Michigan's leading 2006 state-bred race horses were honored March 10, when state Racing Commissioner Christine White made the announcement during the Michigan Horse Council's International Stallion Expo at the Michigan State University Agriculture Pavilion in East Lansing. Horses were recognized in the categories of Standardbred Trotter, Standardbred Pacer, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and Arabian Horse for outstanding racing performance at Michigan pari-mutuel tracks during the 2006 live racing season.

Action Figure was named the 2006 Michigan Standardbred Pacer of the Year. As a three-year old colt, Action Figure recorded eight wins, two shows and one place in twelve starts earning a little over $150,000. Tim Halstead of Concordi, MI and Larry Lyles, LRL Racing LLC of Grosse Ile, are Action Figure's owners. His trainer is Marie St. Charles of Whitmore Lake; Bill and Patti Gira bred Action Figure whose sire is Ambro Cadet and his dam is Don't Toy With Me.

Benns Cowboy won the 2005 Michigan Standardbred Trotter of the Year award. As a two-year-old colt, he recorded eight wins, two places and two shows in twelve starts earning $131,840. Benns Cowboy is owned by Brad Kramer and Tim Hall of Lennon, MI. Mr. Kramer also trained and drove Benns Cowboy. Dave Bennett at Bennett Farm in Freemont, MI bred Benns Cowboy. His sire is Lockkeeper and his dam is Another Chip.

Weatherstorm received the 2006 Michigan Thoroughbred of the Year honors. Weatherstorm is a four-year-old colt that had seven starts that resulted in six wins, and one place, earning $221, 519. Weatherstorm is owned by Marion F. Gorham of Kalamazoo, MI and was trained by Robert Gorham of Kalamazoo. Daniel Sturgeon Jr. and Daniel Sturgeon III bred Weatherstorm. His sire was Island Storm and his dam is Trick Bag Baby.

Babys Rabbit was named the 2006 Michigan Quarter Horse of the Year. Babys Rabbitt is a four-year old mare that won three races of eight races, including the Ring of Roses Derby and the Michigan Bred Derby, and qualified for all five Derbys was bred in Michigan. Babys Rabbitt earned $18,661 during 2006. Babys Rabbitt is owned and trained Dicky Wayne Benton of Blanchard, Michigan and was bred by William M. Breyer of Lawton, Michigan. Her primary jockey was Julie Veltman. Babys Rabbitt's sire is Okey Dokey and her dam is Honey Me Gone.

For the second year in a row, Genuine Proof was named the Michigan Arabian Horse of the Year. As a seven-year-old gelding, Genuine Proof recorded $7,664 and 1 win, 2 seconds and 1 place. Genuine Proof is owned and bred by Tom and Joyce Fritz of Hickory Lane Farms in Sidney, MI. His trainer is Mario Fritz of Wayland, MI. His Sire is NF Proof and his dam is Myaakko.

The Office of Racing Commissioner is the official state agency charged with regulating, promoting and serving the horse racing industry in Michigan. Horse racing remains an important part of Michigan's agriculture industry providing over 26,000 related jobs and more than $1.2 billion in economic impact.