Following the afternoon annual meeting of District 7 (Pennsylvania), the Bedford Springs Omni 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 Horseman’s Association.

New to the Fair Banquet this year was a 24-page souvenir program, put together by the Keystone Chapter of the U. S. Harness Writers Association as both a fundraiser for their own activities and a keepsake for all the people associated with the horses who were the stars of the 2019 Pennsylvania fair circuit.

Harrah’s Philadelphia announcer Mike Bozich served as master of ceremonies for the evening. The first group to be in the spotlight were the connections of the top pointwinners along the Pennsylvania fair circuit, who received a blanket in their stable colors:

2YO TROTTING MALE – PENANCE (g, Father Patrick – Yankee Etta), trained by Bob Rougeaux III for Brocious Racing Stable Inc. (winningest horse at the fairs with nine triumphs.)

2YO TROTTING FEMALE – LINDY PRETTY LADY (Explosive Matter – Dreamgirl Lindy), trained by Bob Rougeaux III for Brocious Racing Stable Inc. (#1 pointwinner among all fair contestants.)

2YO PACING MALE – LIFE’S MARVALOUS (g, Delmarvalous – Life’sarealbeach), trained and owned by Roger Hammer (#1 pointwinner among all males.)

2YO PACING FEMALE – RT DON’T SPEAK (Artspeak – Carousel Frame), trained by Bob Rougeaux III for Brocious Racing Stable Inc.

3YO TROTTING MALE – ANDOVERS ASSET (g, Andover Hall – Lively), trained by Linda Schadel and owned by Linda and Tony Schadel.

3YO TROTTING FEMALE – RT GLORIA DE DIOS (Muscle Massive – RT Sun Poco), trained by Bob Rougeaux III for Brocious Racing Stable Inc.

3YO PACING MALE – STRANGER THINGS (g, Western Terror – Southwind Prairie), trained by Steve Schoeffel for owners Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther.

3YO PACING FEMALE – CREW SOCK HANOVER (Well Said – Chantal Hanover), trained by David Brickell and owned by David Brickell and Mitchell York (#1 pointwinner among all three-year-olds in 2019).

Then the team behind the winner of their Fair Sire Stakes Championships at The Meadows in October each received a warm jacket courtesy of MH Eby Inc.:

2YO TROTTING MALE – STICKLER HANOVER (c, Explosive Matter – Secret Credit), trained by Steve Schoeffel for owners Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Daniel Goethe, and Michael Munn.

2YO TROTTING FEMALE – BETTER SONG (Better Caviar – Jessie’s Song), trained and co-owned by Rick Beinhauer with Regina Beinhauer (set stake record of 1:57.2).

2YO PACING MALE – CHAMP CHARBEL (c, Ponder – Odds On Affair), trained and owned by Joseph Karrat.

2YO PACING FEMALE – DEAD HEAT (1st DEAD HEAT TO WIN IN A PA FAIR CHAMPIONSHIP):

—DREAM DANCING (A Rocknroll Dance – Clearly Foxy), trained and co-owned by David Brickell with Mitchell York; and

—SILLY BUT SERIOUS (Captaintreacherous – I Need Hotstuff), trained and co-owned by Gary Johnston with Joyce Benkart.

3YO TROTTING MALE – ANDOVERS ASSET (g, Andover Hall – Lively), trained and co-owned by Linda Schadel with Tony Schadel (tied all-time Fair Championship trot record and stake record of 1:56; only pointleader to win Championship).

3YO TROTTING FEMALE – MISTY LANE (Muscle Massive – Dundee Lane), trained and co-owned by David Brickell with Mitchell York.

3YO PACING MALE – UNDER PAID (c, A Rocknroll Dance – Upfront Cruisin), trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, and Phillip Collura (set stake record of 1:52, fastest Fair Championship ever by 3YO).

3YO PACING FEMALE – APRIL AVA (Delmarvalous – Jeneva), trained by Scott Betts for Nicholas Catalano and Timothy Betts.

Mitchell York, a retired Pennsylvania state trooper who began his sulky career in June and within two weeks of his first drive set the all-time track standard at Butler (Crew Sock Hanover, 2:00.1), was honored as “Rookie of the Year” after finishing in the Top Ten in the fair dash standings with 15 triumphs.

The drawings for equipment and other prizes generously donated by a host of PA fair supporters again allowed the average $40 dinner ticketbuyer to emerge with a profit on the evening, such were the value of the drawing prizes. The grand prize winner, a Spyder race bike, was Tom Loughry of the Bob Rougeaux stable.

(PHHA)