Following the afternoon annual meeting of USTA District 7 (Pennsylvania), the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in this southwestern Pennsylvania city hosted the annual Pennsylvania Fair Banquet, co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, the U.S. Trotting Association, and the Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association.

After a greeting from “host” (and Bedford native) Sam Beegle and an excellent buffet dinner, many awards were distributed under the microphone guidance of Harrah’s Philadelphia announcer Mike Bozich, the first group getting a blanket in their stable colors as the connections of the leading pointwinners during the Pennsylvania Fair season.

Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt/Gelding : KEYSTONE BENTLEY, c, Cantab Hall – Armbro Blusher, trained by Todd Schadel, and co-owned by Todd and Christine Schadel. (blue and white)

Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly: BUMPER HANOVER, Muscle Massive – By A Nose Hanover, trained by Todd Schadel, and co-owned by Todd and Christine Schadel. (blue and white)

Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt/Gelding: WAY TO CLOSE, g, Western Terror – Tootsie J, trained by Todd Schadel, and co-owned by Todd and Christine Schadel. (blue and white)

Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly: CREW SOCK HANOVER, Well Said – Chantal Hall, trained by Dave Brickell, and co-owned by Dave Brickell and Mitchell York. (light blue and white)

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt/Gelding: GRAPPLE HANOVER, g, Andover Hall – Girls’ Getaway, trained by Wayne Long, and owned by Denton Barrett and William Kreutzer. (red and green with white)

Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly: BLOW BACK, Explosive Matter – Greatest Desire, trained by Roger Hammer, and co-owned by Vicki Fair and Roger Hammer. (blue and red with yellow)

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt/Gelding: CIRRUS DE VIE, g, Real Artist – Walk On The Beach, trained by Roger Hammer, and co-owned by Vicki Fair and Roger Hammer. (blue and red with yellow)

Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly: GEISHA SEELSTER, Well Said- Goddess’s Princess, trained by Roger Hammer, and co-owned by Vicki Fair and Roger Hammer. (blue and red with yellow)

A moment of silence was then held to honor Sue Brickell, Pennsylvania fair stalwart and organizer, who passed away this past May.

Then the folks behind the winner of their Fair Sire Stakes Championships at The Meadows in October received a warm jacket with their accomplishment stitched on in lettering:

Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt/Gelding: WATCH ME OVER, g, Muscle Massive – Wherley, trained by William Daugherty Jr., and owned by Susan Daugherty.

Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly: RT GLORIA DE DIOS, Muscle Massive - RT Sun Poco, trained by Bob Rougeaux III, and owned by the Brocious Racing Stable Inc.

Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt/Gelding: AFLAME HANOVER, g, Russell Hanover – Applique Hanover, trained by Linda Schadel, and owned by Tony and Linda Schadel.

Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly: SURE R LOOKIN GOOD, Well Said – Treat Me Good, trained by Bob Krenitsky Jr., and owned by Julie Krenitsky.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt/Gelding: WILLIE B WORTHY, g, Cantab Hall – Penn Worthy Lane, trained and owned by Lisa Dunn.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly: WORLDLY HANOVER, Donato Hanover – Wherley, trained by Harold Brocklehurst, and owned by Double R Farms LLC, David Obley, and Richard Williams.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt/Gelding: LEGENDARY RON, g, A Rocknroll Dance – Safe From Harm, trained by Ron Burke, and owned by Matthew Dugan and Michelle Rosato.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly: KEYSTONE DIAMOND, Somebeachsomewhere – Keystone Dawn, trained by Todd Schadel, and co-owned by Christine and Todd Schadel.

The Schadel brothers, Todd and Tony, were invited back to the spotlight to honor special achievements they made this past season. Tony, along with wife Linda, were recognized for the outstanding Fair Championship-winning performance of their freshman pacing gelding Aflame Hanover, who won by open lengths in 1:51.4 – the fastest Fair Championship win ever, whether two- or three-year-olds.

Todd received two further prizes: one for sweeping the 2018 Pennsylvania fair horsemen’s championships with 71 driving victories and 78 training victories, and another for leading all of North America’s drivers in the “300-499 start” category with a UDR of .378.

The drawings for equipment and other prizes generously donated by a host of PA fair supporters again allowed the average $40 ticketbuyer to emerge with a profit on the evening, such were the value of the drawing prizes. Winning a Pennsbury jog cart was Mary Martin, and bringing home a Spyder sulky was Sophie Twaddle.

(PHHA)