Precocious Beauty, who won an O'Brien Award in 2013, has been named the Pacing Broodmare of the Year for 2019 by the United States Harness Writers Association, the organization announced in a release Tuesday (Dec. 31).
Additionally, Brittany Farms LLC, breeders of the 2019 “Millionaires’ Row” of Bettors Wish, Manchego, Six Pack and American History among other top trotters and pacers, was voted as Breeder of the Year, and Secret Magic — the dam of Manchego — who was picked as the Trotting Broodmare of the Year.
The Art Major-Precious Beauty matron Precocious Beauty has only two foals of racing age: the powerful Breeders Crown-winning freshman pacing colt star Tall Dark Stranger, and the filly Beautyonthebeach, a winner of $540,428 who lowered her mark to 1:49.2 during 2019. These two sharp stakes performers were enough to secure Pacing Broodmare of the Year honours for Precocious Beauty, herself a winner of $838,004 and with ever-increasing prospects as a broodmare for James Avritt Sr., who bred her, raced her, and continues to own her as a broodmare.
Brittany Farms, owned by Hall of Famer George Segal, was purchased in the late 1980s and has been among the leading nurseries in the sport throughout Segal’s ownership. In 2019, Brittany ranked third among breeders with offspring winning over $12 million, despite a much lesser number of produce racing than many other establishments. Brittany bred three Breeders Crown winners in 2019 – American History, Manchego and Reflect With Me – to raise their all-time total to 25 Crown champions, one behind Hanover Shoe Farms.
As noted, the Cantab Hall-Chorine Hanover matron Secret Magic earned honours as Trotting Broodmare of the Year, primarily because of the $2 million world champion Manchego, but also contributing was In Secret, a 10-time winner and $200,000 earner against Open company. Brittany bred Secret Magic, raced her, and then kept her as a broodmare until selling her early in 2019 to Hanover.
The above will be honoured at USHWA’s annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, celebrating the best and brightest of harness racing in the past year. The banquet honouring the champions of 2019 will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla., the climax of a weekend that also finds USHWA holding its annual national meetings. The Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year, and Horse of the Year will be revealed for the first time at the Banquet.
Tickets for the Dan Patch Awards Banquet are $180, with a filet mignon dinner featured. “Post times” on Feb. 23 are cocktails at 5:30 p.m. with dinner to follow. Tickets and other banquet-related information can be obtained through Dinner Planning Committee Chair Judy Davis-Wilson at [email protected] or 302.359.3630.
Hotel reservations for those attending can be made through USHWA’s website, www.ushwa.net; a link to the hotel’s reservation system is on the front page of the website. Those who would like to take out congratulatory ads for award winners in the Dan Patch Awards Journal can do so by contacting Kim Rinker at [email protected].
(USHWA)