Miracle Man in his cart before leaving the quarantine base at the Noman Manley International Airport for a parade in his honour on Thursday, December 28, 2006. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Dr. Aggrey Irons will be guest speaker at the 18th annual None Such/Horse of the Year Awards Dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus this Thursday evening.

Cocktails will be served at 7:00 p.m. and the function is set to commence at 8:00 p.m.

No fewer than 20 awards will be presented, including the prestigious 'Horse of the Year' award which for the second straight year will go to the outstanding MIRACLE MAN, who was unbeaten in nine races at Caymanas Park last year and did Jamaica proud by winning the US$100,000 Confraternity Classic in Puerto Rico on December 9.

In addition to the Horse of the Year award, one of the highlights is the announcement of the recipient of the coveted None Such award, which will go to a person or institution who has made significant contribution to the development of horse racing in Jamaica over the years.

The Joseph Duany-owned and Allan 'Billy' Williams-trained MIRACLE MAN should also win awards as top middle distance performer, top stayer, champion four-y-o and up, and other minor awards such as champion four-year-old and up middle distance performer and stayer (male and overall).

Brian Harding has copped the champion jockey award for the second consecutive year, but having returned to his native Trinidad and Tobago at the beginning of 2007 and the fact that he will no longer ride in Jamaica this year, it is left to be seen whether he will fly in to accept the award.

Howard Hamilton will collect the champion owner award and his HAM Stables Stud Farm champion breeder. RUM TALK, unbeaten in three starts last season, will more than likely be named champion two-year-old, ALLIED FORCE or RAMPAGE champion three-year-old and Oneil Mullings, the most improved rider.

Tickets are still on sale at $2,500 pre-sold and $3,000 at the Pegasus.

- O.C.