The Delaware Standardbred Owners Association held its 28th annual awards banquet to honour the state's 2024 harness racing standouts on Friday, Jan. 17 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, Delaware.
The awards were emceed by Heather Vitale, host of the local harness racing television show Post Time, and Matt Sparacino, Harrington Raceway assistant general manager & United States Trotting Association director.
There were over 300 people in attendance with many Delaware legislators coming out to celebrate the Standardbred industry’s stars on this evening including: Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, Sen. Stephanie Hansen, Sen. Kyra Hoffner, Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos, Sen. Trey Paradee, Sen. Nicole Poore, Sen. David Sokola, Sen. Dave Wilson, Rep. Bill Bush, Rep. Ron Gray, Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris, Rep. Charles Postles, Rep. Lyndon Yearick and retired Sen. Nancy Cook.
The DSOA Directors are President Andy Markano, First Vice President George Dennis, Second Vice President George Teague Jr., Treasurer Frank Deliberti and Secretary Frannie West. DSOA Directors include Rich Ashley, Tom Ireland, Jim King Jr., Vic Kirby, Carlo Poliseno, Jason Skinner and Ross Wolfenden. John Hensley is the executive director of the DSOA.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Governor’s Cabinet including Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse, Incoming Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton, Secretary of Finance Rick Geisenberger and Deputy of Finance Rebecca Goldsmith.
Coming to the banquet from the Delaware Harness Racing Commission were Chairman Beth Steele, Executive Director of the Delaware Harness Racing Commission Robert Schiewe, Judy Davis-Wilson, who recently retired as the executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund, and Mark Short, the new executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund.
In addition to the presentation of Delaware Standardbred Owners Association (DSOA) awards, Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) divisional champions were recognized and Judy Davis-Wilson was honoured as an inductee to the Harness Racing Communicators Hall of Fame.
The DSOA and DSBF award winners are listed below.
DSOA Awards
2023-2024 Bally's Dover Trotter of the Meet - Grannysgonecrazy
2023-2024 Bally's Dover Pacer of the Meet - Dreaming Of Lou
2023-2024 Bally's Dover Claimer of the Meet - Need Ur Opinion
2023-2024 Harrington Raceway Trotter of the Meet - Gotta Habit
2023-2024 Harrington Raceway Pacer of the Meet - Sweet Angel Boy
2023-2024 Harrington Raceway Claimer of the Meet - Part Time Affair
United States Harness Writers Association Delaware Valley Chapter Caretaker of the Year Award - Tom Cugle
Appreciation Awards - Cindy Fortney & Rhonda Owens-Whitehouse
James T. Case Jr. Horizon Award - Brendan Davis
President's Award - Senator David Sokola
Service Awards - Governor John Carney & Michael Scuse, Secretary of Agriculture
DSOA Scholarship Awards - Erin Long, Shawn Murray Jr., Jonas Scott, Ashton Stafford & Nikajah Teachey
DSBF Champions
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt - Primo Maschio
Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly - Little Miss Peyton
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt - Melvin G
Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly - Lady Burg
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt - Captain Pete
Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly - Jett Propelled
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt - Workslikeacharm
Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly - Platinum Proposal
Trotting Broodmare - Mocha
Pacing Broodmare - Capitana
(Standardbred Canada, with files from DSOA; Photo of Primo Maschio)