Gary Clarke, Chris Nash and Jarrod Todd win big at awards night
A swath of familiar names yet again dominated the field as they took out numerous Top End racing awards. See who all the 2024 winners were here.
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Darwin hall-of-famer Gary Clarke added to his already tremendous list of accolades after another successful showing at the Top End Racing Awards.
The trainer and legend within the racing fraternity continued to rewrite the history books as he snagged four awards after another stellar season
Clarke trained Wolfburn was crowned horse of the year as well as middle distance/stayer of the year.
The victory was Clarke’s ninth with his previous wins coming from: It’s Home (2014), Finke (2016), Ticket To Toorak (2017), Neat Feat (2018), The Captain (2019 and 2020) and Syncline in 2022.
Clarke was also awarded with his 12th successive champion trainer title – the result of 67 wins from 339 starts – and was also named for the 11th time as the Darwin Cup Carnival leading trainer – his seventh on the trot – after recording 12 winners, 17 seconds and eight thirds across 80 starts during the eight day event.
Elsewhere Chis Nash had a successful night out taking home sprinter of the year courtesy of Ideas Man as well as the out of carnival award.
Veteran stable jockey Jarrod Todd was crowned champion jockey for 2024 – his fifth in a row – after riding to 60 wins for the season, breaking David Bates’ 197-98 record of 59.
Todd was also named the Darwin Cup Carnival leading jockey after recording 11 wins from 52 starts – his eighth ever and fifth in as many years.
Emma Lines took out the apprentice jockey of the year while Hannah Boyle and Chris Pollard won the horse and hound strapper of the year and character of racing awards respectively.
Samantha Hill was the winner of the fourth off the track after-care award while Tayarn Halter and Emma Lines shared the women in thoroughbred racing title.
Jason Manning won the tried horse sale performer of the year award while the inaugural consistency and longevity crown went to New Enterprise.
WINNERS
– Carlton and United Breweries Horse of the Year: Wolfburn (Gary Clarke)
– BTC Constructions Middle Distance/Stayer of the Year: Wolfburn (Gary Clarke)
– bet365 Sprinter of the Year: Ideas Man (Chris Nash)
– Cleanaway Out of Carnival Award: Son Of Bielski (Chris Nash)
– Ladbrokes 3yo of the Year: Miami Vice (Phil Cole)
– Champion Trainer: Gary Clarke
– Silks Darwin Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival Leading Trainer: Gary Clarke
– Champion Jockey: Jarrod Todd
– Silks Darwin Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival Leading Jockey: Jarrod Todd
– Champion Apprentice Jockey of the Year: Emma Lines
– Garrards Horse and Hound Strapper of the Year Award: Hannah Boyle
– Character of Racing Award: Chris Pollard
– TRNT Off The Track Aftercare Award: Samantha Hill
– Women in Thoroughbred Racing NT Top End Awards: Tayarn Halter (Trainer) & Emma Lines (Jockey)
– Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale Performer of the Year: Jason Manning (Bon’s Pride)
– TRNT Consistency and Longevity Award: New Enterprise (Peter Stennett)
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