McWicked was named the 2018 Horse of the Year on Sunday (Feb. 24) at the annual U.S. Harness Writers Association’s Dan Patch Awards dinner at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida.

To watch the awards, view the video below:

The United States Harness Writers’ Association announced the Dan Patch divisional winners this past December.

Hambletonian-winning filly Atlanta led a distinguished group of Dan Patch Award-winning trotters, as she received 96.1 per cent of the votes for best three-year-old female trotter, the highest total among the six trotting honourees. Also named divisional winners were Gimpanzee (two-year-old colt), Woodside Charm (two-year-old filly), Six Pack (three-year-old colt), Homicide Hunter (older male trotter), Ariana G (older female trotter). To view USHWA’s announcement regarding the Dan Patch Award-winning trotters, click here.

McWicked and Shartin N, who were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the sport’s year-end poll, were landslide winners for Dan Patch divisional honours among pacers. Shartin N, a now-six-year-old mare, was named best older female pacer on all but one ballot, while McWicked, a now-eight-year-old horse, was named best older male pacer on all but three. Also named division winners were Captain Crunch (two-year-old colt), Warrawee Ubeaut (two-year-old filly), Dorsoduro Hanover (three-year-old male), and Kissin In The Sand (three-year-old filly). All of the winners, with the exception of Dorsoduro Hanover, received at least 90 per cent of the vote in their division. Dorsoduro Hanover won, 65-53, over runner-up Courtly Choice in the closest divisional balloting among either pacers or trotters in this edition of the awards. To view USHWA’s announcement regarding the Dan Patch Award-winning pacers, click here.

(With files from USHWA)