In the latest edition of Rewind Robert Smith takes readers back in time to recall the establishment of harness racing's most prized and coveted award which annually recognizes the sport's finest performer.  Known as Harness Horse Of The Year,  it is the ultimate recognition for overall performance by a horse, regardless of gait, age or money winnings.  Simply stated this award goes to the horse judged to be "Best racehorse of the year."

Back in 1947, thus a little over 75 years ago,  the decision was made to create an annual award which would be called Harness Horse Of The Year. 

The inaugural honour was awarded to a horse named Victory Song from the Castleton Farms Stables of Lexington, Ky.  The four-year-old son of Volomite was named the "Harness Horse of 1947" by a committee that consisted of 50 harness racing writers, radio commentators, and sports editors.  Shown below is a headline from The New York Times announcing the newly created award. Incidentally the prophecy that Hoot Mon would win this prestigious award the following year did not happen. 

Victory Song picked up 23 first-place votes, to lead a field of 22 horses that had been nominated for the honour.  He  edged out stablemate Hoot Mon, a three-year-old,  who finished second in the balloting. Victory Song had set the harness racing record for stallions with a time of 1:57 3/5 for the mile. Victory Song was a second-place finisher in the 1946 Hambletonian to Chestertown.  Both Victory Song and Hoot Mon were trained and driven by the great reinsman Sep Palin. 

E. Roland Harriman, president of the Trotting Horse Club of America, announced the award and indicated that the overwhelming enthusiasm shown for the honour led to the decision to make the Harness Horse of the Year an annual event. Mr. Harriman, an amateur driver himself and an owner of numerous great horses, worked tirelessly to keep harness racing alive during tough times.  When the harness racing Hall Of Fame was established and opened in Goshen, N.Y.  Mr. Harriman presided over opening ceremonies and handled the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony at the event. 

Victory Song, pictured above, was the first horse to win the prestigious "Harness Horse Of The Year "award.  Photo courtesy of Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame 

The following is summary from the Hall of Fame biography of Victory Song:

When he died in 1962 at Castleton Farm, Victory Song was still the world champion four-year-old race stallion, although his record was taken in 1947. Victory Song was the fastest trotter by Volomite and fastest foal of his dam Evensong. He was born at Walnut Hall Farm but raced to his record for Castleton Farm, earning $73,859, a generous amount for the low purses of the 1940s. Victory Song won the Kentucky Futurity in 2:00 1/2 in 1946 and was the first Harness Horse of the Year in 1947. An immediate success as a sire, Victory Song produced long parades of stake winners, fast colt and filly performers and aged champions, of which world champion Senator Frost, 1:57.3 was the fastest.

The annual selection for HOY (letters frequently used to signify Horse of the Year) has gone on without fail now for over 75 years.  There have been several repeat winners of this award and the first horse to accomplish that feat was Good Time. This pacing great won it first in 1949 as a three-year-old and repeated in 1952 as a six-year-old! 

Closing Note: Just once in the 76 years that this award has been given out has there been a unanimous choice for the recipient.  When was that? In 2022, Bulldog Hanover became the first unanimous choice for Horse of the Year, receiving all 136 votes, after a season in which he became the fastest harness horse in history with a mile of 1:45.4 at The Meadowlands and won nine major stakes races. 

Many great horses have been chosen for this very special honour and among them quite a few have had strong Canadian connections.  I have listed a few pictures below for your viewing and perhaps guessing pleasure.  I have separated them by decade. 

1950's

This great trotting mare had a Canadian trainer and driver throughout her illustrious career.  This pair helped to popularize harness racing in the post WWII era as they captured victories in numerous stake races, racing as an aged performer.  Despite the passage of some 75 years this gifted performer is still a part of harness racing excellence and an annual award is named after her. Can you name the horse and her trainer-driver?

1960's 

This Horse Of The Year was U.S. owned but trained and driven by a great Canadian horseman who hailed from Western Canada.  Can you name the horse and perhaps the driver?

1970's 

This great trotting mare was owned by a Canadian and also most often driven by one as well.  The gent on the right was Einar Andersson, famed Swedish horse photographer  in suit, handing a trophy to the winning owner.  Mrs. Inga Andersson is next.  Mr.  Harvey Fosner V.P. Roosevelt (far left) is holding the horse's head. Can you name the horse, the owner and driver? Try for one, two or three. 

1980's 

This horse became a household name during his racing career and had a great following in an era when large crowds still were in attendance on a regular basis.  The above is called a realistic painting by talented artist Philip Berkeley. Who is it?

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Who Is It? 

Can you correctly identify this Canadian based driver as he is about to record a win at the Meadowlands? Clue - The horse he was driving did not ever win the  HOY award. 

Blast From The Past 

Many years ago during the races at the Norfolk County Fair held in Simcoe, Ont.,   an accident of fairly major proportions occurred right in front of the grandstand.  Apparently an alert camera man was nearby and captured the moment.  A large crowd looks on as order is restored.  (Photo from Fair archives)