In a shift from past award criteria, judges of the Hanover Shoe Farms - Harness Tracks of America Groom of the Year competition have selected a hard-working 20-year-old student who grooms horses for sick and needy clients free of charge, as emblematic of the caretakers of North America who contribute so much to the sport

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William Harmon, of Acton, NY, a student in the horse education program at Morrisville College in upstate New York, won the annual balloting among current harness racing officials who worked as grooms or with horses earlier in their careers. They chose Harmon for his dedication and work ethic. A Morrisville student during the day, he travels almost every race night to nearby Vernon Downs and paddocks at least one horse, and often two or three.

His nominator, Wayne Lockwood, said that the story that typifies Harmon better than any others is that of his trip to the Acton Fairgrounds after school daily to help Dick Andresen, a trainer with cancer, care for his horses. Harmon never complained about the work schedule, never accepted a cent for his work, and coming from a broken family struggles with paying for his education.

Lockwood said of the young man, "I had seven children of my own -- all daughters -- but if I could ever have a son, I would like him to be just like Will." A Dean's List student at Morrisville, William won the plaudits of both advisers and teachers. Instructor Steve Cluff said Harmon stayed over the Christmas holidays to work with him on the Morrisville horses, and said he is one hard-working kid who wants to learn every aspect of the sport. "His main goal in life is to learn, constantly learn more, and he spends all of his time doing that with horses."

(HTA)