The 2025 Horse of the Year will be announced Sunday night, Feb. 22, at the annual U.S. Harness Writers Association’s (USHWA) Dan Patch Awards dinner, presented by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla. But even if you aren’t among the attendees, you will be able to watch the announcement live through the U.S. Trotting Association’s website and USHWA’s Facebook page.
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SPHO-NJ celebrates 2025 year-end award winners
On Feb. 15, the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey (SPHO-NJ) hosted its annual year-end awards banquet in Freehold, N.J. The event brought together Standardbred enthusiasts from across the country to celebrate a remarkable 2025 show season and to highlight the breed’s exceptional versatility across a wide range of disciplines.
Roberts scores 5,000th career win
Driver Jonathan Roberts reached the 5,000-win milestone of his career on Monday (Feb. 16) at Rosecroft Raceway when he teamed Freaky Feet Beast to a 12-1 upset in the night’s eighth race, a $7,500 conditioned claiming pace.
Special Select, Beelzebub win Miami Valley co-features Monday
Special Select went gate to wire and Beelzebub used a pocket trip to upset at 31-1 to take Monday’s (Feb. 16) co-featured $22,000 paces at Miami Valley Raceway.
Memorynimagination wins Open Trot at Saratoga
Memorynimagination secured his first victory in the local Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel late last year. The Jimmy Nickerson-trained trotter won the feature in December before wrapping up his season with a third-place finish in the Open.
Stay Focused lived up to name, win Pocono Feature
Stay Focused, who won his last start on the last day of 2025, came back sharply to the races on Monday afternoon (Feb. 16) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, recording a solid 1:53.4 engine victory in the $15,500 feature for up-and-coming pacing males.
Horsemen await word on Hawthorne
Horsemen in Illinois, both Standardbred and Thoroughbred, are continuing to await word on the status of Hawthorne Race Course, whose harness racing license was suspended by the Illinois Racing Board on January 26.
Meadows Monday Memo
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows will is currently in its winter 3-day-per-week schedule, with racing on Wednesday through Friday afternoons at 12:45 p.m. 13 races are carded for this Wednesday (Feb. 18). The $5,000 guaranteed pool on the Late Pick4 is offered daily.
Little Rocket Man wins MVG feature
Little Rocket Man held off the entire field in the stretch and picked up his 81st career victory by taking the $36,000 featured Open Handicap at Miami Valley (Feb. 15).
Island Bouhinia A scores Saratoga feature
Island Bouhinia A (Betting Line) came into Sunday’s (Feb. 15) feature having been the runner-up in the Fillies and Mares Open in three of her last five starts dating back to last year. On Sunday, the 7-year-old distaffer drew the rail in pursuit of her first ever win in the ladies’ Open and had Jacob Cutting at the controls for her try in the $16,500 feature.