by Lin Sherman, Executive Secretary to the HHANE Board of Directors
Plainville, MA — The Plainridge Park winner’s circle, usually the scene of horses and their owners, drivers, and trainers celebrating a race win was the scene of a different type of win on the last day of racing, Friday (Dec. 2), as the Harness Horseman’s Association of New England (HHANE) presented their 2016 annual awards.
Awards were presented by HHANE President Robert McHugh and Awards Program Coordinator and Director Robert Bogigian to owners of six horses and two individuals for their accomplishments this year. The Trainer of the Year award was not determined until the end of racing last Friday.
Artistic Rhythym, owned by Lorraine O’Connor of Bedford, Mass., was recognized as their Horse of the Year. The Pacer of the Year award was given to Jackson’s Image, owned by Michael Feinberg of Lynn, Mass. Mambo Lindy, owned by the Antonacci family’s GreatHorse group, was recognized as the HHANE 2016 Trotter of the Year. Honored as the Claimer of the Year was New York Kitty, owned by Anthony Scussel of Enfield, Conn.
Trigger Finger, owned by Leonard LeBlanc of Gardner, Mass., was named HHANE’s 2016 Iron Horse of the Year. Retiring with 256 lifetime starts, Senior Horse of the Year kudos went to Getthepartystarted, owned by Alfred Broadbent of Mason, N.H.
Owner, trainer, and driver Todd O’Dea of Winchendon, Mass., was selected by the HHANE Board as the first recipient of their Horseperson of the Year award. Gregory Merton, of Monticello, N.Y., was named the HHANE Driver of the Year. In an unprecedented race to the wire, Heidi Rohr of Malta, N.Y., earned the title Trainer of the Year, nudging out competitor James Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.) 46-45.
The Harness Horseman’s Association of New England races at Plainridge Park in Plainville, Mass. Their 2017 race schedule, comprised of 125 race days, is scheduled to resume Monday (April 10), with three days of races each week in April and four weekly racing days May through Nov. 2017.