The Indiana Standardbred Breed Development Program (ISBDP) teamed up with the Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA) to reflect on a year full of accomplishment and victory at the ISA Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 24.
In defiance of an imminent winter storm and freezing temperatures, Hoosier horsemen warmed up at the Embassy Suites as top Indiana-Sired harness racing horses of 2025 were honoured with awards.
Rockin Image was named Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) Pacing Sire of the Year with 33 total starters in the INSS that earned $1,719,682 USD during 2025. This is the fifth time that Rockin Image has received this honour, having won in 2021, 2019, 2017 and 2015. Rockin Image was bred by L&L Devisser LLC and is owned by Lothlorien Farm Corp. Top-performing foals include Dancingdreamer, Rock Shines Again, Somemore Blue and Whoomp.
Whoomp took home ISA’s Pacer of the Year Award after earning $484,925 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park last year. The filly finished the season with eight wins and one second in her 13 starts. The daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap was bred by William C. DeLong and William P. DeLong, who share ownership with Jesse DeLong. She is trained by Roger Welch and driven mainly by John DeLong. Whoomp was also named ISDBP’s Indiana-Sired Two-Year-Old Filly Pace Champion.
Swan For All was named INSS Trotting Sire of the Year with 41 starters in the INSS that earned $1,370,846 USD in 2025. This is the eighth consecutive year that Swan For All has received this honour. Swan For All was bred by Windsong Stable and is owned by Swan For All Syndicate. Top-performing foals include Classical Jane, For Dayze, Martz Seven and Swan Affect.
On To Norway was handed ISA’s Trotter of the Year Award following a remarkable year in which the son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act won 23 straight races after a place finish on debut, earning $885,732. The 23 wins made him the horse with the most victories in North America in 2025. On To Norway is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, Black and White Stable and Michael Rosethal. His breeder, Bennett Farms, was honoured with the Small Breeder of the Year Award for earning $642,374 USD in Indiana last year with only two Indiana-sired starters. On To Norway, trained by Ron Burke and driven by John DeLong, was also named ISBDP’s Indiana-Sired Champion and INSS divisional champion in the Three-Year-Old Colt Trot category.
The Large Breeder of the Year Award went to Pond-A-Acres, whose products earned $1,078,208 USD in Indiana with 29 Indiana-sired starters including Ponda Fashion, Ponda Jet and Ponda Lime. Ponda Jet was the INSS Point Champion in the Aged Gelding Trot division. The INSS Point Champions are determined by total points earned up to the INSS Super Finals.
The ISA also acknowledged the most proficient drivers and trainers of the year. Trace Tetrick collected with his 12th consecutive Hoosier Park driving title. Tetrick earned more than $4.4 million USD in purses and steered 352 winners at the track, including Rollin Rosie, INSS Point Champion in the Aged Mare Pace, and INSS Three-Year-Old Colt Pace Champion Rock Shines Again. Both Rollin Rosie and Rock Shines Again were trained by Pari-Mutuel Trainer of the Year Tyler George. With earnings of $2.3 million USD and 165 wins at Hoosier, George was awarded with his sixth consecutive Hoosier Park training title.
The Fair Circuit Driver and Trainer of the Year trophies were awarded to Doug Rideout and Larry King, respectively. Doug Rideout earned his fifth consecutive title after steering 89 horses to victory, several of which were named Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) Divisional Champions. Champions include: Yearoffear (Two-Year-Old Colt Trot), Vel Drinks on Tina (Three-Year-Old Filly Pace), Bouquets For All (Three-Year-Old Filly Trot) and Lets Go North (Three-Year-Old Colt Trot). Larry King successfully defended his title as Fair Circuit Trainer of the Year after securing his first in 2024. The winner of the Governor’s Cup Championship, King trained 71 winners during the fair campaign including several ISFC Divisional Champions Velgetthisstraight (Two-Year-Old Filly Pace), Vel Im Good (Two-Year-Old Colt Pace), Vel Drinks On Tina and Dont Tell Rosa (Three-Year-Old Colt Pace).
Indiana Senator Ron Alting and Representative Beau Baird were recognized by the ISA for their outstanding support of the Indiana horse racing industry and their contributions to legislature directly impacting the horse industry. From lawmakers to horsemen, the efforts of everyone in the industry are indispensable for the continued growth of the Indiana harness racing industry.
Jessica Barnes, Assistant Executive Director of the IHRC, said that the Standardbred Breed Development Program will “continue to work closely with the horsemen, racetrack management, breeders and owners to make the program stronger.” With over $9.5 million USD being offered in the INSS, the total value of the program is on track to exceed $17.5 million in payouts in 2026. Harness racing is set to return to Indiana on Thursday, Feb. 12th at Hoosier Park.
(Indiana Horse Racing Commission; photo of On To Norway winning on Nov. 24, 2025)