The Ohio chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association will hand out its annual awards at the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association banquet on Saturday, January 23 at the Columbus Marriott Northwest (Dublin).

The Ohio chapter has voted Christopher Beaver as the recipient of the Winner’s Circle Award for the Ohioan who has achieved outstanding accomplishments in the past year; named Brady Galliers as the Peter Haughton Memorial Award as the young Ohioan who is an ‘up-and-coming’ star among harness horsemen; elected Jim Ewart into the Immortal Hall of Fame; selected Stand Forever into the Standardbred Hall of Fame; and will honour Dot Morgan as the winner of the Rambling Willie Award for the Ohioan who has done the most for harness racing over the past two decades.

Beaver, 44, secured a career best 67 training wins and $ 1.5 million in earnings in 2015. The native of Delaware, Ohio conditioned Allerage Trot champion, Il Sogno Dream ($302,726 in 2015), Smokinmombo ($234,846), Kestrel ($191,650), Kanthaka ($140,814) and Deweylovernleaver ($113,981).

Brady Galliers, a 21-year-old resident of Defiance, Ohio, had 24 wins and his drives earned $187,422 in purse money. Galliers showed his dedication and work ethic by driving at 29 different tracks and county fairs in 2015.

Ewart, a native of Greenup, IL, worked as race secretary at 18 different tracks in North America, plus Australia and New Zealand. Much of his career centered at Scioto Downs where he presided for 26 years, from 1976 through 2002. He also served several years as racing secretary at Lexington’s Red Mile during the fall Grand Circuit.

Former world champion Stand Forever carried his on-track success into the breeding shed. The son of Dragons Lair was bred by Weco Investments and owned by Val D’or Farms during his four-year racing career. Stand Forever won $694,472 and established a new world record of 1:49.2 on Jug Day 1996. As a sire, Stand Forever had over 600 registered foals, with $20.4 million in earnings and an impressive 106 winners in 1:55.

Dot Morgan started the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in 1992 from her home in Laura, Ohio, and continues as their executive director. New Vocations has placed more than 5,500 retired race horses into private homes. Morgan was honoured as the 2013 LeeAnne Pooler Unsung Hero Award given by the United States Harness Writers Association.

For banquet or ticket information, please visit ohha.com or call 800-353-6442.

(USHWA)