The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) announced on Monday, Dec. 16 that Sonja Booth has been named the 2024 Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year.
A native of Finland, Booth has shared her passion for harness racing in North America for more than two decades, spending many of those years working with veteran trainer Noel Daley, and her passion for her horses and the sport has been recognized by everyone who has known her over that time.
The award, which is annually sponsored by Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm in conjunction with USHWA, will be presented to Booth at the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, which will be held at Rosen Centre on International Drive in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. In addition to transportation costs to Orlando, Booth will also receive two complimentary dinner tickets, a two-night stay at Rosen Centre, as well as a cash prize of $2,500 USD.
Booth used to run a turnout operation for many years from her own farm. It mainly consisted of racehorses that needed time off or were sidelined due to injury, along with her own broodmares and a few for clients. She cared for as many as 50 horses at her farm at any given time.
Booth then started to work for Daley, where she groomed the Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year, Volume Eight. The following year, she groomed Captain Albano, who was the Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Male Pacer of the Year. In 2024, she continued to groom Captain Albano as well as three-year-old trotter Sig Sauer, both of whom are leading contenders for divisional Dan Patch honours.
“I knew I was nominated but I had no idea I would have won,” said Booth. “I’m really, really excited about this. The last two years I cared for top two-year-olds that won divisional awards and I didn’t make it to either of those banquets. Now, this year I will be there, and I just hope the two I looked after get some awards as well.”
One of the nomination letters sent in naming Booth came from trainer Daley and members of his stable and stated: “Sonja’s hard-working ethics and warm spirit could be seen at racetracks across the country in 2024 as she cared for two Grand Circuit level champions, three-year-old pacing colt Captain Albano and three-year-old trotting colt Sig Sauer. She rolled with the punches of a demanding schedule and delivered the best care and attention to two ‘sires on the rise’ as they each marched their way to bankroll more than a million dollars in purse earnings.”
An eight-member USHWA panel selected Booth the winner of the Fair Island Caretaker of the Year Award. A total of 19 caretakers were nominated for the award.
(USHWA)