The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund held its annual New York Sire Stakes Awards Banquet on Sunday, November 14

at Saratoga Raceway.

A total of 29 awards were given to horse owners, drivers, and trainers who performed exceptionally well during the 2010 NYSS racing season.

"We are very pleased to have such an outstanding state-bred racing program. Our program would not be possible without the many distinguished men and women in the harness racing and standardbred breeding industries who take part in the New York Sire Stake program each year," Goold said. "On behalf of the Fund Trustees, congratulations to all of the award winners for their exceptional performances during the 2010 New York Sire Stakes racing season."

The NYSS awards honour the top performers in each level of New York Sire Stakes racing: the NYSS Series, the County Fair Series, and the Late Closers Series. The Fund also honours the leading NYSS drivers, trainers, and breeders of the racing season.

The 2010 NYSS Breeder of the Year awards went to Winbak Farm for all three series (NYSS, County Fair, and Late Closers).

The 2010 NYSS Trainer of the Year awards went to Linda Toscano for the NYSS Series; Edward Hart for the Late Closers Series, and to Douglas Ackley for the County Fair Series.

The 2010 NYSS Driver of the Year awards went to James Morrill, Jr. for the NYSS Series; Jason Bartlett for the Late Closers Series, and to Douglas Ackley for the County Fair Series.

2010 NYSS SERIES AWARD WINNERS

NYSS Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly
• Anndrovette
Breeder: Golden Touch Stable
Owners: Joseph Davino, Mark Kesmodel, Jeffrey Bamond
Trainer: Mark Kesmodel

NYSS Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt
• Hes Gorgeous
Breeder: Yankeeland Farms Inc.
Owner: Kenneth Jacobs
Trainer: Linda Toscano

NYSS Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly
• Tuesdays With Mom
Breeder: Peter Arrigenna
Owner: Peter Arrigenna
Trainer: Peter Arrigenna

NYSS Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt
• Blacktuxwhitesocks
Breeder: Valley High Stable
Owner: Purple Haze Stables LLC
Trainer: Jessica Okusko

NYSS Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly
• See You At Peelers
Breeder: Christina Takter
Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding
Trainer: Jimmy Takter

NYSS Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt
• Townslight Hanover
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owner: Kenneth Tucci
Trainer: Aaron Lambert

NYSS Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly
• Some Girls
Breeder: London Farms, Wayne Jacobus
Owners: Theodore Gewertz, Michael Rosenthal, Y. Jean Brunet, Gaetan Brunet
Trainer: Gaetan Brunet

NYSS Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt
• Dejarmbro
Breeder: Fair Winds Farms Inc.
Owner: Purple Haze Stables
Trainer: Jessica Okusko

2010 NYSS LATE CLOSERS SERIES AWARD WINNERS

Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly
• VLa Faire
Breeder: Oakhurst Farms
Owner: Oakhurst Farms
Trainer: Richard Tomaszewski

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt
• Real Gentleman
Breeder: Brittany Farms
Owners: Jeffrey Pocaro, Paul Strombick, Allister Stables, LLC
Trainer: Eric Abbatiello

Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly
• Dream State
Breeder: Kindergarten Stud, Inc.
Owner: Regina Dewhurst
Trainer: David Dewhurst

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt
• Off The Grid
Breeder: Robert Rosenheim Stables Ltd.
Owner: Jody Weidman
Trainer: Jody Weidman

Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly
• Forty Three
Breeder: Indigo Racing LLC
Owner: Indigo Racing LLC
Trainer: Adam Capizzano

Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt
• Mosee Terror
Breeder: Jeffrey Brooks
Owner: Baron Racing Stable
Trainer: Paul Reid

Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly
• Dreamy Dawn
Breeder: Lohmeyer Racing LLC
Owner: Lohmeyer Racing LLC
Trainer: Ed Lohmeyer

Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt
• Winona
Breeder: Perry Racing Stable LLC
Owner: Perry Racing Stable LLC
Trainer: Howard Okusko

2010 NYSS COUNTY FAIR SERIES AWARD WINNERS

County Fair Three-Year-Old Pace
• Emmas Lily
Breeder: White Birch Farm
Owner: Stephanie and Brian Cassell
Trainer: Truman Gale

County Fair Three-Year-Old Trot
• Vagra
Breeders: Douglas and Tyra Ackley
Owners: Douglas and Tyra Ackley
Trainer: Douglas Ackley

County Fair Two-Year-Old Pace
• Surf Cast Michelle
Breeder: John Prescott
Owner: John Prescott
Trainer: John Prescott

County Fair Two-Year-Old Trot
• Lofty Dreams
Breeder: Kindergarten Stud Inc.
Owner: Steven Pratt
Trainer: Steven Pratt

The United States Trotting Association District 8 and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State also presented awards at the NYSS Awards Banquet. The USTA District 8 awarded a total of 12 awards representing outstanding performing horses in its district. The Harness Horse Breeders awarded its second annual Bruce Hamilton Memorial Medal to Ray Schnittker for his outstanding contributions to harness horse racing and improvements of the breeding of standardbred horses within New York State.

(Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund)