The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) and United States Trotting Association (USTA) District 8 hosted their Annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Vernon Downs Casino Hotel to recognize and honour top horses, owners and breeders of the 2022 season.

During the Annual Awards, USTA District 8 announced Valentina Blu as the Horse of the Year.

The additional awardees are as follows:

USTA District 8 Individual Awards

• Owner of the Year: Purple Haze
• Breeder of the Year: Winbak Farm
• Trainer of the Year: Ray Schnittker
• Driver of the Year: Jason Bartlett

New York Sire Stakes Individual Awards

• Leading Driver: Brian Sears
• Leading Trainer: Marcus Melandar
• Leading Breeder: Winbak Farm

County Fair Individual Awards

• Leading Driver: Mark Whitcroft
• Leading Trainer: Cheryl Davis Whitcroft

A replay of the live stream from the Annual Awards Banquet is available below.

(Right-click on video and select "Show all controls" for video control menu.)

(With files from Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund)