by Robert Lieberman

Norwood, MA — The USTA District 9 meeting and awards banquet was held at Plainridge Racecourse on Saturday (Nov. 13) as Gary Piontkowski and his staff hosted the dual event.

The meetings included the USTA District 9, along with the New England Amateur Harness Drivers Association, Standardbred Breeders Owners Association of Massachusetts, and Harness Horsemen’s Association of New England.

The USTA included a video hosted by John Pawlak and included details involving the industry, as the members in attendance listened very carefully to all that was reported.

The organizations held their meetings and after the USTA meeting concluded the gathering dined and watched the awards being presented to the talented horses’ owners of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes program and other individual award winners.

Benjamin Quinn, Jolene Andrews and Bill Abdelnour receive their amateur club awards.

The amateur club recognized this year’s 2010 top three finishers and they were: first place–Jolene Andrews, Antrin, N.H., second place–Bill Abdelnour, Worcester, Mass. and third place–Benjamin Quinn, Berlin, Mass.

The Sire Stakes program awards were:

2-year-old pacing filly: Cyclone Lily–Trainer: Wallace Watson–Owner: Harold E. & Nancy J. Dresser

2-year-old pacing colt/gelding: Denver Dolly–Trainer: George Ducharme–Owner: Alfred Ross

2-year-old trotting filly: Enchanted–Trainer: George Ducharme–Owner: R. Guerrini, Mill Valley Vet Clinic, and R. Campbell Jr.

2-year-old trotting colt/gelding: Major Murray–Trainer: Bjorn Noren–Owner: Peter Goldberg, Michael P. Seidman, and Murray M. Goldberg

3-year-old pacing filly: Native Bombshell–Trainer: James Smallwood–Owner: James W. Smallwood

3-year-old pacing colt/gelding: Twodimesandanickel–Trainer: Edward Blash–Owner: Edward A. Blash

3-year-old trotting filly: First Tail U See–Trainer: Ron Abbott–Owner: Stephen Mehrbach and Edward W. Reich

3-year-old trotting colt/gelding: Pioneer Valley–Trainer: Dan Daley–Owner: A. Daley, C. Crawford, R. M. Lombardo, and R. A. Brooks

The final awards were presented and selected by the track management committee.

Two horse awards were presented: first to Rosemount Captain of Upland Farm and second to Tricon Hanover (Iron Horse of the Year), owned by Jessica Fisher.

Plainridge photos

Bill Abdelnour (center) receives the Presidents Award from Steve O’Toole (left) and Gary Piontkowski (right).

The final and most prestigious award was presented by Gary Piontkowski and it is called the Presidents Award.

It is presented to a person that devotes his or her time and effort to keeping harness racing in the forefront and is willing to go that extra mile to help in any way that he or she can.

This year’s winner not only did that, but had the time to take care of the horses that he owns and trains and when his name was mentioned he truly received a tremendous round of applause from the gathering on hand.

The winner was Bill Abdelnour.