The Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association and the Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association held their annual banquet in conjunction with the U.S.Trotting Association District 7 meeting, with the dinner hosted at the Omni Resort Bedford and some 140 people attending on Saturday evening (Jan. 20).

The focus was on the top performers during the 2023 Pennsylvania fair season, with the Keystone Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) also presenting awards.

The 2023 fair point leaders are listed available below.

Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter – RT OUTLAW (g, Fordham Road – Order By Meryl), trained by Tom Loughry Jr. for Brocious Racing Stable Inc.

Two-Year-Old Filly Trotter – R PRAYERS ANSWERED (Fordham Road – Promisemespring), trained by Cody Schadel for Todd and Christine Schadel and Rick and Regina Beinhauer.

Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer – DRY RIDGE ERIE (g, If I Can Dream – Manhattan Design), trained by Gary Johnston for Randy Ringer.

Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer -- SALTZ SHAKER (Stay Hungry – Best Of Ball), trained by Cody Schadel for Todd and Christine Schadel.

Three-Year-Old Colt Trotter– (tie) HS WINCHESTER (g, Cantab Hall – Easy Money), trained by Bill Daugherty Jr. for Susan Daugherty; (tie) BATTIN A THOUSAND (c, Fordham Road – The Yankees Win), trained and owned by Roger Hammer.

Three-Year-Old Filly Trotter – SMOOTH AS SILK (International Moni – Polyester Hanover), owned by trainer Susan Callihan with Gary Callihan and Nichole Buchleitner.

Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer – WATCH U R BACK (g, Pacific Renegade – Plant A Kiss), trained by Bob Krenitsky Jr. for John Kreiser.

Three-Year-Old Filly Pacer – FOUR WIDE N FLYIN (Heston Blue Chip – Four Hour Nap), trained by Nathan Bresnahan for Michael and Rachel Bresnahan.

The 2023 Fair Championship Winners are available below.

Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter – THALER HANOVER (g, International Moni – Thistle Dhu), owned by trainer Gary Johnson and Abigail Wright.

Two-Year-Old Filly Trotter – LITTLE TOWN ROAD (Fordham Road – Alittle Laid Back), trained and owned by Roger Hammer.

Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer – ANTE UP HANOVER (g, Betting Line – A Pippin Hanover), trained by Cody Schadel for Todd and Christine Schadel.

Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer – SHOWBOAT HANOVER (Betting Line – Someheartsomewhere), trained by Cody Schadel for Todd and Christine Schadel.

Three-Year-Old Colt Trotter – BATTIN A THOUSAND (c, Fordham Road – The Yankees Win), trained and owned by Roger Hammer.

Three-Year-Old Filly Trotter – QUARANTINA (International Moni – Cantab Catela), trained by Cody Schadel for Todd and Christine Schadel.

Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer -- WATCH U R BACK (g, Pacific Renegade – Plant A Kiss), trained by Bob Krenitsky Jr. for John Kreiser.

Three-Year-Old Filly Pacer – LITTLE LADY J (A Rocknroll Dance – Monets Lilly), trained and owned by Mitchell York.

The third “class” inducted into the prestigious Pennsylvania Harness Racing Hall of Fame after balloting by the Keystone Chapter of USHWA was honoured during the banquet.

The new Hall of Famers are Joseph Banks, who resuscitated the fortunes of Pocono Downs during a down period in the track’s history; Roy Davis, forever linked with the many champion “Spur” horses named after his favourite soccer club; Mary Lib Miller, wife of the legendary “Mr. Harness Racing” Del Miller and an important contributor in several areas in her own accord; John Simpson Jr., who gave up baseball to go into the “family business” of harness racing and follows his father John Sr. and brother Jim into the PA Hall; and Dick Stillings, an excellent horseman in his own right but forever associated with Roy Davis in the campaigning of the many “Spur” stakes champions.

This quintet joins previous PA Harness Hall honourees: Bowman Brown Jr., Max C. Hempt, Roger Huston, Dr. Mary McCune (veteran), Delvin Miller, Dave Palone, Ed Ryan, Lawrence Sheppard, John Simpson Sr., and Paul E. Spears in the inaugural group; followed by  Walter “Boots” Dunn, Roger Hammer, Harry Harvey, “Judge” Joe McGraw (veteran), and Jim Simpson.

Kim Hankins, the executive director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association and a fully-participating member in all aspects of the harness game for over a half-century, received Keystone USHWA’s highest award, the Mary Lib Miller Award, as he enters retirement.

Also honoured were Clarence Martin Jr., horseman and starter of the fair races, with a President’s Award; the sophomore pacer Seven Colors with the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Harness Horse of the Year after achieving the program’s fastest-ever time in a championship, 1:48.1, while winning his finale earlier this year; and Eric Neal, coming off his best sulky season ever, as the PA Fair Horseman of the Year.

The usual harvest of door prizes donated by various friends of the fair horsemen yet again made the price of a ticket for this dinner the “best bet” in racing, as the average worth of the various prizes exceeded the cost of the dinner ducat. Sam Beegle won a Pennsbury jog cart with a $2,000 bid after the original winner donated it back for auction, with the proceeds going to the political efforts of PA horsemen; while Tim Twaddle, who recently recorded his 1,000th training victory, took home a UFO sulky.

(With files from USHWA)