The recipients of the 2026 John R. Brennan Scholarship were announced on Tuesday, June 30 by the Standardbred Owners Association of New York (SOANY) and Yonkers Raceway.

The four recipients of the 2026 John R. Brennan Scholarship awards are Max Keppler (first place - $11,000 USD), Joshua Holland (second place - $6,000 USD), Addison Gingras (third place - $4,000 USD) and Jaiden Gingras (fourth place - $2,000 USD). 

Max Keppler is attending Syracuse University pursuing a degree in Accounting and Business Analytics. His father, Scott, has been an amateur driver since 1983 with 103 wins and has owned racehorses since 1985. 

Joshua Holland is attending Southern Methodist University pursuing a degree in Finance. His father, Brent, is a driver with 6,612 wins and $90.9 million in career earnings. 

Addison Gingras will be attending Sacred Heart University and will be pursuing a degree in Business Marketing. Jaiden Gingras is attending Rider University pursuing a degree in Business Administration - Finance. Their father, Yannick, is a driver with 9,650 wins and $280.7 million in career earnings. 

Joseph Faraldo, President of the SOANY, and Sandra Kaufman, Scholarship Chairperson, would like to thank the nine applicants for applying for the 2026 John R. Brennan Scholarship. The scholarship award is named after a longtime good friend of Yonkers Raceway, horse trainer and SOANY field representative John Brennan. 

The annual John R. Brennan Scholarships are awarded to SOANY members in good standing, members of their immediate families and immediate family members of a caretaker for studies beyond the high school level. The recipient is chosen based on merit and financial need. The applicants were judged first by an independent third party, who narrowed it down to five candidates. Then the Scholarship Committee selected the four winners from the five finalists. Personal information from all the candidates was redacted when presented to the independent party and the Scholarship Committee to assure a blind judging process.

(With files from SOANY)