A throng of near 400 including horsemen, legislators and friends of racing turned out for the 12th annual Delaware Standardbred Owners Association (DSOA) Awards Dinner at the Dover Sheraton Hotel on Friday, January 9, 2009.
Mistress of Ceremony Heather Moffett presented a colorful, fun-filled video of 2008 season highlights from her popular weekly half-hour Sunday morning WBOC-TV 16 show. Video highlights of the 2008-racing year were shown of the award-winning top horses of the Dover Downs and the Harrington Raceway meets.
In addition to leading horsemen, Delaware's top legislative executives were in attendance. The list included Governor Ruth Ann Minner, Lt. Gov.-elect Matt Denn, Assistant Secretary of Revenue & Finance Tommy Cook and State Senators Nancy Cook, Thurman Adams. Gary Simpson and State Legislative Representatives Gerald Brady, George Carey, John Kawalko, Biff Lee, Bobby Outten, Michael Ramone, Bob Walls and Dave Wilson and Chief Justice of Delaware Supreme Court, Myron Steele. Among the attendees were Delaware Harness Racing Commission Administrator Hugh Gallagher, Commission Chair Beth Steele and members Breezy Brown, Ken Williamson, Mary Ann Lambertson and George Statts. Also present were USTA District Directors, Russell MacKinnon and Dr. William Moffett and members of the media.
DSOA 2008 award winners:
The coveted DSOA Horizon Award (to a horseman making outstanding progress during year) was presented to trainer Doug Lewis.
There were $6,000 in DSOA Scholarship awards. Recipients were Anthony McAllister attending University of Maryland majoring in Architectural Engineering; Brittany Schwartz, studying Equine Studies and a minor in Business; and Lisa Ann Martin, majoring in Marketing at Kutztown University.
Dover Downs 2007-08 Meet
Horse of the Meet - Sharky Osborne
Trotter of the Meet - Go Sassy Go
Claimer of the Meet - Unn
Harrington Raceway 2008 Season
Horse of the Year - Village Blitz
Trotter of the Year- Vicki Gram
Claimer of the Year - Pts Gold Dust
A Special Achievement Award was presented to J&E Stable and Eric Davis' Stormont Northstar, the all-time winningest horse in Harrington Raceway history with 35 victories, now having reached the mandatory retirement age of 15 in 2009
Following dinner and award presentations, the popular group On The Edge, featuring Clarence Smith, provided musical entertainment for the overflow-dancing crowd.
(Dover Downs)