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Kimberly Rinker and Bob Heyden were named winners of the 2022 John Hervey Awards for excellence in harness racing journalism while Mark Hall and Walter Wlodarczyk were named recipients of the George Smallsreed Awards for photography and Cujo Entertainment was selected winner of the Sam McKee Award for broadcasting, the U.S. Harness Writers Association announced Wednesday.

In 2021, Gabbys C Note missed winning the Ohio Triple Crown by a half-length. The 2-year-old Ohio Trotting Filly of the Year would not be denied in 2022 as she captured the Triple Crown on her way to repeating as the trotting filly of the year, this time as the Ohio 3-year-old Trotting Filly of the Year.

Dancin Lance, who has two Open wins at the meet; and Major Attribute, who denied him a third in the most recent clash at the head of the class, square off in Thursday night’s (Jan. 12) $7,000 Open Pace at Cal Expo.

Judy Ludlam of Northfield, Ohio, has been named the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Outstanding Groom for 2022.

Trainer Bill Rhoades, who earned his 1,000th career training win on Jan. 3, has had a run of success in the Open ranks at MGM Northfield Park. On Friday (Jan. 13), he will send out his most recent acquisition Waitforever N in the $18,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace.

Twelve-year-old trotter JL Cruze proved on Tuesday (Jan. 10) at Bally’s Dover that you’re never too old to have fun, scoring in 1:54 in his second consecutive start in the $18,000 Winners Over/Select Trot.

Now 10 years old, millionaire trotter Dayson returned to the racing wars following an eight-month layoff with a convincing 1:54.1 triumph in Miami Valley’s top conditioned trot on Tuesday (Jan. 10).

As a 2-year-old, Longshot made eight starts on the Ohio fair circuit, winning three races. One would think winning the Ohio Sires Stakes final as a 3-year-old would be a long shot, but that’s what the Long Tom gelding did on the way to being named the Ohio 3-year-old Trotting Colt of the Year.

For the second straight year, the top sophomore colt pacer in Ohio gave the fans a year to remember. Bythemissal became the first Ohio-bred to win the Little Brown Jug in 34 years and captured the Ohio Sires Stakes Championship on the way to being named Ohio’s 3-year-old Pacing Colt of the Year.

The Raceway at Western District has announced its top performers for 2022 and will honur the winners during an in-person event on Saturday (Feb. 25) at the Top Of The Fair restaurant.