from the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Assn.

Okemos, MI — Horsemen gathered at Sports Creek Raceway on Saturday evening (Jan. 21) for the annual MHHA awards banquet to honor the best in Michigan harness racing.

The evening’s mood was dampened by the news that Lee and Denna Sattelberg had lost their barn and four horse to fire that very morning, but horsemen used the occassion to raise some money to lend a hand.

MHHA Board President Brett Boyd acted as master of ceremonies for the evening’s festivities which included the Fowlerville Agricultural Society’s reverse-draw fundraiser.

Four new members were inducted into the Michigan Harness Racing Hall of Fame (Ken Marshall, Jerry Smith, Larry Smith, Frank Utter) and Claudia Cary-Davidson received the Dan Rathka Memorial Award as Michigan’s Horseperson of the Year.

Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners.

2011 STATE CHAMPIONS

2-Year-Old Filly Trotter – Miss Dat Kat
Coventry–Katarina Lin
Program Earnings: $37,527 Record: 2,2:01.2f
Owner: Suellen Smith Breeder: Oldfield Farm Trainer/Driver: Larry Smith

2-Year-Old Colt Trotter – Natural Forces
Lockkeeper–Janie’s Got A Gun
Program Earnings: $64,789 Record: 2,1:59.3f
Owners: ECS Racing & Marie St. Charles Breeders: ECS Racing & Starwin Farm
Trainer: Marie St. Charles Driver: Skip DeMull

2-Year-Old Filly Pacer – Rei To Go
Cheyenne Rei–Nicallister
Program Earnings: $46,334 Record: p,2,1:55.4f
Owners: Jack Cooper & Linda Main Breeder: Bonley Farm
Trainer: Linda Main Driver: Jason Merriman

2-Year-Old Colt Pacer – Big Jer
Cheyenne Rei–Black Chana
Program Earnings: $53,094 Record: p,2,1:57.2f
Owners/Breeders: Jerry and Pat Mulder Trainer: Krista Williams
Driver: Darrell Wright

3-Year-Old Filly Trotter – Lady Deda D
Prise Speed–Lily Putt
Program Earnings: $80,226 Record: 3,1:58.4f
Owners: John Putnam and Ella Delduca Breeder: Jeanne Boudot
Trainer: John Putnam Driver: Carl Putnam Jr.

3-Year-Old Colt Trotter – Lucky Roll
Hard Rock N Roll–Nordic Moon
Program Earnings: $51,123 Record: 3,1:59.3f
Owners: Amy and Stewart Oldford and Carl Putnam Jr.
Breeder: Amy and Stewart Oldford Trainer/Driver: Carl Putnam Jr.

3-Year-Old Filly Pacer – Itstimeformetofly
Cheyenne Rei–Its Scooter Time
Program Earnings: $44,174 Record: p,3,1:54.3h
Owner: Marie Roberts Breeders: William and Marie Roberts
Trainer: Allen Sisco Driver: Darrell Wright

3-Year-Old Colt Pacer – Whatagamble
Whatanartist–Get Beached
Program Earnings: $55,571 Record: p,3,1:53.3f
Owner/Breeder: Donna Moore Trainer: Russ Sutherland Driver: Jeff Sweeney

2011 AWARD WINNERS

Dan Rathka Memorial Award (Michigan Horseperson Of The Year)
Claudia Cary-Davidson

2011 Michigan Harness Racing Hall Of Fame Inductees:
Ken Marshall
Jerry Smith
Larry Smith
Frank Utter

2011 Michigan Harness Racing Hall Of Fame Inductees:
Aeropostale 1:54.2s ($501,198)
Always In Style (Dam of winners of more than $1.6 million through 2011)
Mr Minority p,1:52.1f ($385,235)

2011 Appreciation Award
Linn and Tracee Hathaway
Jeff Lemmer

2011 Amateur Driver Award
Mark Jones

USHWA Amateur Driver Of The Year
Kelly Walker

2011 Caretaker(S) Of The Year
Kristi Hale
Jessica Otten

2011 Service Award
Phil Stommen
Michigan Standardbred Breeders Association

2011 Headliner Of The Year
Didrickson (1:52f 23 12–3–2 $203,040)

2011 Rising Star Of The Year
Ron Wrenn Jr.
(922 Starts: 107–112–109 $328,518)

2011 Owner Of The Year
Frank Kayden

2011 Breeder Of The Year
Jeanne Boudot

2011 Trainer Of The Year
Under 100 Starts
John Putnam
(62 Starts: 21–10–7 $101,062 .466)

Henry Wilson
(48 Starts: 20–8–8 $83,424 .565)

2011 Trainer Of The Year
Over 100 Starts
Mike Watson
(297 Starts: 55-55-36 $255,790 .350)

2011 Driver Of The Year
Eric Carlson
(1072 Starts: 227-179-168 $804,599 .357)

2011 Aged Trotter Of The Year
Keyodee Star 1:56.3f ($63,341)

2011 Aged Pacer Of The Year
Real Samart p,1:52f ($50,836)