The 'Best of 2012' awards were handed out Wednesday, May 22 by the Keystone Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers’ Association. Leading the way as Pennsylvania’s Horse of the Year was Bob Key’s Winning Mister 1:51.3 ($1,108,874).

Winning Mister, a millionaire and free for all trotting star, established track records at every Pennsylvania harness track, and six track records in all.

Last year alone, Winning Mister, also bred by Key and trained by Rich Gillock, took 13 victories at Pennsylvania tracks in open, preferred, and free for all competition, and earned more than $318,000 in that racing season.

The Ontario-bred son of Angus Hall is from the American Winner mare Winning Missbrenda, making him a three-quarter brother to Key’s World Champion filly Win Missy B 3,1:52 ($1,568,286). Winning Mister has since retired from racing and now stands his first season at stud at Lindwood Farm in Pennsylvania.

“The horse’s raw speed is what I think sets him apart from the rest,” said Key. “And what’s so important to racing in Pennsylvania, he had tremendous ability to get around the turns on the five-eighths mile tracks very handily, and carry his high speed throughout the mile.”

Others that were honoured were Dave Palone (Mary Lib Miller Award), Ron Burke (Trainer of the Year) and Foiled Again (PA-Sired Horse of the Year).

(With files from Winning Key Farms)