NYSS 2009 Awards Banquet Held
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:36
The Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund (the Fund) Executive Director Peter Goold today announced the Fund held its Annual New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Awards Banquet on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Vernon Downs in Vernon, New York. A total of 29 awards were given to horse owners, drivers, and trainers who performed exceptionally well during the 2009 NYSS racing season.
“We are very pleased to have such an outstanding state-bred racing program. Our program would not be possible without the many distinguished men and women in the harness racing and standardbred breeding industries who take part in the New York Sire Stake program each year,” Goold said. “On behalf of the Fund Trustees, congratulations to all of the award winners for their exceptional performances during the 2009 New York Sire Stakes racing season.”
The NYSS awards honor the top performers in each level of New York Sire Stakes racing: the NYSS Series, the County Fair Series, and the Late Closers Series. The Fund also honors the leading NYSS drivers, trainers, and breeders of the racing season.
The award recipients are as follows:
The 2009 NYSS Breeder of the Year awards went to Winbak Farm ( Wallkill, NY) for all three Series: NYSS, County Fair, & Late Closers.
The 2009 NYSS Trainer of the Year awards went to Ray Schnittker for the NYSS Series; Edward Hart for the Late Closers Series and to Douglas Ackley for the County Fair Series
The 2009 NYSS Driver of the Year awards went to James Morrill, Jr for the NYSS Series; Stephane Bouchard for the Late Closers Series; and to Douglas Ackley for the County Fair Series.
2009 New York Sire Stakes Series Award Winners:
NYSS 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Bet On Luck
Breeder: John Grant; Owners: Kovach Stables & George Teague, Jr.; Trainer: George Teague NYSS Earnings: $170,078
NYSS 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Go Go Solano
Breeder: RAM Racing Stable; Owners: Richard Lombardo & Pasquale Rizzo; Trainer: Mark Capone; NYSS Earnings: $177,185
NYSS 3-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Gift Card
Breeder: Thomas Hicks; Owners: KR Breeding, Robert Rudolph, Gary Hoffman; Trainer: Frank Antonacci; NYSS Earnings: $154,257
NYSS 3-Year-Old Trotting Colt: And Away We Go
Breeder: Stormi And Bruiser Stable; Owners: George Brennan & Andy Miller Stable; Trainer: Julie Miller; NYSS Earnings: $158,122
NYSS 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Hula’s Z Tam
Breeder: Southwind Farm; Owner: Z Tam Racing, Margaret Dey, Patrick Lachance; Trainer: Patrick Lachance; NYSS Earnings: $256,480
NYSS 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt: He’s Gorgeous
Breeder: Yankeeland Farms; Owner: Kenneth Jacobs; Trainer: Linda Toscano; NYSS Earnings: $237,351
NYSS 2-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Munis Blue Chip
Breeder: Blue Chip Bloodstock; Owner: Ray Schnittker, Steve Arnold, Blue Chip Bloodstock, Jerry Silva; Trainer: Ray Schnittker; NYSS Earnings: $174,704
NYSS 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Blacktuxwhitesocks
Breeder: Valley High Stable; Owner: Purple Haze Stables; Trainer: Jessica Okusko; NYSS Earnings: $158,535
2009 NYSS Late Closers Series Award Winners:
2-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Rock N Amber
Breeder: Dunroven Stud; Owners: Robert Young, Paul Gazzola, Brian Barton; Trainer: Edward Hart
2-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Park Lane Midnight
Breeder: Fredrick Hertrich III, Lewis Arno; Owner: Shirley Le Vin; Trainer: Mark Ford
2-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Miss Conway
Breeder: Robert Brooks; Owners: Robert Brooks, Ann-Mari Daley, Richard Lombardo; Trainer: Dan Daley
2-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Aruba Vacation
Breeder: Howard Stables; Owners: Howard Stables, Ann-Mari Daley, Richard Lombardo; Trainer: Dan Daley
3-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Sinful Cindy
Breeder: Fredrick Hertrich, Lewis Arno; Owner: Cynthia Massari; Trainer: Edward Hart
3-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Western Wild King
Breeder: Kristie Leigh Farm, Bernard White; Owner: Joseph Meylan, Theresa Bantle, Eric Fleter; Trainer: Theresa Bantle
3-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Anikawiesahalee
Breeders: Michael Pozefsky, Edward Wilson; Owner: Michael Pozefsky; Trainer: Maureen Salino
3-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Mystic Splendor
Breeder: Winback Farm; Owner: Jessica Okusko, Kenneth Finnerty; Trainer: Jessica Okusko
2009 NYSS County Fair Series Award Winners:
County Fair 3-Year-Old Trot: Nowerland Collins
Breeders: Paul & Pauline Nower; Owners: Paul & Pauline Nower; Trainer: Jody Weidman
County Fair 3-Year-Old Pace: Always Best
Breeder: Walnut Hill, Ltd., RL Turner; Owner: Dean La Clair; Trainer: Darwin La Clair
County Fair 2-Year-Old Trot: Vagra
Breeders: Douglas & Tyra Ackley; Owners: Douglas & Trya Ackley; Trainer: Douglas Ackley
County Fair 2-Year-Old Pace: Plumbers Helper
Breeder: Morrisville College Foundation; Owner: Joseph Robbins, Jr.; Trainer: Joseph Robbins, Jr.
The United States Trotting Association District 8 and the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State also presented awards at the NYSS Awards Banquet. The USTA District 8 awarded a total of 12 awards representing outstanding performing horses in its district. The Harness Horse Breeders awarded its Bruce Hamilton Memorial Medal to the late Jim Crawford for his outstanding contributions to harness horse racing and improvements of the breeding of standardbred horses within New York State.
Inaugurated in 1965, the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) was the first program of its kind in North America and later became the model for many state-bred racing programs. The landmark legislation, known as the Lavern Law, sought to spur the standardbred breeding industry through the creation of the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund; the public benefit corporation that administers the NYSS racing program and promotes standardbred breeding within the State. Today the NYSS offers approximately $16 million in purses and $1 million in Breeders’ Awards, holding races at all of New York State’s harness tracks and 22 county fairs, providing unmatched racing and money-earning opportunities for the many horsemen in the Empire State.
For more information or to find out how you can become involved in the New York Sire Stakes Racing Program, please visit www.nysirestakes.com.
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