Tom Loughry Jr. was honoured at the Meadville Fairgrounds on Saturday (June 23) by the Keystone Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
Loughry was presented his 2011 Mary Lib Miller Award, the group's highest honour, which had been previously announced.
Loughry, second trainer for the Rocky Top Stable, responded immediately with vigorous and successful CPR after fellow horseman Bill Daugherty Jr. was stricken at Amulet Farms during their fair racing event last September. Medics that later helicoptered Daughtery to the hospital said that it would have been unlikely for him to survive without Loughry's help.
After receiving his award, Loughry was quick to point out that he was just one of several horsemen that responded to the crisis, and noted that some of those same horsemen, including John "Muck" McMullen and his wife, Michelle, were also on hand last weekend in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania to provide similar aid to another horseman in need.
On Saturday, the Meadville Sertoma hosted the first of two days of Pennsylvania Sire Stake racing at the Crawford County Fairgrounds.
In the first of three divisions of the two-year-old colt trot, Montour County, a Sierra Kosmos gelding, went wire-to-wire for driver Wilbur Yoder in 2:12.3. It was the first career win for Montour County, owned by John and Michelle McMullen. John McMullen trains.
RT Left Hook, a homebred son of Ebanks owned by the Brocious Racing Stable, won the second division in 2:15. Bobby Rougeaux trains and was in the bike.
The final split went to BSMaximummoondream, trained and reined by Dave Brickell. The Bedford County gelding remained undefeated in his career, now two-for-two, after scoring in 2:10.2. Dave and Sue Brickell co-own.
Two $6,036 divisions of the PASS freshman filly trot were also held, with Solicitation capturing the first in 2:08.1. Roger Hammer and Todd Schadel own the Tom Ridge filly, while Chris Shaw picked up the winning catch-drive for trainer Hammer.
Lady Broadway then won the second division in 2:18.2, giving the McMullen-Yoder combination their second win of the day. Lady Broadway, a daughter of Broadway Hall, broke her maiden in her second career outing.
In pacing filly action, Cebu Hanover gave owner-trainer Roger Hammer his second win of the day, this time with Brian Zendt in the bike. Cebu Hanover, by Somebeachsomewhere, paced in 2:06.
Royal Native, by Allamerican Native, won the second filly pacing split in 2:03.3, the fastest mile of the day. Yoder guided her to the wire-to-wire victory for trainer Joe Torok, who co-owns with Wayne Glessner.
In the third filly pace, Caviart Ginger won for the second straight week or trainer Jason Bresnahan and driver Brady Brown. A daughter of Real Desire, Caviart Ginger is owned by Clyde, Jason and Marilyn Bresnahan and Debbra Kerr. The winning time was 2:08.3.
Three groups of PA-bred colt pacers closed the day, with Jungle Of Terror winning the first division in 2:08.3 for trainer-driver Steve Schoeffel. It was the second win on the circuit in as many weeks for the Western Terror colt, owned by Steve Lander, Kathy and Virginia Schoeffel.
McAlvin (McArdle), making his first career start, led every step of the way in the second division, pacing in 2:08. Julie Krenitsky owns, her husband Bob trains, and Brian Zendt was the winning driver.
Zendt then finished the day with his third driving win, guiding Falcons Breeze to a 2:08.2 victory for owner-trainer Hammer. A colt by Nuclear Breeze, Falcons Breeze now has two wins in as many starts in his career.
Racing at Meadville continues on Sunday at 1 p.m., with 13 heats for three-year-old Pennsylvania-breds slated.
(With files from PA Fair Harness Horsemen's Association)