Wyatt Farmer of Toledo, Ohio has been named the recipient of the 2023 Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Terry Holton Youth Award.
Farmer was born into the harness racing industry as a third generation horseman.
“It’s been in my blood. It started with my grandfather and my dad followed along,” said Farmer. “I have been working around the horses my entire life, I just love it.”
A St. John’s Jesuit High School graduate, Farmer was a two-time letter winner on the Titans hockey team, earning two MVP awards.
Farmer began driving in 2021 and won his first race in just his second start, driving Jumping Jillybean to victory at the Allegan County Fair in Michigan. In 2023, Farmer won 24 races including his first pari-mutuel win at Eldorado Scioto Downs with Delishka N.
Farmer said he is honoured to receive the Terry Holton Youth Award.
“People my age [18] don’t get many opportunities to drive so I am very thankful to my parents and owner Jerry Hargraves for giving me these opportunities.”
The Terry Holton Youth Award is awarded to an Ohio horseman between the ages of 13 and 19 who has actively participated in harness racing during 2023 as a driver, trainer, groom, breeder, race office/publicity assistant, track maintenance crew, or has provided outstanding service to harness racing.
The award, in its 21st year, is named for Terry Holton, a 2005 inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Holton of Newark, Ohio, was the winner of more than 1,700 races in his career. He overcame many obstacles in his life, the biggest may have been overcoming pancreatic cancer.
Farmer will be honoured at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 13, 2024 at the Mariott Columbus OSU in Columbus, Ohio.
(Ohio Harness Horseman's Association)