A capacity turnout of around 400 horsemen, legislators and friends of racing turned out for the 14th annual Delaware Standardbred Owners Association (DSOA) Awards Dinner at the Dover Sheraton Hotel Friday
.
Mistress of Ceremony Heather Moffett presented a colourful, fun-filled video of high spots of her weekly harness program Post Parade on WBOC TV followed by highlights of the 2010 racing year featuring award-winning top horses of the Dover Downs and the Harrington Raceway meets. The banquet also featured a silent auction to benefit Horse Lovers United Inc., who provides a residence and care for retired horses.
In addition to leading horsemen and friends in attendance were many of Delaware’s top legislative executives. The list included Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Key and Secretary of Finance Tom Cook; State Senators Gary Simpson and Joe Booth and State Legislative Representatives Don Blakey, Gerald Brady, Ruth Briggs-King, Gerald Hocker, Quinn Johnson, Harvey Kenton, John Kowalko, Biff Lee, Joe Miro, Bobby Outten, Jack Peterman, Michael Ramone, Daryl Scott, Lincoln and Dave Wilson and former State Senator Nancy Cook, a longtime supporter of racing.
Among the attendees were Delaware Harness Racing Commission Administrator Hugh Gallagher, Commission Chair Beth Steele and commission members Breezy Brown and Patricia Wagner. Also present were USTA District Directors, Jim Boese, Russell MacKinnon and Dr. William Moffett, the DSOA board of directors and Ellen Harvey, Executive Director of Harness Racing Communication, and Harry Farrow and Ted Black, members of the media.
The coveted DSOA Horizon Award, given to a horseman making outstanding progress during year, was presented to harness driver Mike Cole, one of the sport’s rising stars.
This year, the DSOA gave out a total of $6,500 in Scholarship awards. The recipients of awards are Brent Ashley, attending Virginia Tech, majoring in Dairy Science; Kailey Brewer, York College, Elementary Education; Kaitlin LeBlanc, University of Florida, Equine Business Management; Wade Marsh, a student at Washington and Lee with two majors-Political Science and Religion; and Anthony McAllister, University of Maryland, Architecture.
The following awards were also presented:
Dover Downs
Horse of the Meet – Three Of Spades
Trotter of the Meet – JM Vangogh
Claimer of the Meet – Delivered From Zin
Harrington Raceway
Horse of the Year – Mainland Key N
Trotter of the Year- Nordic Venture
Claimer of the Year – Secret Stuff
A Special Achievement Award was presented to Marv Bachrad, Dover Downs Publicity Director for four decades of service to Delaware harness racing, first at the ill-fated Brandywine Raceway and now at Dover Downs.
Following awards presentation, the popular group Clarence Smith’s “On The Edge,” provided musical entertainment for the overflow-dancing crowd.
(With files from Dover Downs)