1st - Larissa Thompson, Guelph, ON Age 9
Pickles the Standardbred Racing Horse
2nd - Julia Baker, Paris, ON Age 10
3rd - Christine Josiah, Brampton, ON Age 10
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1st - Ruihan Zhao, Hamilton ON Age 13
2nd - Logan Benson, Hamilton, ON Age 14
3rd - Mikaela Willard-Riordan, Guelph, ON Age 13
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1st - Alice Chen, Ancaster, ON Age 11
Life Through the Eyes of a Standardbred
2nd - Ruiya Zhao, Hamilton, ON Age 11
3rd - Mia Cai, Ancaster, ON Age 11
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1st - Ruihan Zhao, Hamilton, ON Age 13
2nd - Aabha Lamichhane, Brampton, ON Age 12
3rd - Logan Benson, Hamilton, ON Age 14
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1st - Jacintha Riehl, Strathroy, ON Age 17
2nd - Abigail Yarmoshuk, Glencoe, ON Age 15
3rd - Kelton Jiang, Markham, ON Age 18
2025 WINNER’S CIRCLE
On October 4th, the BGRA hosted the Finalists of the 2025 Youth Derby contests as well as their guests at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The finalists had the opportunity to ride around the track on a double seated jog cart, have a tour of the paddock and a harness demonstration, “drive” in a race on the virtual reality display Drive To Win and even got a chance to meet some top drivers. Following dinner, the awards were presented and the entire group participated in a winner’s circle presentation following the 5th race.
The evening was made possible by some of our generous sponsors. Tom Rankin sponsored the prize money for the two contests - Youth Literary Derby and Youth Art Derby. Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) sponsored the dinner and the Drive With Us program; Equine Guelph presented certificates for free access to their online Youth Horse Behavior and Safety courses for finalists 13 years of age and over and Standardbred Canada presented the winners of each division with a gift bag and a one year free Junior Membership.
Finalists in each division are listed below. Click on the name of their entry to see their submissions.
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1st - Olivia Schiedel, Ayton, ON Age 9
2nd - Abigail Varrette, Yarker, ON Age 9
3rd - Ellie Bax, Campbellville, ON Age 10
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1st - Sophia Zheng, Richmond Hill, ON Age 12
2nd - Abigail Yarmoshuk, Glencoe, ON Age 14
3rd - Lauren Scott, Brinston, ON Age 12
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1st - Larissa Thompson, Guelph, ON 8
2nd - Izzy Harrison, St. Thomas, ON Age 11
3rd - Jade Lanouette, Ottawa, ON Age 11
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1st - Hailey Jeffery, Rodney, ON Age 13
2nd - Charlotte Schiedel, Ayton, ON Age 12
3rd - Hudson Vyn, Ridgetown, ON Age 12
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1st - Queenie Tan, Hamilton, ON Age 8
2nd - Kasmir Baklinski, Combermere, ON Age 8
3rd - Violet Kelly, Camlachie, ON Age 9
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1st - Alyssa Pak Hei Yu, Ancaster, ON Age 13
2nd - Mila McLean, Combermere, ON Age 12
3rd - Sadie Morgan, Vineland, ON Age 13
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1st - Kailing Bao, Hamilton, ON Age 15
2nd - Jacintha Riehl, Strathroy, ON Age 16
3rd - Calissa Curry, Owen Sound, ON Age 15
2024 WINNERS CIRCLE
On October 5th, the BGRA hosted the Finalists of the 2024 Youth Derby contests as well as their guests at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The finalists had the opportunity to ride around the track on a double seated jog cart, have a tour of the paddock and a harness demonstration, “drive” in a race on the virtual reality display Drive To Win and even got a chance to meet some top drivers. Following dinner, the awards were presented and the entire group participated in a winner’s circle presentation following the 4th race.
The evening was made possible by some of our generous sponsors. Tom Rankin sponsored the prize money for the two contests - Youth Literary Derby and Youth Art Derby. Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) sponsored the dinner and the Drive With Us program and Equine Guelph presented certificates for free access to their online Horse Behavior and Safety courses.
Finalists in each division are listed below. Click on the name of their entry to see their submissions.
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1st - Sarah Moore, Amherstburg, ON
2nd - Ian McLaughlin, Woodstock, ON
3rd - Paige Daniels, Thornbury, ON
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1st - Sophia Zheng, Richmond Hill, ON
2nd - June Ibbotson, Hanover, ON
3rd - Lauren Scott, Brinston, ON
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1st - Katherine Scott, Brinston, ON
2nd - Anna Dennis, Embro, ON
3rd - Sadie Follings, Hanover, ON
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1st - Perina Baklinski, Combermere, ON
2nd - Eda Baklinski, Combermere, ON
3rd - Mikaila Acton, Woodstock, ON
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1st - Mila McLean, Combermere, ON
2nd -Korbin Stock, London, ON
3rd - Brielle Zonnekeyn, Peterborough, ON
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1st - Clara Baklinski, Combermere, ON
2nd - Hailey Jeffery, Rodney, ON
3rd - Calissa Curry, Owen Sound, ON
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1st - Alexandra Homorcean, Burlington, ON
2nd - Deanna Packet, Wyoming, ON
3rd - Olivia Brosseau, Kitchener, ON
2023 WINNERS CIRCLE
On October 14th, the BGRA hosted the Finalists of the 2023 Youth Derby contests as well as their guests at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The finalists had the opportunity to ride around the track on a double seated jog cart, have a tour of the paddock and a harness demonstration, “drive” in a race on the virtual reality display Drive To Win and even got a chance to meet three top drivers, Jody Jamieson, James MacDonald and Doug McNair. Following dinner, the awards were presented and the entire group participated in a winner’s circle presentation following the 5th race.
The evening was made possible by some of our generous sponsors. Tom Rankin sponsored the prize money for the four contests, Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) sponsored the dinner and the Drive With Us program and Equine Guelph presented certificates for free access to their online Horse Behavior and Safety courses.
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Sophia Zheng, Richmond Hill, ON
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Lila Tipple, Burlington, ON
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Clara Smith, Niagara Falls, ON
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Amira Javaheri, Maple, ON
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Brinsley Brickman, Sebringville. ON
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Cam Kupec, Petrolia, ON
2018 Winners in Poetry
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Maria Achilleos, London ON
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Kyla Civiero, Mount Pleasant, ON
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Marilyn Schmidt, Elmwood, ON
2018 Winners in Short Stories
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Andrew Kuepfer, Elmwood, ON
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Avery Kirkpatrick, Bowmanville, ON
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Allie Kucman, Fort Erie, ON