Here s To You! 2018 Night of Champions. honoring the 2017 Dan Patch Award Winners. February 25, 2018

Transcription

1 Here s To You! 2018 Night of Champions honoring the 2017 Dan Patch Award Winners Thank You to the U.S. Harness Writers for selecting Hanover as the 2017 Breeder of the Year. Thank You to our yearling buyers and the owners, trainers and drivers that have enabled Hanover to smash its own all-time, all-breed earnings record in 2017, with a whopping $31,551,404. Swan For All-High Sobriety-Dream Vacation The two-time Dan Patch Champion and candidate for Horse of the Year honors is owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and J & T Silva Stables, trained by Ron Burke and driven by Yannick Gingras Night of Champions HANNELORE HANOVER 2,1:59.3, 3,1:54, 1:49.2 ($2,473,814) OUR SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DAN PATCH AWARD WINNERS AND TO ALL OF THIS EVENING S HONOREES! (717) Fax (717) hanoverpa.com hanover@hanoverpa.com GSI, LLC 2018 Photo: New Image Media Standing: Andover Hall Bar Hopping Betting Line Cantab Hall Captaintreacherous Donato Hanover Explosive Matter Sebastian K Western Ideal February 25, 2018 Rosen Shingle Creek Resort Orlando, Florida

2 Ohio, the Heartland of Harness Racing... S.F. Johnson Photos Ohio Harness Horsemen s Association Congratulates All of Tonight s Honorees! With Special Congratulations to our Buckeye Recipients & Connections Norman Woolworth Owner of the Year Bruce Trogdon Dash Winning Driver Aaron Merriman Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year Brian Brown President s Award T.J. Burkett & Jason Settlemoir W.R. Haughton Good Guy Brian Brown Hervey Award Broadcasting Rich Johnson, Allison Conte, TJ Burkett 3-Year-Old Colt Pacer Downbytheseaside 3-Year-Old Filly Pacer Blazin Britches Ohio Standardbreds strengthen Ohio Agriculture one heartbeat at a time. Breed, Buy, & Race in Ohio...Win in Ohio! Join Us! Ohio Harness Horsemen s Association 2237 Sonora Dr. - Grove City, OH Night of - Champions~1 (f) Visit us at and on Facebook OhioHarnessHorsemensAssociation

3 2018 Night of Champions~2

4 2018 Night of Champions~3

5 Northwood Bloodstock Congratulates all of the 2017 Dan Patch Champions Award Winners H0Y And the winner is??? Bob Boni / Jillian Luff fax: NorthwoodBloodstock.com nwbloodstock@aol.com P.O. Box 2053 Secaucus, New Jersey Night of Champions~4

6 Jerry & Theresa Silva would like to thank the Burke Brigade for A Great Year! Hannelore Hanover $1,049,129 The Dan Patch Trotting Mare Award What The Hill $948,178 The Dan Patch 3-Year-Old Trotting Colt Award Filibuster Hanover $724,029 In Secret $248,095 Crazy Wow $687,037 Seeing Eye Single $209,355 Rockin Ron $525,279 Strong Opinion $195,764 Miso Fast $393,484 GD Western Joe $193,882 Majorsspeciallady $331,888 My Kinda Chip $166,690 Dayson $267,682 Double A Mint $136,705 Thank You also Jim Mulinix & Jimmy Takter! Lost In Time $608,112 The Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt Award 2018 Night of Champions~5

7 CONGRATULATIONS to all deserving honorees, especially my main man, JASON M. SETTLEMOIR on receiving the USHWA President s Award Sincerely, Jeff & Paula Gural 2018 Night of Champions~6

8 Tim Bojarski s President s Message The Dan Patch Awards Good evening and welcome to the 2018 Dan Patch Awards Banquet! For 69 consecutive years, the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) has been honoring the top Standardbreds and horse-people in the sport and we remain the sole stewards of that honor in the United States today. The members of this organization celebrate the opportunity to showcase the achievements of the sport s best each year and hope to make this Night of Champions memorable for all of them. USHWA began over 70 years ago with a group of writers whose goal was to propagate the awareness of harness racing to the mainstream sporting world. Today, our 214 members are multi-talented communication professionals whose skills include writing, photography, video, art, layout and design, on-air reporting and all platforms of social media. Despite the changes in how the sport is covered, our mission remains the same: presenting our sport in the most positive light possible to every potential follower we can engage. The outstanding people and horses we will honor tonight are representative of the thousands of men and women who work tirelessly each year with pride and perseverance to keep the Standardbred vital. Their efforts at every level ensure that harness racing, which is truly the very first American sport, will remain a dynamic source of entertainment for many years to come. The Dan Patch Awards would not be possible without the support of all our guests and sponsors who so graciously partner with us in this production. By purchasing tickets and ads, and by underwriting the various activities of the weekend through sponsorships, USHWA is empowered to host the finest evening of entertainment and for that, we thank you. So please settle in and enjoy the show. We have a great night lined up for you with a few surprises along the way. And don t forget to stay in your seats until the very end of the evening when the Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year and the 2017 Horse of the Year will all be announced live. ~Tim Bojarski, USHWA President 2018 Night of Champions~7

9 BANQUET HOSTS Jason Settlemoir is the COO/GM of New Meadowlands Racetrack and Winners OTW at Bayonne, N.J., and is vice president of racing, simulcast and sponsorship for American Racing and Entertainment (Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs). He is also simulcast director for the Little Brown Jug as well as their second announcer, a vice president of Harness Tracks of America, past president and chairman of the U.S. Harness Writers Association, a Grand Circuit and Little Brown Jug Society director, a member of the USHWA Hall of Fame Screening Committee, and a director for the U.S. Trotting Association. Track announcer and television host Roger Huston is a member of seven Halls of Fame, including harness racing s Communicators Corner. He has called more than 173,000 races at 138 tracks in 17 states and eight countries. He has been the track announcer at The Meadows for 41 years and host of that track s live television broadcast of the races for 35 years. Huston called his first race at a 1960 Ohio county fair and called his first Little Brown Jug in Admired for his race calling enthusiasm, he may be equally well known for his rings he wears eight at a time, bejeweling every finger but his thumbs. Red Carptet & Facebook Live Hostesses Heather Vitale is a third-generation harness horse person. Although she grew up enjoying the hands-on experience of working in the barn, the licensed trainer found her forte in the sport to be through the avenue of publicity. The charismatic personality has hosted two popular weekly television shows - Post Time and PA Harness Week. Vitale has also covered the sport on espn2, CBS-SN and MAV-TV. Her unconventional interviews and attitude has brought a unique sparkle to the sport and grabbed the attention of new fans. Heather Wilder has the pedigree to be a positive force for harness racing, as the daughter of trainer Dan Altmeyer and wife of The Meadows driver Mike Wilder. As the former director of public relations and marketing for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, Heather now concentrates her efforts with her family s racing stable as she looks to promote harness racing through social media outlets as well as fractional ownership opportunities Night of Champions~8

10 TABLE OF CONTENTS 7...President s Welcome 8...Banquet Hosts 9...Table of Contents 10...Grand Circuit Top Driver~Yannick Gingras 10...Grand Circuit Top Trainer & Owner~Ronnie Burke 11...Hard Rock Rocksino Caretaker of the Year Award~Charlie Williams 12...John Hervey Awards~Dave Briggs 12...George Smallsreed Awards~Jacob Cohen & Chris Gooden 12...John Hervey Broadcasting Award~USTrotting.com 13...January Davies Humanitarian Award~Anne Doolin 14...USTA & USHWA National Dash Winning Driver~Aaron Merriman 15...USHWA President s Award~T.J. Burkett & Jason Settlemoir 15...Alan Prince USHWAn of the Year~Tim Konkle 15...Amateur Driver of the Year~Joe Lee 16...Trotting Broodmare of the Year~High Sobriety 16...Pacing Broodmare of the Year~Wild West Show 16...Breeder of the Year~Hanover Shoe Farms 17...Lee Anne Pooler Memorial Unsung Hero Award~Betty Holt 17...W.R. Haughton Good Guy Award~Brian Brown 18...Rising Star Award~Trace Tetrick 18...Lew Barrish Breakthrough Award~Michael Carter 19...Driver of the Year~Yannick Gingras 20...Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year~Brian Brown 21...Norman Woolworth Owner of the Year~Bruce Trogdon 22...Stan Bergstein-Proximity Award~Hoosier Park 23...Communicators Hall of Fame~Carl Becker 24...Communicators Hall of Fame~Dave Briggs 25...Living Hall of Fame~Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg 26...Living Hall of Fame~Jules Siegel 27...Immortal Hall of Fame~Hakan Wallner Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year~Manchego Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year~Fourth Dimension Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year~Youaremycandygirl Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year~Lost In Time Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year~Ariana G year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year~What The Hill Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year~Blazin Britches Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year~Downbytheseaside 36...Trotting Mare of the Year~Hannelore Hanover 37...Trotting Horse of the Year~Marion Marauder 38...Pacing Mare of the Year~Pure Country 39...P.acer Horse of the Year~Keystone Velocity 40...Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame Archives of Previous Dan Patch Award Winners 2018 Night of Champions~9

11 Grand Circuit Awards As was the case in each of the past several years, the names Gingras and Burke were at the top of the final 2017 Grand Circuit standings. Yannick Gingras captured the Grand Circuit driving title, with 1,664 points. David Miller finished second, 271 points behind Gingras, and Tim Tetrick was third. Ron Burke was the Grand Circuit s leading trainer, compiling 1,529 points to finish 198 points ahead of Jimmy Takter. Brian Brown was third. Burke Racing Stable was the top owner on the Grand Circuit. Burke Racing had points and finished 44.2 points ahead of runner-up Determination. The Weaver Bruscemi partnership, which shares ownership on a number of horses trained by Burke, was third. Winbak Farms sponsored the 2017 Grand Circuit awards Night of Champions~10

12 Hard Rock Rocksino Caretaker of the Year Award~Charlie Williams Charlie Williams, the stallion manager at Southwind Farms in New Jersey, has been named the recipient of the 2017 Caretaker of the Year Award sponsored by Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park in conjunction with the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Williams, 68, has worked at Southwind Farms for nearly three decades. Williams was born in Georgia and began working with horses as a young man in Florida. He spent the early part of his career with Thoroughbreds, as an exercise rider and caretaker, before a knee injury forced him to give up riding. While sidelined because of his injury, Williams answered an advertisement for a part-time job at Southwind Farms. His horsemanship and attention to detail eventually led him to his current position at the farm, where he has cared for some of the sport s top stallions, beginning with Valley Victory and Artsplace right through to today with Muscle Hill. This is something I ll never forget, Williams said of his honor. From picking cotton as a young kid to go on and take care of world champions, it s been a dream come true. I started working at the bottom and worked my way to the top. I was very fortunate to luck out and work with horses. I ve had the chance to take care of the best. The sport has been really good to me and there are so many good people in the sport that have been really good to me. I love the sport, I love the horses, and I love the people. Williams received several nominations, with one writing, in part, There are grooms and caretakers at all stages of a horse s life and this man exemplifies the true embodiment of a caretaker and is truly worthy of Caretaker of the Year. This man puts his heart and soul into every stallion that is lucky enough to stand in a stall in his barn. Please consider allowing this exceptional caretaker a moment to shine in an industry that sometimes forgets those of us who aren t in winner s circles but nevertheless are in a barn day in and day out, without vacation, wind, rain, and snow. You will not find a more true definition of an exceptional caretaker in our industry than Charlie Williams. Williams is self-described old school when it comes to taking care of his horses. But the stallions are more than horses to Williams, they are friends. I love everything about them, Williams said. They have personality. With Muscle Hill, he s like my best friend out there. I know how he thinks and he knows how I think. It was the same thing with Artsplace. They re like people. It s unbelievable when you work in the barn with them. I have a habit, I talk to them. I m in the stallion barn, so I talk with all the horses like I m talking to a human. And I never cut corners with them. I give them the love and attention and they give the love and attention to me. I m 68 years old and I can t wait to get up in the morning and come to work. When you walk in the barn, they know you and sound off. They re happy to see you and you re happy to see them Night of Champions~11

13 John Hervey & George Smallsreed Awards The United States Harness Writers Association thanks Meadowlands Racetrack Chairman Jeffrey Gural for continuing his longstanding sponsorship of the Hervey and Smallsreed awards by providing USHWA Dan Patch Awards banquet tickets for the winners. Dave Briggs swept the writing categories in the 2017 John Hervey Awards competition. Briggs won in the feature writing category for his story on John Campbell s retirement, End of an Era, which appeared in the October issue of Hoof Beats. He won in the news/commentary category for his story, What the heck happened in the Hambletonian, which appeared in the Aug. 12 issue of Harness Racing Update. With the two wins, Briggs extended his record for Hervey honors to 11. Honorable mentions in the feature category went to Steve Montemarano and Rich Fisher. Honorable mentions in the news/commentary category went to Gordon Waterstone and Daryl Kaplan. The writing categories were judged by a panel consisting of former Philadelphia Inquirer Sports Editor John Quinn, BloodHorse Racing Editor Alicia Wincze Hughes, and Associated Press racing writer Mike Farrell. In the broadcast division, USTrotting.com was honored for its coverage of John Campbell s retirement. The video was produced by Rich Johnston and the reporters were T.J. Burkett, Allison Conte, and Dave Briggs. Honorable mention went to CBS Sports Network s coverage of the Sam McKee Memorial, with a tribute to McKee, produced by Oz Colon. The segment was co-produced by Peter Lasser. The broadcast category was judged by multiple Emmy Award and Hervey Award-winning producer Bruce Casella, who has covered Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing throughout his career. Chris Gooden s Shadow Racing Jacob Cohen s Sunset Chris Gooden and Jacob Cohen were named the winners in the George Smallsreed Awards for excellence in harness racing photography. Gooden won the action category for his photograph Shadow Racing, which appeared in the December issue of Hoof Beats. Cohen won the feature category for his sunset photograph of a horse on the track at Woodbine Racetrack that appeared on the Woodbine Facebook page on Oct. 19. Honorable mention in the action category went to Clive Cohen. Honorable mention in the feature division went to Michael Burns. Judges for the photography categories were racetrack and newspaper photographer Bill Denver, multiple Eclipse Award-winning photographer Barbara Livingston, and former harness racing groom and longtime newspaper/magazine photographer Phil McAuliffe Night of Champions~12

14 January Davies Humanitarian Award Anne Doolin, whose compassion for animals and people in peril has moved her to rescue and foster thousands of pets and provide meals and services for so many in need, has been named the 2017 January Davies Humanitarian Award winner presented by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. The award was created in 2008 by USHWA member Callie Davies-Gooch in memory of her daughter to recognize contributions beyond harness racing. Doolin, whose work in harness racing began as publicist at the Meadowlands in 1988, has always been a staunch advocate for animals, from racehorses to stray dogs and feral cats. In the last 10 years she has transitioned into an important cog in a large network of dog and cat fosters, rescues and shelters. A resident of Lexington, Kentucky, Doolin, who after leaving the Meadowlands later worked in publicity and marketing positions at Scioto Downs and The Red Mile, seemingly works 24 hours, seven days a week, making sure the homeless have food and shelter, and that dogs and cats can be placed in caring homes. Doolin was also a sought after member of the Breeders Crown and Hambletonian special event teams, and still works for the Breeders Cup, writing entrant bios. With all the volunteer work with the homeless and animals that Anne does I believe January would very much approve of the award, said Davies-Gooch. January would be very proud of what Anne has done over the years in ensuring people don t go hungry and animals are cared for. Anne s compassion is truly admirable and remarkable. Doolin said she felt overwhelmed when she learned from Davies-Gooch of the award. This is amazing and I am floored, said Doolin. I thought a lot of January and to win this award makes it even more special. Doolin has been a foster parent to more than 1,000 dogs and cats over the years. She also helps coordinate transfers of the animals from shelters to forever homes. Despite working tirelessly in that capacity, she still finds time to check on the elderly and the homeless in the Lexington area. To help in that capacity, Doolin is currently president of Downtown People Inc. We are a group that feeds the homeless and underserved a home-cooked meal every Sunday in downtown Lexington, said Doolin. We average between people a week, and we do this year-round. I also do some rescue work as I am transport coordinator for an average of 25 animals a week out of shelters. The animals are also year-round. Besides the fostering, I help coordinate the transfers of mainly dogs and some cats from shelters to homes Night of Champions~13

15 USTA & USHWA National Dash Winning Champion Aaron Merriman won his third consecutive North American dash title in 2017, and did it in a manner nearly unprecedented. Merriman posted 1,097 victories last year, a seasonal total second to only Tim Tetrick s record 1,189 triumphs in Merriman became one of only four drivers in history to win at least 1,000 races in a year, joining Tetrick, Walter Case Jr., and Tony Morgan. It s pretty crazy, Merriman said. To join the three other men that I have is just unbelievable. A lot of things have to go right to even win that many races in a year. It s tough. It s just very special in a sport that s so old. When I got [win No. 1,000,] it was just very surreal. It was a very special moment, a very special accomplishment. I m just very proud. Merriman is the first driver in history to win at least 800 races in four consecutive years. Merriman won 890 races last year and 874 in His 841 victories in 2014 were second to Ronnie Wrenn Jr. s 847. In 2017, Merriman drove in 4,692 races while competing primarily at Northfield Park in Ohio, where he ended Wrenn s four-year reign as the top driver, and The Meadows in western Pennsylvania. In addition to setting a career high for wins, Merriman established a career best in purses with $8.77 million. A lot of people don t realize, but it s not easy to stay fit and fresh for that many races, said Merriman, who has driven in 1,500 races more than any driver last year. I think that s an accomplishment in itself. I m almost more proud of being able to do that. Winning races is great, but to be able to keep up a frantic pace like that, a lot of people can t do that. It can wear on you mentally and physically. I m very proud of that. For his career, the 39-year-old Merriman has won nearly 10,000 races, which puts him among the top 15 in North American harness racing history. He was the second-youngest driver to reach 9,000 victories, behind only Tetrick, who did it when he was 34. You hope you re going to have a long career, but no one knows what is going to happen, Merriman said. A lot of this seems to have happened in a blink of an eye. I guess time flies when you re having fun. I still consider driving horses a phenomenal time; it s very fun to me. I think the people --- the drivers, the trainers, the owners, the grooms; everybody involved --- is the biggest reason why I love it so much. There are good days and bad days, but all in all it s all part of the process. I can t say enough about everybody that s been involved. I just love it. The camaraderie is what makes it so special Night of Champions~14

16 Jason Settlemoir~USHWA President s Award~TJ Burkett Positive commentary and industrious promotion of harness racing are the best ways to gain new owners, fans and gamblers as well as retain the ones already engaged in order to keep this industry viable for the next generation. And there is no one that does these things more effectively on a daily basis than T.J. Burkett and Jason Settlemoir. Burkett is the executive editor of Hoof Beats magazine and has spent more than a decade working on the publication for the USTA in 2007 as associate editor. Settlemoir is the COO/GM of New Meadowlands Racetrack and Winners OTW at Bayonne, N.J., and is vice president of racing, simulcast and sponsorship for Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. T.J. and Jason were both born and raised in this business and have made it their life s work. Their extensive first-hand experience gives them a unique understanding of harness racing at every level, said Tim Bojarski, President of USHWA. They both come to the office each day with a positive attitude towards the sport, its participants and the viability of its future, and they work to try to infuse that into every aspect of their individual responsibilities. As a result, I believe harness racing as a whole is better for their efforts now and will continue to improve in the future under their respective leadership roles. Alan Prince USHWAn of the Year~Tim Konkle Tim Konkle, the hardworking editor of the important monthly Midwest Harness Report and an equally tireless supporter of USHWA, has been named USHWA s Member of the Year. Konkle has been chronicling the Indiana scene for going on 20 years now, with the racing at Hoosier, Indiana Downs when it raced Standardbreds, and the Indiana fairs and sales getting prominent attention in his magazine. Formerly best known as the Hoosier Horse Review, Konkle expanded the scope of the publication when Ohio brought in gaming legislature, and under the name Midwest Harness Report he now keeps his readership posted on the major stories in the Hoosier state, the Buckeye state, and the surrounding harness racing area. In addition, Konkle has worked to promote racing at Hoosier Park and provided wagering insights to patrons. He also has reached out to sports reporters in the local and regional areas and got them more involved in harness racing, walking them through the industry and teaching them what the sport is all about.for USHWA, Konkle has served as a director of the at-large membership group for two years. His preliminary spadework aided greatly with Hoosier Park being the title sponsor of the latest Dan Patch Awards banquet, and he continues in his efforts to help the organization raise money and then use it wisely in its various activities. Amateur Driver of the Year~Joe Lee It was unanimous. The USHWA National Amateur Driver of the Year Award Committee named Yankee Joe Lee the National Amateur Driver of the Year for The ever-improving 38-yearold Bronxville, N.Y. native enjoyed his best season in the sulky while being a member of multiple amateur organizations.when contacted about the award, Lee was at Yankee Stadium, where he is the New York Yankee s assistant equipment manager, thus the moniker Yankee Joe. I m greatly honored and I m humbled by the award, Lee said. This is only my third full season of amateur driving and I love it. The National Award came on the heels of the local Amateur Driver of the Year Award from the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA. Lee had a career best 16 driving victories to go along with 11 seconds and 11 thirds. Arguably the most prolific was the triumph in the 1-1/4-mile $25,000 CKG Billings Gold Cup final at Yonkers Raceway with Dizzy Rizzy on Nov. 26. Lee became an amateur driver in 2010 and won his first race in He increased his participation in 2015 and has picked up 31 of his 36 career victories since then. It is a passion, Lee said. There is just a rush of having the horse s nose on the gate alongside eight to 10 other horses to your left and right. It s just the competitiveness to try and win a race. To win something that you were just a spectator at your whole life, it was like all of a sudden today you were asked to play shortstop for the Yankees because Didi Gregorius couldn t play. Who wouldn t go out there and grab their glove and try to win the game with the team? 2018 Night of Champions~15

17 Breeder of the Year~Hanover Shoe Farms Records were made to be broken, so Hanover Shoe Farms breaks them. The renowned breeding farm bred the winners of $31.5 million in 2017, establishing a new single-season record for the sport. The figure broke the previous record of $30.1 million, which was set by Hanover Shoe Farms in 2015 and toppled the then-record mark of $30 million set in 2012, also by Hanover Shoe Farms. Trotting mare Hannelore Hanover topped the list of Hanover Shoe Farms-bred winners in She totaled $1.04 million thanks to 10 victories in 17 starts. Her triumphs included wins over male rivals in the Breeders Crown Open Trot and Maple Leaf Trot. She also became the fastest female trotter in history with a 1:49.2 win at The Red Mile. For her career, Hannelore Hanover has won 36 of 58 races and earned $2.47 million. She is a multiple Dan Patch Award winner, capturing trophies in 2016 and Other major stakes winners bred by Hanover Shoe Farms included Little Brown Jug champion Filibuster Hanover, Jugette winner Caviart Ally, Hambletonian winner Perfect Spirit, and Kentucky Futurity winner Snowstorm Hanover. In addition, Dr J Hanover won in 1:46.4 at Ontario s Mohawk Racetrack, setting the world record for a 4-year-old gelding pacer and putting his name in the Canadian record book for the fastest mile in the country s history. All totaled, Hanover Shoe Farms bred 48 horses that earned six figures in Trotting & Pacing Broodmares of the Year High Sobriety was named Trotting Broodmare of the Year, and Wild West Show was named Pacing Broodmare of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. Wild West Show is the dam of millionaire Huntsville. As a 2-year-old, Huntsville (by Somebeachsomewhere) captured divisional Dan Patch Award honors. Last year at 3, he won the Meadowlands Pace, Cane Pace, and Jenna s Beach Boy on his way to $1.01 million for the campaign. His time of 1:47.4 was the season s fastest mile by a 3-year-old pacer. He was retired because of injury during the fall and finished his career with 15 wins in 25 starts and $1.70 million in purses. Huntsville was bred by Ray Schnittker, who also trained the colt, and the late Charlie Iannazzo. Huntsville s full brother, Wild Bill, won two of four races on the Pennsylvania circuit at age 2 in Other offspring of Wild West Show include Stevensville and Cowboy Terrier, who both have earned more than $445,000 lifetime. High Sobriety is the dam of multiple Dan Patch Award-winner Hannelore Hanover. Last year at age 5, Hannelore Hanover (by Swan For All) became the fastest female trotter in history with a 1:49.2 win in the Allerage Farms Open Trot at The Red Mile. For the season, she won 10 of 17 races and earned $1.04 million. In addition to defeating male rivals in the Allerage, she bested the boys in the Breeders Crown Open Trot and Maple Leaf Trot. Other triumphs included the Armbro Flight and TVG Series championship for mares. Hannelore Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. For her career, the mare has won 36 of 58 races and earned $2.47 million in purses Night of Champions~16

18 Lee Ann Pooler Memorial Unsung Hero~Betty Holt Betty Holt, the executive director of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State, is the recipient of the 2017 LeeAnn Pooler Unsung Hero Award. The tireless Holt monitors all New York-restricted harness activity in the state, from the Sire Stakes to sales to industry meetings, to promotion of the sport and ownership seminars. Though she does an extraordinary and highly visible job as executive director, she goes above and beyond as an ambassador for the sport of harness racing. Also a small breeder and former trainer, Holt can be found at nearly every event, sale or gathering in New York, conducts grassroots-level owner seminars, monitors racing commission meetings and all issues pertaining to her organization, all while expertly servicing the needs of owners, breeders and members. Holt is also the prime force behind a program that provides a safety net for at-risk New Yorkbred trotters and pacers, eventually hoping to land them on a restructuring and rehoming path, an activity funded by consignments to the Morrisville yearling sale. The HHBNYS is the only industry organization to create such a revenue stream and Holt remain a staunch advocate of the industry wide push to expand this effort. In 2015, Holt received the Excelsior Award from the Monticello-Goshen chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. W.R. Haughton Good Guy Award~Brian Brown Brian Brown enjoyed an incredible year, campaigning three of the topranked pacers in North America, and capped the season with Trainer of the Year recognition. He also is the 2017 Good Guy winner. The W.R. Haughton Good Guy Award is presented to a person in the sport who is deemed cooperative with the media and who, in personality, closely exemplifies the best characteristics of the late William Haughton. Throughout last season, Brown always made himself available to the media to discuss his horses. Win or lose, he was gracious and offered honest appraisals of their performances. He provided fans with a steady stream of valuable information, all in his humble, understated manner Night of Champions~17

19 Rising Star~Trace Tetrick Trace Tetrick reached new heights in 2017, so it was fitting he was recognized with the Rising Star Award. The 31-year-old driver set career highs for wins with 569 and purses with $6.81 million. He cracked North America s top 10 in victories for the first time, finishing fifth, and was No. 11 in North America for earnings, another career best. Nine of the drivers ahead of him on the money list were former Rising Star Award winners, including his brother, Tim. Tetrick was the regular driver of Dan Patch Award winner Blazin Britches. Among his 10 wins with the 3-year-old filly pacer were the Breeders Crown, Nadia Lobell, and a division of the Adioo Volo. He also won a Breeders Crown trophy with 2-year-old male trotter Fiftydallarbill, captured three Indiana Sire Stakes championships, two Kentucky Sire Stakes championships, and one Ohio Sire Stakes championship. Other stakes triumphs included the Crossroads of America with Ice Attraction and Madison County with Stay Hungry. Tetrick won his fourth consecutive driving title at Hoosier Park last year, giving him six titles overall at the Indiana oval, and his first title at Miami Valley. Tetrick, a native of Illinois, got his first win as a driver in 2003 and became a regular on the Indiana circuit in He has won more than 4,400 races in his career and $45 million in purses. I ve been very fortunate, Tetrick said last year. You always hope (for success). Like everyone else, I was trying to get my drives and get my name on the sheet. When I got opportunities, I wanted to do the best I could with them. Things have just kind of worked out. Breakthrough Award~Michael Carter Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award winner Michael Carter is only five years into his fulltime career in harness racing, but has already made a name for himself in a number of ways. A native of Virginia, Carter worked at his home state Colonial Downs and at the Shenandoah County Fair before getting the announcer s job at Buffalo Raceway in In addition to calling the action on the track, he fulfilled numerous duties in the mutuel office and assisted the simulcast department. At the end of 2015, Carter was hired at Northfield Park to handle a variety of duties. His primary role is assistant director of mutuels, but he also works closely with the marketing, promotions and communications departments and serves as the backup announcer to veteran Ayers Ratliff. Carter also is one of the hosts of the Post Time with Mike & Mike podcast, now in its third year. Carter is joined by Mike Bozich on the show, which is popular for its news reporting, interviews, live remotes from stakes races, and annual Post Time with Mike & Mike Awards. It means a lot to win the Breakthrough of the Year, Carter said about the award, which honors a non-trainer/driver age 35 or under for early career accomplishments. Race-calling has always been my passion, Carter said. I have come a long way in my announcing career, because I know when I first started, it was very bad. Ayers Ratliff and the team here have really trusted me to call some pretty important races. I feel very lucky to be able to see and call the races at this beautiful half-mile oval. I am also extremely proud and happy with how far Post Time with Mike & Mike has come in three years of work. Mike and I have worked hard to make sure that everything is kept in a positive manner and tone. The sport has done a lot of great things for me and Mike, but for me I just enjoy seeing greatness. When we went to the Breeders Crown for the first time I remember how exciting it was to be part of such a special event. I thought, if I can do this for the rest of my life, I want to Night of Champions~18

20 Driver of the Year~Yannick Gingras Yannick Gingras focus is on winning races, not awards, but when you win races like he did in 2017 it s no surprise when recognition follows. Gingras drove four horses last year that captured Dan Patch Award divisional honors, including the three horses ranked at the top of the season s final Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll: No. 1 Hannelore Hanover, No. 2 Ariana G, and No. 3 Manchego. The remaining Dan Patch winner, Youaremycandygirl, was ranked seventh. He led the sport in purses for the fourth consecutive year, with $12.9 million, and topped the driver standings on the Grand Circuit. His Grand Circuit victories included four Breeders Crown finals, the Hambletonian Oaks (for a record-extending fourth consecutive year), the Maple Leaf Trot, and Little Brown Jug. All totaled, Gingras won 33 races worth at least $100,000 last season and did it with 16 different horses. And when it was all said and done, Gingras received his second Driver of the Year Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association. His previous honor came in It s always nice, there s no doubt, Gingras said about the award. Going into the year, it s not what I m looking to get. I m trying to win the big races and stay healthy. But it s nice recognition. It means you had a good year, and the horses had a good year. You go on the track and try to do your job, he added. I was lucky this year that the horses I drove stayed healthy. That s the main thing. There were numerous memorable moments for Gingras last year. In addition to winning his fourth Hambletonian Oaks, with Ariana G, he guided Hannelore Hanover to the fastest mile by a female trotter in history, 1:49.2 at Lexington s Red Mile, and where he piloted Youaremycandygirl to the fastest mile ever by a 2-year-old female pacer, 1:50. Ariana G, Hannelore Hanover, Youaremycandygirl, and Manchego all won their respective Breeders Crown finals, with Manchego becoming the first undefeated Breeders Crown 2-year-old female trotting champion in history. It was a rewarding weekend for Gingras, who said he never felt pressure with Ariana G, Hannelore Hanover, or Manchego other than at the Breeders Crown because he wanted to keep potential Horse of the Year honors alive for all three of the horses. Going into the Breeders Crown I definitely did feel a little pressure on those three, Gingras said. I love all three of them in different ways, and all three are special to me. You want all three of them to have the best shot at winning the Horse of the Year. You don t want to come to a point where you win with two of them and one of them mess up the drive. Gingras also captured the Maple Leaf Trot (Hannelore Hanover), the Little Brown Jug (Filibuster Hanover) and Peter Haughton Memorial (You Know You Do). Other stakes triumphs included the Three Diamonds, Jim Doherty Memorial, Dan Patch, Elegantimage, Peaceful Way and Roses Are Red. I m really happy with the way [2017] went, said the 38-year-old Gingras, who was the sport s Rising Star Award winner in Hopefully we have a couple more like that Night of Champions~19

21 Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year~Brian Brown Not often does a trainer work with two horses in the same division that both earn a million dollars, but such was the case in 2017 for Brian Brown. In fact, Brown became the first trainer in 13 years to accomplish the feat with two 3-year-old male pacers, Downbytheseaside and Fear The Dragon. Downbytheseaside and Fear The Dragon were 1-2 in North American earnings last year, with $1.60 million and $1.35 million, respectively. The exploits of that dynamic duo helped Brown s stable set career highs in wins with 151 and purses with $5.79 million last year. Brown s earnings were fourth best in North America despite having fewer starts than any trainer in the top 16. In addition, Brown s stable finished the season with three horses in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Top 10: Downbytheseaside (No. 4), Fear The Dragon (No. 5), and Blazin Britches (No. 9). Downbytheseaside won the Dan Patch Award as the sport s best 3-year-old male pacer and was joined as a Dan Patch Award winner by Blazin Britches, who was named the top 3-year-old female pacer. Brown was the first trainer to have the champions in those two divisions in the same year since Brown also trained two Indiana Sire Stakes champions, Always Bet De Grey and Always Woggy All of this contributed to Brown receiving his first Trainer of the Year Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association. The 53-year-old Brown is based at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio, where he operates a stable of more than 100 horses with assistance from his wife, Jennifer, and a number of other family members. He spends the winters prepping horses in Florida but returns to the Buckeye State for the racing season. Brown spent his childhood summers watching his father, Robert H. Brown, and uncle, William Brown, campaign horses around Ohio. He fulfilled his dream to become a driver in 1981 at the age of 16 and won nearly 250 races over the ensuing decade, but turned his attention to training in the early 1990s. It s all I ve ever really done, Brown said once. I remember going to the fairs as a kid and our parents would give us a dollar to go to the midway. I took my dollar and bought a program and sat on the fence and watched races. They d let me have a stopwatch once in a while, and then I d thought I d really hit it big Night of Champions~20

22 Norman Woolworth Owner of the Year~Bruce Trogdon Bruce Trogdon and his Emerald Highlands Farm were in the spotlight throughout 2017, culminating with being named the sport s Owner of the Year. Trogdon s 3-year-old colt pacer, Fear The Dragon, got the party started by winning his first six races of the season, capped by a victory in the North America Cup. The colt added victories in the Max C. Hempt Memorial, Delvin Miller Adios, and a division of the Tattersalls Pace. Fear The Dragon, who was raised at Emerald Highlands Farm in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, finished the season with 12 wins in 18 starts and $1.35 million in purses. The win in the Adios carried additional meaning for Trogdon, who got engaged to his wife Sabrina there 41 years earlier. Even when I had just claimers, we would drive to The Meadows, about 2-1/2 hours from where we lived in northeast Ohio at the time, and watch the races and I ve always loved the Adios, Trogdon said. I just loved to see the great horses. Never did I think I might have a horse like that. While Fear The Dragon left from the gate quickly, 3-yearold filly Blazin Britches took a little more time to reveal her talents. But when she did, she made a statement. Blazin Britches, an Emerald Highlands Farm homebred, won 11 of 15 races, including the Breeders Crown, and earned $540,424. Blazin Britches was named the Dan Patch Award winner for 3-year-old filly pacers. Other top horses for Trogdon in 2017 were his homebred Indiana Sire Stakes champions Always Bet De Grey and Always Woggy. I ve had so many fortunate things happen, and just a lot of really good horses, Trogdon said late last year. We ve had a magical year. I pinch myself and ask if it really happened. Trogdon, a longtime newspaper publisher, started Emerald Highlands Farm in 1982 with 30 acres. The farm expanded gradually to 260 acres and now is home to 37 broodmares. His previous successes in the sport include 2014 Dan Patch Award winner Color s A Virgin. I wanted to learn to do the horses myself, and I basically started from scratch, said Trogdon, who bought his first horse in I just loved the sport. I ve spent a lifetime doing it. I mostly kept a few fillies every year and didn t do much racing. Now that I ve gotten older, I ve held on to more of the colts. [Fear The Dragon] was just a colt that I liked. I just got lucky. In most years, in previous years, all my colts sold. I just picked the right year to keep him Night of Champions~21

23 Stan Bergstein Proximity Award~Hoosier Park The theme generated within Hoosier Park, host track for the 2017 Breeders Crown, was It s Indiana Time, and the track s embodiment of that philosophy in all quarters, resulting in a superior show for harness racing s year-end showcase, earned it the Stan Bergstein/Proximity Award. Hoosier Park, in the town of Anderson, northeast of Indianapolis, in its 24th season of racing during 2017, was chosen to host the $6 million Breeders Crown championship series, a gathering of the best horses in North American harness racing. Although the weather was not at its best throughout the weekend of the championships, the racing proved fair to all horses and competitive --and the Hoosier Park staff rolled out the red carpet to racing s elite horses and humans in a big way. No amount of effort was spared in making the Breeders Crown experience memorable to everyone connected to it, right down to the Hoosier Park faithful who turned out en masse to see the national-caliber racing. All who were at the seven-eighths-mile track that weekend came away raving about Hoosier Park and its first-rate job in showcasing the Breeders Crown. And it didn t hurt that Indiana-sired Hannelore Hanover, Fiftydallarbill and Beckhams Z Tam all won Breeders Crown finals. We had more than $4 million in handle over two nights of the Breeders Crown championships, said Jim Brown, President and COO of Centaur Gaming. We set individual nightly records both evenings for our handle. The Breeders Crown brought in 400 percent more than our average weekend handle. We couldn t be prouder of our team at Hoosier Park, our horsemen and horsewomen, and all of the sponsors that have been along for such an amazing ride in bringing the Breeders Crown to Indiana. It was an electric weekend led by three great performances by three outstanding Indiana-bred horses. Said Tom Charters, retiring president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society, The Breeders Crown in Indiana has been an extraordinary experience. I thought it was magical to have 10 Indiana-breds make the finals of the Breeders Crown. Having three of them win is almost a fairytale. I hope I m back to attend the next one at Hoosier Park Night of Champions~22

24 Communicators Hall of Fame Inductee~Carl Becker Carl Becker was barely a teenager when he provided play-by-play for a summer softball league in Altamont, Ill., but at that moment he knew he wanted a career behind a microphone. Becker s election to harness racing s Communicators Hall of Fame is the result of his ambitions fulfilled, although not exactly as he imagined during those early days. I thought I was the next Cardinals baseball broadcaster; I had no doubt in my mind that s what I was going to be, Becker said with a laugh as he recalled his start. Things took a little turn. It worked out the best for all of us, including the Cardinals fans probably. Becker, who has spent more than five decades calling horseraces, was introduced to harness racing as a kid at the Effingham County Fair in Altamont. His path to the racetrack announcer s booth was gradual, but his career picked up steam quickly once he headed that direction. Becker graduated from the University of Illinois, where he majored in agricultural education and minored in animal science, and spent five years as a teacher. He was 27 when he began calling races regularly at the fairs and soon found himself on some of the sport s biggest stages. Two of Becker s many memorable days occurred in The first was Billy Haughton winning the final Hambletonian Stakes at Du Quoin with Burgomeister, a horse owned by his late son Peter, who had died in a car accident earlier that year. The second was Niatross 1:49.1 world record time trial at The Red Mile, which marked the first time a horse broke the 1:50 barrier. Other top races for Becker included Workaholic s win in the first Breeders Crown in 1984, the world-record 1:51.2 dead heat between Jaguar Spur and Laag in 1987, and Trim The Tree s world-record 1:53.3 mile in the rain in All three were at The Red Mile. Becker s career in harness racing has also involved owning and breeding horses as well as serving as a pedigree reader for numerous auctions. The 80-year-old remains active as a pedigree reader and still calls races at the fairs Night of Champions~23

25 Communicators Hall of Fame Inductee~Dave Briggs Simply put, Dave Briggs is one of the most respected and honored writers in harness racing history. Despite allergies that prevent him from remaining in a horse environment for extended periods of time, Briggs has enjoyed a career that has seen him receive, to date, a record 11 John Hervey Awards for excellence in harness racing feature writing and reporting. Briggs is also a three-time winner of the Standardbred Canada Media Excellence Award for Outstanding Written Work as well as the recipient of multiple International Harness Racing Media Awards and American Horse Publication Awards, and the Ontario Equestrian Federation Media of the Year Award. In 2012, Briggs was honored with Harness Tracks of America s Dan Patch Award for exceptional media, publicity and public relations contributions to the sport of harness racing. Briggs has bachelor s degree in communications from the University of Windsor and master s degree in journalism from the University of Western Ontario. He worked for nearly two years as a sportswriter for the London Free Press before landing a job with The Canadian Sportsman magazine. It was with The Canadian Sportsman that Briggs began his career in harness racing. Briggs was a writer, editor, and publisher of the magazine, the longest-running publication of any genre in Canadian history, during a span of nearly two decades. He currently is editor of Harness Racing Update and in charge of Standardbred communications for Ontario Racing. His work has also been featured in the Guelph Mercury newspaper for more than a decade, bringing informed racing journalism to a mainstream audience. Briggs is a knowledgeable and respected figure in the industry, serving on the standardbred nominating committee for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and being selected as founding president of the U.S. Harness Writers Association Canadian chapter in He has been a frequent volunteer at the annual Clyde Hirt Sports Media Workshop at the Meadowlands, where college students cover the Hambletonian, encouraging and mentoring the next generation of journalists covering the sport Night of Champions~24

26 Living Hall of Fame Inductee~Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg, the first woman ever elected to the Hall of Fame, is truly the First Lady of International Trotting. While she is undeniably proud of her Swedish heritage, she was one of the first to recognize the importance of international bonds among trotting breeders and regulators. Wallenius-Kleberg owns Menhammar Stuteri, the renowned breeding farm that has led Sweden in purses each of the past 11 years. The farm was purchased by her father, shipping magnate Olof Wallenius, in 1947 and has produced an impressive list of notable trotters. One of Menhammar s earliest stars was Big Noon, who was to Scandinavia what Dan Patch was to America. Among the horses bred by Menhammar Stuteri are 2014 Prix d Amerique winner Maharajah, 2003 Elitloppet winner From Above, and 2005 Hambletonian Oaks winner Jalopy. Wallenius-Kleberg created a North American-European comingling of racing and breeding talent with her partner, the late Hall of Famer Norman Woolworth, headed by stallions Zoot Suit and Smokin Yankee. Zoot Suit was Sweden s top sire for six consecutive years, , and was preceded at the top of the list by Smokin Yankee in Menhammar Stuteri also was home to two-time U.S. Horse of the Year Mack Lobell. Beginning this year, Menhammar Stuteri will stand recently retired Nuncio, who was a star in North America and Europe. Nuncio s wins included the Kentucky Futurity, Yonkers Trot and Elitloppet. After Wallenius-Kleberg s purchase of Zoot Suit from Woolworth, the two trotting devotees developed a bond that opened doors in North America for her burgeoning interests in trotting. Wallenius-Kleberg began keeping and breeding mares in the United States and having fillies trained and raced in North America before they entered the Menhammer broodmare band. Recognizing the importance of sustaining the trotting sport, Margareta has assisted and encouraged many young people in racing. She always insisted on the highest standards in the horses she acquired and used her business skills to operate successfully. Already a member of Sweden s Trotting Hall of Fame, Wallenius-Kleberg has held numerous positions in organizations related to the sport in her native country and abroad, and worked to promote harness racing on both sides of the Atlantic. She is a Hambletonian Society director and received the Harness Racing Museum s Pinnacle Award in Night of Champions~25

27 Living Hall of Fame Inductee~Jules Siegel Jules Siegel, the owner of Pennsylvania s Fashion Farms, knows about good horses. A retired pharmacist who operated a chain of drug stores before turning his full attention to harness racing, Siegel and his late wife Arlene owned 1995 Hambletonian Stakes winner Tagliabue. Other successes have included eight divisional champion horses and five victories in the Breeders Crown. Siegel received the Owner of the Year Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association in 2002 and 2009, an honor he shared with Arlene, who passed away in In addition, Siegel was Standardbred Canada s Owner of the Decade for the 2000s and the Pennsylvania chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association s Breeder of the Year in 2008 and He was named to the Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame in Tagliabue was the first of the Siegels Dan Patch Award-winning horses, followed by two-time recipient Galleria, Broadway Hall, Broadway Schooner, Possess The Will, and two-time honoree Broadway Donna. Broadway Schooner, a daughter of Broadway Hall bred by the Siegels, won the 2009 Hambletonian Oaks and is the dam of Broadway Donna. Siegel s induction into the Hall of Fame will take place July 1 at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y. I m ecstatic, said Siegel, who turned 90 in November. I never imagined anything like that would happen. I thought it was reserved for people who really accomplished something. But I m very happy it all came about this way. Arlene, a retired nurse, and Jules worked together at Fashion Farms. Arlene was among the people who guided Jules through the early years of the farm s operation, even getting him to assist with the mares when their foals were born. She was the real inspiration, Siegel said of Arlene, his wife of 55 years. She bought the farm. She was great. When I was a pharmacist, I didn t even know what a horse looked like. I became familiar by being with people who taught me everything. It s a wonderful thing, to really be associated with so many people that I look forward to, that were my inspiration. It s not so much me, it s the people in the industry. There are so many good people who have helped me and given me direction. Not only is it them, it s the people who work on the farm back home. I m just a cog. There are a lot of people on the farm who have been with me for over 20 years. I ve got an extended family. It s a great feeling Night of Champions~26

28 Immortal Hall of Fame Inductee~Hakan Wallner Hakan Wallner was a globe-trotting pioneer who single-handedly raised the bar of Swedish racing and breeding to an international level. He is regarded as one of Sweden s greatest trotting ambassadors. He paved the way for European and Scandinavian horse trading, and his efforts forever changed the breeding landscape with an influx of the fresh American bloodlines into Sweden, Italy, France, Denmark, Finland and other countries. The charismatic and energetic Wallner was the consummate businessman and horseman, and was well-respected by the American harness racing elite. Wallner, who won the Elitloppet and Prix d Amerique in Europe, was convinced that he could succeed in the United States as a trainer of trotters and, in a short amount of time, he was competing at the highest level and affecting every facet of harness racing from the yearling sales to the Grand Circuit. With Jan Johnson and Berndt Lindstedt, he founded Continental Farms in New Egypt, NJ, which counted among its many accomplishments winning the first-ever Breeders Crown race with Workaholic in The stable was a force in the series, winning four trophies and $2.85 million in the first eight years of the Breeders Crown. Its $3.94 million in purses overall in the event remain No. 6 among all trainers in history. Continental Farm also won the Hambletonian in 1988 with Armbro Goal and multiple editions of the Hambletonian Oaks. Wallner trained for some of the sport s biggest owners, but was just as comfortable in the shed row with the caretakers as he was with the bluebloods. Wallner led the way for other Scandinavian and European horsemen to move to the United States and compete at the sport s highest level. The list includes Soren and Jan Nordin, Jimmy Takter, Per Eriksson, Per Henrikson, Stefan Melander, Mario Zuanetti and Pekka Korpi. Collectively this group has nine Hambletonian winners. His contribution to the globalization of United States trotting continues to have a profound effect on the breeding, training and racing of the American trotter. Wallner died Jan. 20, 2001, in Treviso, Italy. He was inducted to the Swedish Trotting Hall of Fame in Night of Champions~27

29 2-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year MANCHEGO Muscle Hill-Secret Magic-Cantab Hall Yearling Price: $120,000 at Lexington Selected Sale Breeder~Brittany Farms Owners~Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, Herb Liverman Trainer~Jimmy Takter Driver~Yannick Gingras Races: Purses: $873,948 Mark: 1:52.4 at Mohawk Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown $330,800 Jim Doherty Memorial & $307,500 Peaceful Way 2018 Night of Champions~28

30 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year FOURTH DIMENSION Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip-Muscle Hill Yearling Price: $200,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale Breeder~Ray Schnittker, Steven Arnold, Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., & Arden Homestead Stable Owners~Courant Inc. Trainer~Marcus Melander Driver~Brian Sears Races: Purses: $397,410 Mark: 1:54.2 at The Red Mile Top wins: $464,650 Valley Victory $59,400 International Stallion Stakes 2018 Night of Champions~29

31 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year YOUAREMYCANDYGIRL American Ideal-Sweet Lady Jane-Somebeachsomewhere Yearling Price: $150,000 at Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg Breeder~Birnam Wood Farms Owner~William J Donovan Trainer~Ron Burke Drivers~Yannick Gingras & Louis Phillipe Roy Races: Purses: $895,615 Mark: 1:50 (World Record) at The Red Mile Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown $405,000 She s A Great Lady & $381,200 Three Diamonds 2018 Night of Champions~30

32 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year LOST IN TIME A Rocknroll Dance-Summer Mystery-Artiscape Yearling Price: $47,000 at Lexington Selected Sale Breeder~Diamond Creek Farm Owners~A Rocknroll Dance Racing, Denny Miller, William Rufenacht & Team S Racing Stable Trainer~Jim Mulinix, Jimmy Takter Driver~Scott Zeron Races: Purses: $608,112 Mark: 1:51 at Mohawk Top wins: $600,960 Metro Pace $411,700 Governor s Cup & $58,000 International Stallion Stakes 2018 Night of Champions~31

33 3-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year ARIANA G Muscle Hill-Cantab It All-Cantab Hall Yearling Price: Homebred Breeder & Owners~Marvin Katz & Al Libfeld Trainer~Jimmy Takter Driver~Yannick Gingras Races: Purses: $1.12 million Mark: 1:51.1 at The Meadowlands Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks & $315,700 Elegantimage 2018 Night of Champions~32

34 3-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year WHAT THE HILL Muscle Hill-K T Cha Cha-Angus Hall Yearling Price: $65,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale Breeder~Stan Klemencic Owners~Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stable J&T Silva Stables & Deo Volente Farms Trainer~Ron Burke Driver~David Miller Races: Purses: $948,178 Mark: 1:51.4 at Mohawk Top wins: $560,880 Canadian Trotting Classic $527,500 Breeders Crown & $350,000 TVG Championship 2018 Night of Champions~33

35 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year BLAZIN BRITCHES Rock N Roll Heaven-Soggy Britches-Allamerican Ingot Yearling Price: Homebred Breeder & Owner~Emerald Highlands Farm Trainer~Brian Brown Driver~Trace Tetrick & David Miller Races: Purses: $540,424 Mark: 1:48.4 at The Meadowlands Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown $160,000 Nadia Lobell & $113,950 Shady Daisy 2018 Night of Champions~34

36 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year DOWNBYTHESEASIDE Somebeachsomewhere-Sprig Hanover-Allamerican Native Yearling Price: $65,000 at Lexington Selected Sale Breeders~Blue Chip Farms, Janet Seltzer, Jeffrey Rabinowitz, Jordan Farkas & Robert Wood Owners~Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo & Diamond Creek Racing Trainer~Brian Brown Drivers~David Miller & Brian Sears Races: Purses: $1.6 million Mark: 1:48.3 at Dover Downs Top wins: $500,000 Messenger & $308,060 Progress Pace $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial & $300,000 Art Rooney Pace 2018 Night of Champions~35

37 Trotting Mare of the Year HANNELORE HANOVER Swan For All-High Sobriety-Dream Vacation Yearling Price: $32,000 at Standardbred Horse Sale Breeder~Hanover Shoe Farms Owners~Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi Partnership, Frank Baldachino, J&T Silva Stables Trainer~Ronnie Burke Driver~Yannick Gingras Races: Purses: $1.04 million Mark: 1:49.2 (World Record) at The Red Mile Top wins: $526,250 Breeders Crown Open $486,260 Maple Leaf Trot & $184,690 Armbro Flight 2018 Night of Champions~36

38 Trotting Horse of the Year MARION MARAUDER Muscle Hill-Spellbound Hanover-Donerail Yearling Price: $37,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale Breeder~William Mulligan Owners~Marion Jean Wellwood & Devin Keeling Trainer~Mike Keeling & Paula Wellwood Driver~Scott Zeron Races: Purses: $769,182 Mark: 1:51.2 at The Meadowlands Top wins: $458,750 Hambletonian Maturity & $240,000 Graduate Championship 2018 Night of Champions~37

39 Pacing Mare of the Year PURE COUNTRY Somebeachsomewhere-Western Montana-Western Hanover Yearling Price: Homebred Breeder & Owner~Diamond Creek Racing Trainer~Jimmy Takter Driver~Mark MacDonald Races: Purses: $461,168 Mark: 1:48 (Q) The Meadowlands Top wins: $250,000 Breeders Crown $200,400 Lady Liberty & $175,000 TVG Championship 2018 Night of Champions~38

40 Pacing Horse of the Year KEYSTONE VELOCITY Western Hanover-Venus Killean-Run The Table Yearling Price: $3,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale Breeder~George Hempt Owners~Allard Racing, Kapideo Singh, Earl Hill, Jr. & VIP Internet Stable Trainer~Rene Allard Drivers~Daniel Dube & Simon Allard Races: Purses: $783,442 Mark: 1:47.3 at Rosecroft Top wins: $529,000 Levy Championship $500,000 Ben Franklin & $100,000 Potomac Pace 2018 Night of Champions~39

41 Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame One cannot pass through the picturesque town of Goshen, N.Y., without feeling the presence of the Standardbred. A former watering hole for weary carriage horses now marks the town square, and local businesses commonly feature logos with a horse and highwheeled sulky, while the town s scenic, half-mile racetrack is situated just off Main Street. Adjacent to that same thoroughfare sits a century-old stable, yet another reminder of Goshen s historic past as the birthplace of the Standardbred sport. In 1951, when Goshen was still the home of the Hambletonian stake, a group of seven visionary horsemen transformed that stable, formerly William H. Cane s Good Time Stable, into what would become the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame. Stalls were transformed into exhibition areas, hay chutes served as display cases, and harness racing history found its home adjacent to Historic Track. Several additions to the original stable and a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 1998 have made the museum and Hall of Fame a destination for tourists and harness fans from around the world. The museum s displays trace the entire history of the Standardbred sport, from the breed s beginning with the revolutionary sire Hambletonian, through the rise of such legends as Pop Geers, Dan Patch, Delvin Miller and Billy Haughton, to the momentous career of Moni Maker and today s racing stars. The vibrant and interactive exhibitry includes three movie theaters, computer databases, a mechanical talking horse, the opportunity to announce a race, and the world s only 3-D harnes racing simulator,allowing visitors to experience the thrill of driving in a harness race. The museum also houses the Peter D. Haughton Memorial Library, with its books, magazines and videos available for research. The museum s Hall of Fame honors the people and the sport. Hall of Fame inductees are elected by members of USHWA and were first installed in A life-like statuette of each inductee is displayed in the Living Hall of Fame. Since 1995 outstanding horses have been inducted into a special Living Horse Hall of Fame voted on by the museum s members and anyone can be a member. Museum members may also nominate men, women, and horses who have died as Immortals of the Hall of Fame. A committee reviews the nominees and the final inductees are elected by the museum s board of trustees. When a Hall of Famer dies, the statuette of that person is transferred to the Hall of the Immortals. The Communicators Corner at the Hall of Fame was created in 1984 to honor USHWA members who report and document the sport. Inductees are elected by their peers, fellow USHWA members,and honored by a caricature that hangs in the Communicators Corner of the museum. Museum president Elbridge T. Gerry Jr., whose father was an original founder, along with former Museum director Gail Cunard and current Museum director Janet Terhune, have worked at their positions tirelessly to ensure the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame continues to protect the past, support the present and promote the future of the great sport of harness racing Night of Champions~40

42 The Dan Patch Awards A Special Thanks to all the Dan Patch Award Sponsors! We couldn t have done it without you! AM Bloodstock B u r k e R a c i n g & We a v e r B r u s c e m i Downbytheseaside Syndicate Embroidery Unlimited F i n n Ta c k George Brennan Hoosier Park Meadowlands Racetrack Ti o g a D o w n s U S Tr o t t i n g A s s o c i a t i o n Ve r n o n D o w n s Winners Bayonne OTW 2018 Night of Champions~41

43 Roster of Hall of Fame Inductees The membership of USHWA has elected these leaders in harness racing to the sport s highest honor. The year listed is the year in which the honor was voted & the the actual induction took place the following year E. Roland Harriman*, Stephen G. Phillips* 1966 George Morton Levy* 1967 Octave Blake*, Lawrence B. Sheppard*, Bion Shively* 1968 Frank Ervin*, William R. Haughton*, Walter J. Michael*, Delvin G. Miller* 1969 Stanley F. Dancer*, Thurman Wayne Smart* 1970 Joseph C. O Brien*, Harry E. Pownall*, Sanders Russell* 1971 Ralph N. Baldwin*, John F. Simpson* 1972 Clint Hodgins* 1974 Howard Beissinger* Adelbert Cameron*, James J. Dunnigan*, Frederick L. Van Lennep* 1975 Herve Filion*, Elbridge T. Gerry* 1977 Earle B. Avery* 1979 John Chapman*, Robert G. Farrington, Max C. Hempt* 1980 Clarence F. Gaines*, A.E. (Ted) Gibbons*, Delmer M. Insko 1981 Norman O. Woolworth* 1982 Glen G. Garnsey* 1984 George F. Sholty* 1985 Carmine Abbatiello, Levi B. Harner*, James M. Lynch* 1986 William Connors*, James Cruise*, Keith Waples, T.J. (Ted) Zornow* 1987 Stanley F. Bergstein*, Ernest B. Morris*, Kenneth D. Owen* 1988 Dunbar Bostwick*, Henry C. Thomson* 1989 Clinton G. Galbraith, Willliam D. Buddy Gilmour* 1990 John D. Campbell, William A. O Donnell 1991 Hugh A. (Andy) Grant Jr.*, Don R. Millar*, Gene Riegle* 1992 John A. Cashman*, Corwin M. Nixon*, Philip W. Tully* 1993 Joseph A. DeFrank, John Patterson Sr.*, Edward M. Ryan*, Ron Waples 1994 Doug Ackerman*, Anthony T. Abbatiello*, Elbridge T. Gerry Jr., and Ted Leonard* 1995 Dr. J. Glen Brown, Jack Kopas*, Michel Lachance 1996 Dominic H. Frinzi*, George Segal 1997 William S. Brown*, Ray Remmen Chuck Sylvester 1999 Guy Antonacci*, Frank Antonacci* 2000 Vernon Dancer*, Dave Magee 2001 Jim Dennis*, Harry Harvey*, Catello Manzi 2002 Jim Doherty*, Berndt Lindstedt, Bob McIntosh 2003 John Simpson Jr Ron Pierce 2005 Ron Gurfein, Tom Thompson* 2006 Jimmy Arthur*, Wally Hennessey, Phil Langley 2007 Chuck Coon*, Lou Guida* 2008 Tom Crouch, Alan Leavitt, Tim Rooney 2009 Hal Jones*, Dave Palone 2010 Judge Walter Russell*, Jim Simpson 2011 Jimmy Takter 2012 Richard Stillings, Bob Quigley 2013 David Miller, William Weaver* 2014 Joe M. Thomson 2015 Charles E. Keller III, Bruce Nickells 2016 Brian Sears 2017 Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg, Jules Siegel, Hakan Wallner* 1973, 1976, 1978, 1983, None Inducted *Deceased 2018 Night of Champions~42

44 Communicators Hall of Fame Inductees Inductees to the Communicators Hall of Fame have proven themselves worthy of the highest award given in the field of journalism that covers the sport of harness racing. The USHWA membership votes on their induction. The year listed is the year in which the honor was voted and the the actual induction took place the following year Edward C. Binneweg*, Ed Keller*, Michael Lee*, Jack Schultz*, Roy Shudt*, Chuck Stokes* 1984 Lawrence T. Evans* 1985 Leonard Cohen*, Louis Effrat* 1986 Stanley F. Bergstein*, James C. Harrison* 1987 Clyde Hirt*, Thomas F. Shehan*, Robert L. Zellner* 1988 Mike Cipriani*, John J. Hugerich Jr.*, Anthony W. Sisti* 1989 Al DeSantis*, Lou Miller* 1990 William F. Brown Jr.*, Philip A. Pines* 1991 Robert A. Hackett*, Col. Dave Herman*, Karel (Bud) VanderVeer* 1992 Allen J. Finkelson*, Joseph H. Goldstein*, George A. Smallsreed* 1993 Donald P. Evans*, Leslie P. Ford* 1994 Lew Barasch*, Izzy Katzman* 1995 Sam Anzalone 1996 Bowman A. Brown Jr.* 1997 Marvin Bachrad 1999 Bo Gill*, Ed Reddy* 2000 John Bradley*, Roger Huston 2001 Curt Greene*, Ed Palladino 2002 Bruce Stearns* 2004 Nick Saponara, Tom White 2005 Jack Ginnetti*, Bill Heller, Ed Keys, Virginia O Brien* 2006 Ray Brienza*, Marie Hill*, Dean Hoffman, John Manzi 2007 Murray Janoff*, Alan Prince* 2008 John Berry, Leon Zimmerman 2009 Murray Brown, Jim Moran 2010 Joe Hartmann*, Gary Seibel 2011 Jean Emerson, Moira Fanning 2012 Bob Heyden, Sam McKee* 2013 Carol Cramer, John Pawlak 2014 Kathy Parker, Bob Marks 2015 David Carr, Jerry Connors 2016 Gordon Waterston, Steve Wolf 2017 Carl Becker, Dave Briggs 1998, None Inducted *Deceased United States Harness Writer s Association The United States Harness Writers Association is a group of more than 220 members committed to the chronicling of harness racing through the print and electronic media. It was founded in 1947 by New York City area sportswriters who were covering harness racing at Roosevelt Raceway. It remains the only media organization in harness racing with a membership of newspaper, magazine, radio and TV, ad agency, publicists and others involved in racing communications. With most of USHWA s members allied to one of 12 regional chapters, the association strives to bring about a closer relationship among the media, racetracks and horsemen to promote a centuries-old American-bred sport. USHWA members, in annual voting, choose harness racing s most prestigious awards, such as the Living Hall of Fame and the Horse of the Year. Its Stanley F. Bergstein-Proximity Achievement Award is one of the sport s most cherished honors. It also recognizes top divisional winners and leading drivers and trainers at its annual awards dinner, which began in The association is governed by a member board of directors, which represents the chapters and at-large members (those living or working in regions where there is no chapter). Also serving are seven national officers and past presidents. USHWA, with input from the American Harness Racing Secretaries and logistic expertise provided by the USTA, determines the Horse of the Year and other equine and human awards. USHWA also presents the John Hervey Awards for excellence in writing and broadcasting. Its members choose Hall of Famers, so the association also works closely with the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame at Goshen, New York. A number of chapters hold annual awards or recognition dinners to salute the leading horses and drivers in their areas. Some chapters also raise money for local charities Night of Champions~43

45 Norman Woolworth Owner of the Year Award Winners 2017 Jules Siegel 2016 Wellwood & Keeling 2015 George Teague Brothers Stable, 2014 John Fielding 2013 Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi 2012 Richard Gutnick 2011 John Fielding 2010 Frank Bellino 2009 Jules & Arlene Siegel 2008 Jerry Silva 2007 Teague Inc Brittany Farms 2005 Jeffrey Snyder 2004 Ted Gewertz 2003 Robert Glazer 2003 Peter Pan Stable 2002 Jules & Arlene Siegel 2001 Lloyd Arnold 2000 Moni Maker Stable Robert Glazer 1996 Continentalvictory Stable 1995 Lee & Linda DeVisser 1994 Jeffrey Snyder Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award Winners 2017 Michael Carter 2016 Allison Conte 2015 Gabe Prewitt 2014 Emily Gaskin 2013 Heather Wilder 2012 Justin Horowitz 2012 Darin Zoccali 2011 Frank M. Antonacci 2010 Jessica Schroeder 2009 Adam Bowden 2008 Mike Tanner 2007 Rodney Mitchell 2006 Jason Settlemoir 2005 Adam Victor Jr Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year Award Winners 2017 Brian Brown 2016 Jimmy Takter 2015 Jimmy Takter 2014 Jimmy Takter 2013 Ron Burke 2012 Linda Toscano 2011 Ron Burke 2010 Jimmy Takter 2009 Greg Peck 2008 Ray Schnittker 2007 Steve Elliott 2006 Mickey Burke 2005 Erv Miller 2004 Trond Smedshammer 2003 Ivan Sugg 2002 Jim Doherty 2001 Bob McIntosh 2000 Mark Ford 2000 Jimmy Takter 1999 Ron Gurfein 1998 Brett Pelling 1997 Bill Wellwood 1996 Jimmy Takter 1995 Joe Holloway 1994 Carl Allen 1993 Bill Robinson 1992 Bob McIntosh 1991 Per Eriksson 1990 Gene Riegle 1990 Bruce Nickells 1989 Dick Stillings 1989 Harry Poulton 1988 Steve Elliott 1987 Chuck Sylvester 1986 Soren Nordin 1985 Chuck Sylvester Driver of the Year Award Winners 2017 Yannick Gingras 2016 David Miller 2015 David Miller 2014 Yannick Gingras 2013 Tim Tetrick 2012 Tim Tetrick 2011 George Brennan 2010 George Brennan 2009 Brian Sears 2008 Tim Tetrick 2008 Dave Palone 2007 Tim Tetrick 2006 John Campbell 2005 Catello Manzi 2004 Ron Pierce 2003 David Miller LeAnne Pooler Unsung Hero Award Winners 2017 Betty Holt 2016 Barbara Brooks 2015 Joanne Young 2014 Jack Darling 2013 Sam Landy & Open Space 2012 Dot Morgan 2011 Dr. Karyn Malinowski 2010 Cindi Johnson 2009 Fran Azur 2008 Ann Curran 2007 David Carr 2006 Mary Lou Dondarski 2005 Janet & Andy Tuttle 2004 Jeff Gural 2003 Suzanne Grover 2002 Dr. Steve Bokman 2001 Rick Beinhauer 2001 Joe Salandra 2000 Wisconsin HHA John Signorelli 1998 The Harness List 1997 John (Jay) King Jr Chris Coyle 2018 Night of Champions~44

46 W.R. Haughton Good Guy 2017 Brian Brown 2016 George Teague, Jr Joann Looney-King 2014 Jack Darling 2013 George Ducharme 2012 Dave Palone 2011 Larry Lederman 2010 Bruce Saunders 2009 Mike Gulotta 2008 Ray Schnittker 2007 Steve Elliott 2006 George Foreman 2005 Roger Hammer 2004 George Teague, Jr Lincoln Chafee 2002 John Campbell 2001 Craig Lipka 2000 Dick Feinberg 1999 John Manzi 1998 Tom Walsh, Jr Denis McGlynn 1996 Dorothy Haughton 1995 Fred J. Noe 1994 Art Winkler 1993 Tom Charters 1992 Dominic H. Frinzi 1991 Joseph DeFrank Amateur Driver 2017 Joe Lee 2016 Hannah Miller 2015 Hannah Miller 2014 Robert Krivelin 2013 Steve Oldford 2012 Robert Krivelin 2011 Kelly Walker 2010 Joe Bongiorno 2009 Todd Whitney 2008 Tom Williams 2007 David Siegel 2006 Dr. Howard Doc Gill and Orrin Phipps Award Winners 1990 John A. Cashman, Jr Phillip W. Tully 1988 Anthony Abbatiello 1987 Louis P. Guida 1986 George Steinbrenner 1985 Robert J. Quigley 1983 Sam Anzalone 1982 Leo Doobin 1981 W. E. Hap Hansen 1980 Joseph V. McLoone 1979 Sonny Werblin 1978 William Rosenberg 1977 John Rooney 1976 Stanley F. Dancer 1975 William R. Haughton 1974 Delvin G. Miller 1973 Preston H. Jenuine 1972 Norman O. Woolworth 1971 Howard Beissinger 1970 Edward J. Dougherty 1969 Harry M. Stevens Inc E. M. Loew 1967 John Chapman 1966 T. Curly Wayne Smart 1965 Walter J. Michael 1964 Don Hayes Award Winners 2005 Dein Spriggs 2004 Dein Spriggs 2003 Brent Davis 2002 Gene Miller 2001 Robert Krevlin 2000 Alan Schwartz 1999 Gregg Keidel 1998 Bud Hatfield 1997 Joe Faraldo 1996 Malvern Burroughs 1995 Dr. Albert A. Gabel 1994 Malvern Burroughs Rising Star Award Winners 2017 Trace Tetrick 2016 Marcus Miller 2015 Montrell Teague 2014 Nancy Johansson 2013 Corey Callahan 2012 Scott Zeron 2011 Dan Noble 2010 Matt Kakaley 2009 Jordan Stratton 2008 Jason Bartlett 2007 Tim Tetrick 2006 Jody Jamieson 2005 Mark McDonald 2004 Patrick Lachance 2003 Yannick Gingras 2002 Jeff Gregory 2001 Brett Miller 2000 Stephane Bouchard 1999 Eric Ledford 1998 Robert Stewart 1997 Daniel Dube 1996 George Brennan 1995 Liz Quesnel 1994 Jack Baggitt Jr Dave Miller 1992 Luc Ouellette 1991 Brian Sears 1990 Jerry Riordan 1989 Dr. Kenneth Seeber 1988 Brian Allen 1987 Joe Essig Jr Richard Silverman 2018 Night of Champions~45

47 Alan Prince USHWAn of the Year Award Winners 2017 Tim Konkle 2016 Thomas H. Hicks 2015 Ellen Taylor 2014 Gordon Waterstone 2013 Judy Davis-Wilson 2012 Kimberly Rinker 2011 Leon Zimmerman 2010 Moira Fanning 2009 Jessica Schroeder 2009 Lia Eustachewich 2008 Tim Bojarski 2007 Randy Manges 2006 Chris Wittstruck 2005 Jerry Connors 2003 Nicole Kraft 2002 Paul Ramlow 2001 Callie Davies-Gooch 2000 Steve Wolf 1999 Moira Fanning 1998 Leon Zimmerman 1997 Jack Ginnetti 1996 Virginia O Brien 1995 Joe Vaccaro 1994 Al Williams 1993 Bruce Stearns 1992 John Manzi 1991 Sam Anzalone 1990 Steve Wolf 1989 Marv Bachrad 1988 Earle Tunick 1987 Jack Hugerich 1986 Alan Prince 1985 Nick Saponara 1984 Bob Zellner 1983 William Brown Jr Mike Lee 1981 Stan Bergstein 1980 Allen J. Finkelson 1979 Col. Dave Herman USHWA President s 2017 Jason Settlemoir 2017 TJ Burkett 2016 New Vocations 2015 Breana Carsey 2015 Michelle & Albert Crawford 2014 Carl Howard 2013 Mary Lou Dondarski 2012 Helene Gregory 2011 Jeff Gural 2011 Tom Luchento 2011 Leo McNamara 2010 Yannick Gingras 2010 HANA 2009 Bob Galterio 2009 Bob Heyden 2009 Dr. George Maylin 2008 Joe Faraldo 2007 Meg Jewett Leavitt 2006 Dr. Fuyu Guan 2006 Dr. Cornelius Uboh 2006 Dr. Lawrence Soma 2006 Dr. Eric Birks 2004 DE Gov. Ruth Ann Minner 2004 PA Gov. Ed Rendell 2003 Stable of Memories 2002 Ray Brienza 2001 Gordon Waterstone 2001 Greg Schuler 2001 Bruce Hamilton 2000 Virginia O Brien 2000 Jerry Connors 1999 Harness Racing Little League 1999 The Racing Network 1998 Sports Eye 1998 Harness Racing Museum 1998 Hall of Fame 1998 Mass. Racing Comm LaVerne Hill 1997 Bud Hatfield 1996 Frank A. Fitzgerald Award Winners 1996 Fred J. Noe 1996 Doug Harkness 1996 Davis Elkin 1995 Arthur Brown Jr John Campbell 1994 NJ Gov. Christine Todd Whitman 1993 Fred J. Noe 1993 Milton Smith 1992 Dwane Parker 1992 David M. Dolezal 1991 Goshen Historic Track 1991 Vincent J. Bergamo 1990 Kenneth R. Fischer 1990 Allen J. Finkelson 1989 Louis P. Guida, 1989 David A. Sonny Werblin 1988 John A. Cashman Jr Clinton G. Galbraith No Award 1984 The Breeders Crown 1983 Alan J. Leavitt 1981 New Jersey Racing Commission 1981 James Lynch 1981 Herve Filion 1981 Sam Schulsinger 1981 William F. Brown, Jr Clinton G. Galbraith 1980 Charles Leerhsen 1979 Hot Hitter 1978 Carmine Abbatiello 1977 Lou Resnick 1976 Al Thomas 1976 Joey Goldstein 1975 CBS News & CBS Sports 1975 Stanley F. Bergstein 1974 Woodford Lawlis 1973 Roy Shudt 1973 Haswell & Mead 1972 Pocono Downs 1972 James J. Dunnigan 2018 Night of Champions~46

48 Hervey Writing Award Winners 2017 Dave Briggs 2016 Melissa Keith 2016 Keith McCalmont 2015 Kimberly French 2014 Dave Briggs 2013 M. Kelly Young 2012 Dave Briggs 2011 Daryl Kaplan 2010 Rob Longley 2009 Dave Briggs 2008 M. Kelly Young 2007 Kimberly Rinker 2006 Bob Carson 2005 Chris Wittstruck 2004 Bernard Tobin 2003 Paul Delean 2002 M. Kelly Young 2001 Dave Perkins 2000 Harold Howe 1999 Gordon Waterstone 1998 Dave Briggs 1997 Dave Briggs 1996 Dave Briggs 1995 Frank Cotolo 1994 Gary L. Smith 1993 Michael Steinberg 1992 Kathy Parker 1991 Moira Fanning 1990 Bill Heller 1989 Gary L. Smith 1988 Bill Heller 1987 Veda Eddy 1986 Bill Heller 1985 Jerry Shively 1984 Steve Schuelein 1983 Steve Schuelein 1982 Phil Straw 1981 Patty Hillis Carro 1980 Phil Von Borries News~Commentary 2017 Dave Briggs 2016 Dave Briggs 2015 Dave Briggs 2014 Greg Doyel 2013 Dave Briggs 2012 Mike Tanner 2011 Melissa Keith 2010 Andrew Cohen 2009 Evan Pattak 2008 Gordon Waterstone 2007 Andrew Cohen 2006 Chris Wittstruck 2005 Bob Summers 2004 Brad Schmaltz 2003 Bob Roberts 2002 Pohla Smith 2001 Robert Strauss 2000 Bud Poliquin 1999 Donnie Webb 1998 Mike Harden 1997 Jenny Kellner 1996 Dave Ramsey 1995 Shelly Anderson 1994 Brad Schmaltz 1993 Bob Summers Smallsreed Award 2017 Jacob Cohen & Chris Gooden 2016 Clive Cohen & Mark Hal 2015 Clive Cohen & Frances Lund 2014 Mark Hall & Michael Burns 2013 Michael Lisa & Dave Witten 2012 Mark Hall & Dave Landry 2011 Geri Schwarz & Bea Witten 2009 Claus Anderson Award Winners 1992 Maryjean Wall 1991 Bill Finley 1990 Clyde Hirt 1989 Maryjean Wall 1988 Phil Pines 1988 Phil Pines 1987 Dave Joseph 1986 Clyde Hirt 1985 Steve Lowery 1984 Jay Bergman 1983 Chuck Slater 1982 Clyde Hirt 1981 Mark Schwartz 1980 Mark Schwartz 1979 John Berry 1978 Doug Looney 1977 Craig Barnes 1976 Jack Kiser 1975 Lynn Simross 1974 Maryjean Wall 1967 to 1973 (not presented) 1966 Pat Ryan 1965 Gerald Eskenazi 1964 Jack Kiser Winners 2008 Harry Giglio 2007 Bea Witten 2006 Dave Witten 2005 Dave Witten 2004 Mark Hall 2003 Mark Hall 2002 Claus Anderson 2018 Night of Champions~47