The Omni Bedford Springs Resort, in the southwestern Pennsylvania city of Bedford, hosted the annual Pennsylvania Fair Awards banquet on Saturday (Jan. 22).

This year, the members of the Keystone Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) also gave their annual awards at this yearly dinner for the first time.

The day’s proceedings also included a meeting of the Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association (PFHHA), who retuned Lisa Dunn as their association President. The well-attended gathering, drawing guests such as Pennsylvania deputy secretary of Agriculture Fred Strathmeyer, Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission member Darryl Breniser, and U.S. Trotting Association executive vice president Mike Tanner, covered a wide range of topics particularly relevant to fair competitors: the passing of a first-ever set of PFHHA bylaws; a safety emergency plan in case of a racetrack mishap; funding for the upcoming fair season’s purses; and microchipping and freeze branding Standardbreds. More can be learned about the meeting and the group at the PFHHA website at pafairsracing.org.

The Fair Banquet was once again presented by the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, and the United States Trotting Association. It again provided a hearty meal and a bonanza of donated door prizes, along with recognizing the 2021 Pennsylvania fair leaders, both over the season and in their Championship races.

2021 PENNSYLVANIA FAIR SEASON LEADING POINTWINNERS

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLTS: Muscle Hall, Andover Hall–High Score Musicly colt, owned, trained, and driven by Roger Hammer.

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLIES: Ruffle My Truffles, Explosive Matter–Truffles, trained and driven by Roger Hammer for Glenn Dyke and LeBlanc Racing Inc.

TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING COLTS: Pure Country Dance, A Rock N Roll Dance–Forever Lover gelding, owned and trained by Mitchell York and primarily driven by Dave Brickell.

TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLIES: Bettor Strait N Up, Betting Line–Strait N Great, owned by trainer Linda and driver Tony Schadel.

THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLTS: Killer Instinct, Southwind Frank–Wheely Quick gelding, trained by Bob Rougeaux III and driven primarily by Wayne Long for Brocious Racing Stable Inc. and Lone Wolf Stable.

THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLIES: Cheesy Hanover, Cantab Hall–Chez Lucie, trained by Todd Schadel, primarily driven by his 19-year-old son Cory, and owned by his father and mother Christine.

THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING COLTS: Terry A Hanover, Artspeak–Triplet Hanover colt, trained and driven by Todd Schadel for owners Christine Schadel and Caitlin Solt.

THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY: Tiamogonedancen, A Rocknroll Dance–Tiamo, owned by trainer Mitchell York and driver Dave Brickell.

FAIR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS at THE MEADOWS – OCTOBER 8, 2021

TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING COLT/GELDING – CAPTAIN T HANOVER, g, Captaintreacherous–Temptation Hanover, trained by Roger Hammer for owners Glenn Dyke, Douglas Johnson, and Leblanc Racing Inc.

TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY – BETTOR STRAIT N UP, Betting Line–Strait N Great, trained by Linda Schadel for herself and Tony Schadel.

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLT/GELDING – FATHER SON, g, Father Patrick–All In The Muscles, trained by Bill Daugherty Jr. for owners Susan and Dylan Daugherty.

TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLY – SHANA ROSA, Cantab Hall–Celebrity Sweedie, trained by Bill Daugherty Jr. for owner Linda Daugherty.

THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING COLT/GELDING – SETH HANOVER, g, Artspeak–Subtle Charm, trained by Mitchell York for himself and Dave Brickell.

THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY – TONIANNE, Somebeachsomewhere–Table Talk, trained by Todd Schadel for Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Louis Willinger.

THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLT/GELDING – KILLER INSTINCT, g, Southwind Frank–Wheely Quick, trained by Andy Rickert for owner Corey Hendricks and Melanie O’Donnell. (Changed management from trainer Bob Rougeaux III and owners Lone Wolf Stable and Brocious Racing Stable Inc. six days before Championship.)

3TF – MARGARETAVILLE, Bar Hopping–Cream Pie, trained by Dana Kahrig for owners Kahrig Racing Stable Co. and Cache Is King LLC.

As noted, the Keystone Chapter of USHWA also participated in this awards evening for the first time. Keystone USHWA put together a full-colour 28-page souvenir program, which also serves as a fundraiser for the Chapter through advertising sold in the book to friends of Pennsylvania racing.

The Mary Lib Miller Award is named after the gracious and helpful wife of “Mr. Harness Racing,” Hall of Famer Delvin Miller of The Meadows and Adios fame, and it is the most prestigious award Keystone USHWA gives. This year it was awarded to the Standardbred industry’s leading nursery, Hanover Shoe Farms in south-central Pennsylvania.

Hanover has been the leading money-winning breeder in every year since Standardbred records began to be kept in 1949, and in this, its 74th consecutive year as No. 1, it topped its own record for earnings by nursery graduates, with 2021’s total of $34.2M fractionally ahead of the old 2019 record. It stands top sires such as Andover Hall, Cantab Hall, Greenshoe, Papi Rob Hanover, and Tall Dark Stranger – and it is noted for its “aftercare” life arrangements for horses after their breeding careers are over.

Keystone President Heather Wilder, the host of the awards portion of the program, presented a Presidential Award to Dr. John Egloff, patriarch of Vieux Carré Farms in Gettysburg. Champions born and raised at Vieux Carré including Always B Miki, champion racehorse (1:46) and sire; Pine Chip, the fastest trotter ever (T1:51) at the time (1994); and no fewer than seven Breeders Crown champions in all. Dr. Egloff serves on several national influential boards within the sport, and he is a member of the Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission. He is perhaps best-known for his statement “What we need to do is breed more owners.”

The three-year-old Creatine trotting colt Jujubee was voted the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Horse of the Year. Trained by Greg Wright Jr. for owner/breeder Jon Erdner, Jujubee was the top point earner in his Sire Stakes preliminaries with two wins and two seconds, then won handily in his Championship in 1:51.4, a stakes record. Jujubee would also win twice in sub-1:50 time, taking his mark with a 1:49.3 in the Kentucky Futurity, and then ending his campaign with a Breeders Crown victory to boost his seasonal bankroll to $948,791.

The Schadel Family of father Todd, mother Christine, and son Cody won the Outstanding Fair Stable award after winning at a high rate throughout the year, with Todd the winningest trainer and driver and 19-year-old Cody finishing ninth in the drivers’ ranks in his first full season of competition. Christine is a partner in many of the horses coming out of the barn; she owns many with Todd, and some with other partners.

Seth Dowling, a multitalented worker for the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association (the state’s marketing arm for racing), has been selected as the Keystone Chapter’s Member of the Year. Seth has been a trainer, but these days he is well-known for his work on the Pennsylvania fair circuit, serving as photographer for several years, and this season serving as a one-man production crew in sending out the fair races live, handling the camera work and the production board in real time.

(PHHA / MSOA / PFHHA)