Grove City, OH — Bythemissal, Ohio’s 2022 Horse of the Year, turned in another dominating season, winning the Breeders Crown on his way to being named Ohio’s 2023 Aged Pacer of the Year.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi and bred by Stephen Dey III, Bythemissal hit the board in 14 of his 16 starts, winning 11 of them. In addition to winning the Breeders Crown, Bythemissal won the Sam McKee Memorial, the Myron Charna President’s Pace at MGM Northfield Park, the Aria Invitational Pace, the Allerage Open Pace and the Potomac Pace. He earned $984,666 in 2023.

Bythemissal’s win in the Breeders Crown led him to top seasonal honors among Ohio-sired older pacers in 2023. Dean Gillette Photography.

“I know I am biased, but I think he is the best Ohio-sired horse ever,” said trainer Ron Burke. “He just has a different way to him. He can do things that other horses can’t.”

It marks the third year in a row that Ohio’s sophomore pacing champion repeated as the older pacer of the year. Ocean Rock repeated in 2020-2021 and Charlie May did in 2021-2022.

Bythemissal will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 13 at the Marriott Columbus OSU in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets to the banquet are $30 each and can be purchased by calling the OHHA office at 614.221.3650.

The 2023 Ohio Horse of the Year will be announced at the annual awards banquet.