Saratoga Springs, NY — The New York Sire Stakes and USTA District 8 are reminding interested parties to RSVP for the annual awards banquet scheduled for Sunday (Nov. 10) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The evening will honor the champion horses, trainers, drivers, owners and breeders of the NYSS, the Excelsior Series and the New York County Fair Series.

Guests are asked to please RSVP to Sarah Quinn at squinn@caphill.com or 518.694.5002.

The title of leading breeder will go to Winbak Farm for the second year in a row. Winbak Farm bred seven champion horses across the three NYSS racing tiers, led by 2-year-old trotting filly Zero Tolerance. Trond Smedshammer will be named leading trainer in a season that saw him earn $749,955 with 14 horses in the NYSS and Excelsior divisions. Jason Bartlett will be honored as leading driver, finishing atop the NYSS and Excelsior charts with $1,715,282 and 65 wins.

Claude Huckabone Jr. was named both leading trainer and leading driver in the NYSS County Fair Series. Huckabone drove 2019 champion Flow With Joe and is trainer/co-owner of Roll With Mimi.

This 30th edition of the NYSS Night of Champions was held at Batavia Downs on Sept. 14. Eight champions were crowned, taking home a combined $1.8 million in purses. The 2019 champions are Zero Tolerance, Quincy Blue Chip, The Fun Marshall, Hypnotic AM, Cigars And Port, Third Shift, Gimpanzee and Hickfromfrenchlick.

The evening will honor the NYSS Excelsior Champions, who took home $55,000 each at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sept. 21. The 2019 champions are Ideal Perception, C And T’s Credit, Century Ferrari, Fool Me Again, Book Seven, Certify, Alleyesonme AS, and Hanna Dreamgirl.

The NYSS County Fair Champions were crowned at Monticello Raceway on Sept. 5 following two months of racing at 20 county fairs across New York State. Each final carried a purse of $10,000, collected by Notoutofthewoods, Discus Hanover, Xenia’s Chip, Flow With Joe, Reckless Image, Certify, Roll With Mimi, and Jericho Willie.

Awards will also be given in the RUS-NY (Racing Under Saddle) series. RUS-NY is sponsored by Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs and Oneida Veterinary Associates PLLC. Hillary Hartnett will receive her accolades as 2019 Rider Challenge Champion and Akhenaton will be honored as County Fair Final Champion and 2019 Top Point Earner.

A cocktail reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., hosted by USTA District 8 racetracks. Dinner and awards will follow immediately at 7:30 p.m. A USTA District 8 meeting will precede the banquet and is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the hotel.

Tickets are $35. Special room rates are available in which banquet guests can receive 15 percent off a reservation at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Click here for booking information.

Payment should be made out and sent to: Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Fund, c/o CHMS, 230 Washington Avenue Extension, Suite 101, Albany, NY 12203.