Dover, DE – The Delaware Standardbred Owners Association held their 28th Annual Awards Dinner on Jan. 17 in Dover, DE. The event recognized outstanding performers from Bally’s Dover and Harrington Raceway from the past season.
On this evening, the 2024 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Champions were also honored, along with other horsemen and women deserving recognition.
The awards were emceed by Heather Vitale, host of the local harness racing television show Post Time, and Matt Sparacino, Harrington Raceway assistant general manager & United States Trotting Association director.
There were over 300 in attendance with many Delaware legislators coming out to celebrate the Standardbred industry’s stars on this evening including: Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Senator Stephanie Hansen, Senator Kyra Hoffner, Senator Spiros Mantzavinos, Senator Trey Paradee, Senator Nicole Poore, Senator David Sokola, Senator Dave Wilson, Representative Bill Bush, Representative Ron Gray, Representative Kerri Evelyn Harris, Representative Charles Postles, Representative Lyndon Yearick and Retired Senator Nancy Cook.
The DSOA Directors are President Andy Markano, First Vice President George Dennis, Second Vice President George Teague Jr., Treasurer Frank Deliberti and Secretary Frannie West. DSOA Directors include Rich Ashley, Tom Ireland, Jim King Jr., Vic Kirby, Carlo Poliseno, Jason Skinner and Ross Wolfenden. John Hensley is the executive director of the DSOA.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Governor’s Cabinet including Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse, Incoming Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton, Secretary of Finance Rick Geisenberger and Deputy of Finance Rebecca Goldsmith.
Coming to the banquet from the Delaware Harness Racing Commission were Chairman Beth Steele, Executive Director of the Delaware Harness Racing Commission Robert Schiewe, Judy Davis-Wilson, who recently retired as the executive director of the DE Standardbred Breeders Fund, and Mark Short, the new Executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund.
The following is a list of winners from the evening:
DELAWARE STANDARDBRED OWNERS ASSOCIATION WINNERS
BALLY’S DOVER – CLAIMER OF THE MEET
NEED UR OPINION
Owner: Wade Wyatt
Trainer: Crissy Crissman-Bier
BALLY’S DOVER – TROTTER OF THE MEET
GRANNYSGONECRAZY
Owner: George and Tina Dennis Racing and Curtis Larrimore
Trainer: Joe Columbo
BALLY’S DOVER – PACER OF THE MEET
DREAMING OF LOU
Owner: Jo Ann Looney-King
Trainer: Jim King Jr.
HARRINGTON RACEWAY – CLAIMER OF THE MEET
PART TIME AFFAIR
Owner/Trainer: Blake Baker
HARRINGTON RACEWAY – TROTTER OF THE MEET
GOTTA HABIT
Owner: PT Stable
Trainer: Crissy Crissman-Bier
HARRINGTON RACEWAY – PACER OF THE MEET
SWEET ANGEL BOY
Owner/Trainer: Bobby Glassmeyer
SPECIAL APPRECIATION AWARD – Rhonda Owens-Whitehouse
SPECIAL APPRECIATION AWARD – Cindy Fortney
PRESIDENT’S AWARD – Senator David Sokola
DEL-VALLEY USHWA CARETAKER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Tom Cugle
JAMES T. CASE JR. HORIZON AWARD – Brendan Davis
DELAWARE STANDARDBRED BREEDERS FUND CHAMPIONS
2-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROTTER – MELVIN G
Breeder: Legacy Racing of DE
Owner: Legacy Racing of DE & Nanticoke Racing
Trainer: Les Givens
Driver: Jim Morand
Sire: EL Platinum
2-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER – LADY BURG
Breeder/Owner: J Craparotta & P Berry Racing LLC
Trainer: Traci Berry
Driver: Pat Berry
Sire: E L Platinum
2- YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING PACER – PRIMO MASCHIO
Breeder: Let It Ride Stables & Bottom Line Racing
Owner: Forrest Bartlett
Trainer: Walter Callahan
Driver: Trae Porter
Sire: Badlands Hanover
2- YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER – LITTLE MISS PEYTON
Breeder/Owner: Donna Messick
Trainer: Les Givens
Driver: Corey Callahan
3-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROTTER – WORKSLIKEACHARM
Breeder: Nicholas Malcom
Owner: Brett Macdonald
Trainer: Jim King Jr.
Driver: Tim Tetrick
Sire: E L Platinum
3- YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER – PLATINUM PROPOSAL
Breeder: Thomas Dodson
Owner: Nanticoke Racing & Delbert Cain
Trainer: Les Givens
Driver: Jim Morand
Sire: E L Platinum
3- YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING PACER – CAPTAIN PETE
Breeder: Harry Marsh Jr.
Owner: Mulligan Stables, Calcutta Stable, & Denise Davis
Trainer: Jason Johnson
Driver: Allan Davis
Sire: Roddy's Bags Again
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER – JETT PROPELLED
Breeder/owner/trainer: Bobby Shahan
Driver: Jason Thompson
Sire: Roddy's Bags Again
TROTTING BROODMARE OF THE YEAR – MOCHA
Owner: Linda Mac Donald
Breeder: Douglas & Ada Jean Ackerman
Dam of Lovies Place and Button Candy
Both of them are 2024 Delaware Standardbred Breeder’s Fund Finals Winners
PACING BROODMARE OF THE YEAR – CAPITANA
Bred by Joe Sbrocco
Owned by Harry Marsh Jr
Dam of 2 foals of racing age including Captain Pete, the 2024 DSBF Three Year Old Male Pacing Champion