Washington, PA – The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) celebrated “Caretaker Appreciation Day” on Friday (Nov. 27), and horsemen and local businesses showered gifts and gratitude on the hard-working, unsung men and women who keep horses and stables going.

Caretakers won cash and gift cards in drawings while the MSOA presented each groom with a sweatshirt and free lunch at the paddock kitchen. Pastor Joe DiDonato, The Meadows track chaplain, presented caretakers with Chick-fil-A gift cards, and drivers kicked in $20 per drive, per groom.

Drawing winners, with donors in parentheses, were:

Cash

$100 — Dana Kahrig (Amulet Equine Rehab & Conditioning Center);
$100 — Pete Stratton (Amulet Equine Rehab & Conditioning Center);
$100 — Catherine McMillen (Amulet Equine Rehab & Conditioning Center);
$100 — Becky McDougal (Amulet Equine Rehab & Conditioning Center);
$100 — Cathy Smith (CSC Insurance);
$100 — Niki Harvey (CSC Insurance);
$100 — C.J. Russo (CSC Insurance);
$100 — Courtney Polan (CSC Insurance);
$100 — Mandy Cope (Rich Gillock);
$100 — Shawn Rawson (Norm Parker);
$100 — Erik Farris (Nick Catalano);
$100 — Ron Bush (Betts Racing);
$100 — Diana Hughes (Kahrig Racing);
$100 — John Romantino (Presto Racing):
$100 — John Romantino (Keith Pippi);
$50 — Michelle Venneri (Rothfuss Racing);
$50 — Adam Hordies (Dirk Simpson);
$50 — Cheyenne Christman (Dirk Simpson);
$50 — Diana Hughes (Altmeyer Wilder Racing);
$35 — Ben Dube (Chris Rusmisel & Family):
$25 — Linda Teed (Lisa Dunn);
$20 — Jeff Lazek (C.J. Russo);
$20 — Sage Grego (Marashian Racing).

Gift Cards

$50 — Jim Rothfuss (Chris Gooden);
$50 — Katie Turner (Ray & Lori Romanetti);
$25 — Deb Redmon (Shaw Racing);
$25 — Courtney Polan (Shaw Racing);
$25 — Michael Tabasco (Lucy Langley);
$25 — Mandy Cope (As Seely Promised);
$25 — Dan Holmes (Rothfuss Racing):
$25 — Yvonne Medors (Rothfuss Racing);
$25 — Tori Guzzie (Josh & Nicole Sullivan)
$20 — Lou Ann Prosser (Brad & Jo Ellen Buxton).

Other donors included Jack & Kathy Smith and Cory Kreiser.