from the PFHHA, MSOA and PHHA
Bedford, PA — The best humans and horses on the Pennsylvania fair circuit this past year were honored Saturday (Jan. 13) at a banquet held at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pa.
Ed Kobesky photo
The family and friends of each 2017 inductee in the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Hall of Fame received a framed image celebrating the accomplishment.
Blankets in the stable colors were received by the connections of the horses who performed best throughout the season and are recognized below:
TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLT – GRAPPLE HANOVER (265 points), trained by Wayne Long for owners William Kreutzer and Denton Barrett.
TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLY – CRITICAL HANOVER (303 points), trained by Todd Schadel for owners Christine and Cody Schadel.
TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING COLT – VENIER HANOVER (410 points, most of any 2YO), trained by Dave Brickell, who shares ownership with Mitchell York.
TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY – PRETTY PROUD (365 points), trained by Rich Gillock, who shares ownership with Barbara and James Richardson.
THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLT – PHOTO BOMBER (336 points), trained by Linda Schadel, who shares ownership with Tony Schadel.
THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLY – ALL SET LETS GO (453 points, most of any horse at the fairs in 2017), trained by John McMullen Jr. for his family’s McMullen Stable LLC.
THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING COLT – CRUISERWILLWIN (352 points), trained by Todd Schadel, who shares ownership with Christine Schadel.
THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY — BELLA RAGAZA (443 points, most of any pacer), trained by Linda Schadel, who shares ownership with Roxanna Buffington.
The team behind the winner of the Fair Championship races at The Meadows in early Oct. was awarded with a personalized jacket commemorating their achievement; those horses were:
TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLT – HOCKEY HANOVER, Stallion Series champion and Fair champion at 2, trained by John McMullen for his McMullen Stable LLC.
TWO-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLY – NICOLE HANOVER, trained by Tom Loughry for Brocious Racing Stable Inc.
TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING COLT – CIRRUS DE VIE, trained by Roger Hammer, also co-owner with Vicki Fair.
TWO-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY – PRETTY PROUD, also top divisional pointwinner, trained by Rich Gillock, who shares ownership with Barbara and James Richardson.
THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING COLT – ROCKEFELLER LINDY, trained by William Daugherty Jr. for owner Susan Daugherty.
THREE-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLY – ALL SET LETS GO, Fair Champion at both 2 and 3, also top divisional pointwinner, trained by John McMullen for his family’s McMullen Stable LLC.
THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING COLT – MIDWAY ISLAND, fastest-ever championship winner at 1:52.2, trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver-Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc., and David Wills.
THREE-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLY – BELLA RAGAZA, also top divisional pointwinner, trained by Linda Schadel, who shares ownership with Roxanna Buffington.
Personalized jackets were also awarded to the PA Fairs’ “Top Guns”: Chris Shaw, the leading driver in 2017, and Roger Hammer, the leading trainer.
The various horsemen’s associations involved in conducting the banquet were gracious enough to let the Keystone chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association honor the people they voted into the second group elected to the Pennsylvania Harness Hall of Fame: Walter “Boots” Dunn, Roger Hammer, Harry Harvey, Jim Simpson, and “veteran” Judge Joe McGraw.
Many in the extended families of these outstanding horsemen continue to have connections with the fair circuit, and they proudly came before the crowd for the tribute to the Pennsylvania champions honored.
In addition the 120 people in attendance were eligible for $12,000 in harness equipment and other prizes.