Joe Thomson, the squire of Winbak Farm, has emerged as one of the leading figures in the standardbred sport. Over the past 10 years or so, Winbak has been among the top breeding operations in the sport.

Later this fall, the Monticello Goshen Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association will honour Thomson --- he will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation will be made when the chapter holds its 54th annual Awards Banquet at The Fountains on Sands Road in Middletown, New York on November 18.

Joe and his wife, JoAnn, founded Winbak Farm in 1991. They had purchased Winfield Farm, where the great thoroughbred Northern Dancer was foaled. Not being able to use the name Winfield, the Thomsons shortened it to 'Win' and used the initials of their children Bradley, Ashley and Kimberly to form the name 'Winbak.'

Winbak Farm, which was founded by Joe and his wife, JoAnn, in 1991, is the standardbred breeding industry's largest single family-owned and operated breeding farm. Winbak specializes in standing, breeding, raising and selling some of the best standardbred horses in the industry.

In the last 10 years, Winbak bred, raised and sold three U.S. Horse of the Year champions (No Pan Intended, Rainbow Blue, Muscle Hill). Winbak is also the breeder of Hambletonian winners Vivid Photo and Muscle Hill. This past year, Winbak bred the U.S. Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year Roll With Joe.

A graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, Thomson earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics. Upon graduation in 1966, he served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Today he is currently a trustee of his alma mater.

Thomson was recently elected president of the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania and is an honouree of the Little Brown Jug Hall of Fame. He is also a trustee and director of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York, and a director of the Hambletonian Society. He is also one of four owners of the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to his holdings in harness racing, he is president of Pacer Financial Inc., a financial planning company.

With his outstanding credentials and his dedication to the harness racing industry, there is little doubt that the Harness Racing Hall of Fame will come calling in the very near future.

(With files from USHWA)