Pocono Downs has announced that it will be presenting its 2008 Horse of the Year awards on the final two racing days of the season this coming Friday and Saturday afternoons.
The 2008 Pacer of the Year Award will go to Shadow Play, trained by Dr. Ian Moore and Mark Ford.
Shadow Play won the 2008 Delvin Miller Adios and produced a 1:48.2 win in those elimination races at Pocono Downs eight days prior.
The 1:48.2 clocking is a World Record for a three-year-old pacing colt on a five-eighths mile track. The mile also equaled the third fastest time ever paced on a five-eighths mile-racing surface.
Dr. Ian Moore, Serge Savard and the R G McGroup, all of Canada, own Shadow Play.
Trotter of the Year honours will be bestowed on Macho Lindy, a four-year-old trotting gelding trained by Kimberly Asher.
Macho Lindy, after a Post 8 start on June 23, produced a 1:52 mile, the fastest time for a trotter in the history of the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack and a World Record.
Macho Lindy, who was driven by Larry Stalbaum, was a perfect four-for-four at Pocono Downs this season. Macho Lindy edged Scorpion Moon, another outstanding trotter who raced here this season, for the accolade.
Christopher J. Mazzone of Palm Harbor, Florida, owns Macho Lindy.
Claiming Pacer of the Year went to Fit Happens, who was recently claimed by Eric Goodell. Chris Oakes and Tracy Brainard trained the seven-year-old gelding in more than 20 of his starts in 2008.
Through August, Fit Happens had won 12 of 24 starts in the $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000 claiming ranks.
Claiming Trotter of the Year is the 14-year-old trotting gelding Kash Largent.
In his retirement year, Kash Largent won eight of 20 starts through August with six seconds and two thirds. Eighteen of those starts this season were at Pocono Downs with all of the victories coming at the five-eighths mile oval.
Bill Mullin, of Plains Township, Pennsylvania, and Dennis Walsh, of Laurel Run, Pennsylvania, own Kash Largent, who at the age of 14 established a life mark of 1:55.
Sherry, another standardbred trained by Asher, was named Mare of the Year.
Sherry, a five-year-old mare, established a new track record of 1:50 on July 4 with Larry Stalbaum in the race bike. Sherry won three open handicap paces for fillies and mares at Pocono Downs.
Sherry is owned by Asher, of Leslie, Michigan, and Michael Sorrentino of Bronxville, New York.
Native Bride, a three-year-old filly pacer trained by Joe Pavia Jr., was selected as the Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year.
Native Bride won six races in 10 Pocono Downs starts this year. Two of the wins were in stakes action. Native Bride finished second in the Adioo Volo at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack and also captured the Mayflowers Pace for the gals.
Jay C. Sears, of Osteen, Florida, and T.H. Stable LLC of Wall, New Jersey own Native Bride.
(With files from Pocono)