PACESETTER SBOANJ.COM 1 January/February 2015

The Official Newsletter of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey Vol. 40, No. 1

Representing owners, breeders, drivers, trainers & caretakers

JK SHE’SALADY WINS CLOSE HORSE OF THE YEAR VOTE

2-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER

Pinkman (144 of 157 votes)

Explosive Matter – Margie Seelster – Angus Hall

Breeder: O Narutac Equine Nursery

Owners: Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Joyce McClelland, Herb Liverman Trainer: Jimmy Takter. Driver: Yannick Gingras, Sylvain Filion

2-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER

Mission Brief (150 votes)

Muscle Hill – Southwind Serena – Varenne

Breeders: Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm,

Andrea Lea Racing Stables Inc.

Owners: Burke Racing , Our Horse Cents Sta-bles, J&T Silva Stables, Weaver Bruscemi LLC Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Yannick Gingras

3-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER

Father Patrick (94 votes)

Cantab Hall – Gala Dream – Enjoy Lavec

Breeder: Brittany Farms

Owner: Father Patrick Stable Trainer: Jimmy Takter Driver: Yannick Gingras

3-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER

Shake It Cerry (156 votes)

Donato Hanover – Solveig – Yankee Glide

Breeder: Solveig’s Breeders

Owner: Solveig’s Racing Partners

Trainer: Jimmy Takter Driver: Ron Pierce

OLDER MALE TROTTER

Sebastian K (141 votes)

Korean – Gabriella K – Probe

Breeder: Knutsson Trotting AB

Owner: Knutsson Trotting Inc.

Trainer: Ake Svanstedt Driver: Ake Svanstedt

OLDER FEMALE TROTTER

Classic Martine (91 votes)

Classic Photo – Drinking Days – Andover Hall

Breeders: Todd Schadel, Christine Schadel

Owners: Hauser Bros. Racing, Susan Oakes, Conrad Zurich, Edwin Gold

Trainer: Chris Oakes Driver: Tim Tetrick

2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER Artspeak (141 of 157 votes) Western Ideal – The Art Museum – Artsplace Breeders: Brittany Farms, Melvin Hartman. Owners: Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners Trainer: Tony Alagna Driver: Scott Zeron 2-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER JK She’salady (155 votes; one abstention) Art Major – Presidential Lady – Presidential Ball Breeders: 3 Brothers Stables Owners: 3 Brothers Stables Trainer: Nancy Johansson Drivers: Yannick Gin-gras, Tim Tetrick

3-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER McWicked ( 28 votes) McArdle – Western Sahara – Western Ideal Breeder: Andray Farm Owner: S S G Stables Trainer: Casie Coleman Drivers: David Miller, Brian Sears 3-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER Color’s A Virgin (106 votes) Always A Virgin – Full Color – Allamerican Ingot Breeder: Emerald Highlands Farm Owner: Emerald Highlands Farm Trainer: Brian Brown Driver: Trace Tetrick OLDER MALE PACER Sweet Lou (154 votes) Yankee Cruiser – Sweet Future – Falcons Future Breeder: Birnam Wood Farms Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr, Phil Collura Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Ron Pierce OLDER FEMALE PACER (tie) Anndrovette (51 votes) Riverboat King – Easy Miss – Big Towner Breeder: Golden Touch Stable Owners: Bamond Racing, Joseph Davino Trainer: P.J. Fraley Driver: Tim Tetrick Rocklamation (51 votes) Rocknroll Hanover – Art Sale – Artsplace Breeder: Perretti Farms Owners: Our Horse Cents Stables, Stable 45, J&T Silva Stables

Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Yannick Gingras

JK She’salady, undefeated in 12 races for breeder -owner 3 Brothers Stables and trainer Nancy Johansson, in 2014 became the first two-year-old pacing filly to be

named Horse of the Year.

The filly won by five votes, 57-52, over Pacer of the Year Sweet Lou in the tightest Horse of the Year finish since seven-year-old gelded trotter Savoir beat three-year-

old filly pacer Silk Stockings, 52-49, in 1975.

Five-year-old Sweet Lou won Pacer of the Year honors over JK She’salady by one vote, 74-73. It is the first time a Pacer of the Year or Trotter of the Year – catego-

ries introduced in 1970 – failed to receive Horse of the Year.

A total of 157 ballots were returned. The anomaly occurred because a greater number of voters that selected JK She’salady for Pacer of the Year also voted her

as Horse of the Year. Sixteen people that voted JK She’salady as the best pacer gave their Horse of the Year

vote to their Trotter of the Year pick, compared to 22 for Sweet Lou.

Three-year-old filly Shake It Cerry was named Trotter of the Year, finishing 22 votes ahead of runner-up Sebas-tian K, 59-37. Shake It Cerry, owned by Solveig’s Racing Partners and trained by Jimmy Takter, received 14

votes for Horse of the Year. A total of nine horses received at least one vote for Horse of the Year.

“I don’t know if it’s completely sunk in,” said Johansson. “The hard work paid off. She’s as perfect as they come

now, and I guess finishing off with Horse of the Year exemplifies how perfect she is.”

JK She’salady

PACESETTER SBOANJ.COM 2 January/February 2015

OFFICERS Thomas F. Luchento

President

Ed Razzetti First Vice President

Alfred Ochsner Jr. Second Vice President

Mark Ford Third Vice President

Dennis Lane Treasurer

Anthony Romano Secretary

Leo McNamara Executive Administrator

DIRECTORS Robert Boni

Stephen P. Dey III VMD

Michael J. Gulotta

Kelvin Harrison

Jacqueline Ingrassia

Richard Meirs VMD

Mark Mullen

Anthony Perretti

Paul Wojtowicz

RACETRACK REP

Linda Goss

Meadowlands 201-842-5075

Freehold 732-252-2323

Ext 4365

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

AJ Sabath

LEGAL COUNSEL

Dennis Dowd

PACESETTER EDITOR

Carol Hodes

carolsboanj@gmail.com

IMPORTANT

PHONE NUMBERS

New Jersey Sire Stakes 609-292-8830

Harness Horsemen International 609-747-1000

License/Fingerprint NJ Racing Commission

Trenton—609-292-0613 Freehold — 732-462-3800

Meadowlands—201-460-4137

NJ Trailer Ban—NJTP 800-336-5875

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 Phone: 732-462-2357 Fax: 732-409-0741

Email: info@sboanj.com Website: www.sboanj.com

It is my opinion that the State of New Jersey now

wants a casino in North Jersey as much as we do.

Toward that end, we are working with the legisla-ture and making progress to prepare a referendum question for next November’s ballot, which will de-termine if the public supports gaming in North Jer-

sey, including the Meadowlands.

Gaming in North Jersey would represent an income source for the state budget, and, with a healthy infusion of cash for the racing industry, the preser-vation and addition of many jobs, as well as ancil-lary businesses, and the preservation of Green

Acres/open spaces.

When the New Jersey Racing Commission ap-proved dates for 2015, there were four nights in November that were under discussion to lift the total Meadowlands schedule from 81 to 85. The track has now agreed to this and, subject to NJRC approval, the fall dates will include two more

weekends in November.

We continue to work with the tracks to reward our New Jersey-sired horses. Towards that end, the Meadowlands will offer the ”Jersey -bred Preferred” program, which includes preference at time of en-try plus a 60 percent bump in the purse for New Jersey-sired horses competing in maiden through

non-winners of four races.

Additionally, the Meadowlands race office will

write two New Jersey-sired and/or owned races each night. We have never endorsed exclusionary practices, but we do think that New Jersey breed-

ing and ownership should be supported.

The Fall Final Four stakes for two-year-olds – the Governor’s Cup, Three Diamonds, Valley Victory and Goldsmith Maid – will return to the Meadow-lands in 2015. The Meadowlands will host these stakes, which were contested at Woodbine in 2014, in the years the track is not the site of the

Breeders Crowns.

As many of you are aware, it took a united effort to relocate the Monica Thors horses, which were re-ceiving improper care. Toward that end, we were pleased to use our contacts to nudge the appropri-ate individuals and departments to take action on a matter that had languished for more than a year. Many individuals and groups are to be applauded for their persistence and big hearts. We were glad

we could help.

If you have noticed a big void in the SBOANJ offices lately, it is because Executive Administrator Leo McNamara is recovering from surgery. We hope to have Leo back soon and hope you all join with us

in wishing him a speedy recovery.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year! We encourage you to support both the Meadowlands and Freehold meets, which open on January 2,

2015.

PACESETTER SBOANJ.COM 3 January/February 2015

TRIXTON NAMED NJ STANDARDBRED & NJSS HORSE OF THE YEAR Hambletonian winner Trixton will receive both the 2014 Secretary of Agriculture’s Trophy as New Jersey Standardbred of the Year as selected by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Sire

Stakes Premier Division Horse of the Year Award.

Trixton and Deo Volente Farms, the 2014 New Jersey Breeder of the Year and the trot-ter’s new home, will be among the honorees at the 58th Annual New Jersey Breeders Awards Luncheon at 1 p.m. on January 25, 2015 at Charley’s Other Brother in Eastamp-

ton Township, NJ.

Trixton will begin his career as a stallion in 2015, standing at Deo Volente Farms in

Franklin Township, NJ for a fee of $12,000.

Trixton was one of a trio of stellar three-year-old trotting colts in the stable of Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter in 2014, heading into the prestigious Hambletonian on August 2 at

the Meadowlands. While his stablemates, Father Patrick and Nuncio, seemed like the stronger contenders, it was Trixton who prevailed, with Takter picking up his first Hambletonian as a driver and third as a trainer [Malabar Man in 1997 and Muscle Massive in 2010]. Nuncio was second and Father Patrick made an un-

characteristic break in stride, finishing out of contention.

Trixton’s sire, Muscle Hill, is a son of Muscles Yankee; all three generations are Hambletonian winners and

stallions who have stood in New Jersey.

Trixton’s 2014 victories also included the Good Times, Simpson, Reynolds and Simcoe.

Trixton established the New Jersey Sire Stakes record of 1:52.1 in winning the New Jersey Sire Stakes Pre-mier Division Championship Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings in May at the Meadowlands. He was undefeated in New Jersey Sire Stakes competition, also winning a preliminary leg of the Premier

Division.

The New Jersey Sire Stakes Board of Trustees selects its award winner based solely on performances in races for New Jersey-sired horses, including New Jersey Sire Stakes races and other major restricted stakes

for New Jersey-sired horses.

A $360,000 Lexington Selected Sale purchase, the trotter raced for the partnership of Bengt Agerup’s Brix-ton Medical AB of Orsundsbro, Sweden and Christina Takter of East Windsor, NJ. He was bred by Steve H.

Stewart of Paris, KY; Martti Ala-Seppala of Hollola, Finland and John Bootsman of Ekero, Sweden.

In two seasons of racing, Trixton earned $947,057, taking a mark of 1:50.3 and posting 12 wins, two sec-

onds and two thirds in 19 career starts.

Strut My Stuff was named the New Jersey

Sire Stakes Green Acres Horse of the Year.

Strut My Stuff was undefeated in three Green Acres starts at Freehold, including the $25,000 championship final for two-year-old pacing fillies. She established a Green Acres record for her division of 1:55.3 on October

10, 2014 with Jack Baggitt Jr. driving..

The daughter of Western Ideal also won the $59,000 filly division of the Lou Babic. Trained by Ross Croghan for co-owners Let It Ride Stables of Boca Raton, FL and RBH Ven-tures of New York, Strut My Stuff finished the

year with earnings of $52,620.

For tickets to the Breeders Awards luncheon, which are $35 each, contact Kim Tkacs at 609-292-8830.

Photos courtesy of Lisa Photo & World Wide Racing Photos

Strut My Stuff

Trixton

PACESETTER SBOANJ.COM 4 January/February 2015

MEADOWLANDS & FREEHOLD TO SHARE ANNOUNCER WARKENTIN

SERVICES SET FOR FORMER SBOANJ DIRECTOR BILL BUTLER

The Meadowlands and Freehold will be sharing the services of announcer Ken Warkentin in 2015.

Effective January 2, 2015, Ken Warkentin will become the full-time announcer at Freehold Raceway.

Warkentin will remain an integral part of the Meadowlands broadcast team as well as sharing duties with

longtime Meadowlands announcer and host Sam McKee.

“We’re excited to begin our 2015 racing season with an announcer of Ken’s caliber,” said Freehold Raceway General Manger Howard Bruno. “We think our patrons will enjoy having Ken call our races on a daily basis beginning in January. We’re fortunate to be able to work out this arrange-

ment with the Meadowlands.”

Vernon Downs patrons will hear a combination of race callers, including James Witherite, Ken Warkentin and Director of Racing Scott Warren dur-ing the 2015 season. Witherite will also be back as the regular voice of

Tioga Downs.

“We’re blessed to have several talented announcers on staff at the three facilities operated by Jeff Gural,” said Meadowlands CEO -GM Jason M. Set-tlemoir. “Thanks to the work-share agreements now in place, we can maxi-mize opportunities and further utilize our talented line-up to help provide guests with top quality announcers at multiple facilities. We appreciate Freehold Raceway working with us and see it as a win-win for both organi-zations. At anytime during the upcoming year, you could hear Sam McKee, Ken Warkentin, Scott Warren, James Witherite, Darin Zoccali, or myself

calling the races at any of our three properties."

Both Freehold and Meadowlands begin their 2015 seasons on Friday, January 2. Vernon Downs is sched-

uled to open for live racing on April 10.

Ken Warkentin

Wilmer T. “Bill” Butler, a longtime horseman and former Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey director, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at his home on the family farm in the

Franklin Township community of Asbury, NJ. Butler was 88.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Devlin Fu-neral Home, 695 Corliss Avenue, Phillipsburg, NJ. Visitation will be Friday, January 2, 2015 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to time of services. Burial will

be in Bloomsbury Cemetery in Greenwich Township.

“He had been in failing health of late but still his ebullient self,” said his daughter

Bonnie Butler, mayor of Franklin Township.

Bill Butler served in the Navy during World War II, competed on the rodeo circuit and managed his father’s auto agency on Staten Island before he entered the standard-bred industry through another Staten Island native, Hall of Famer Anthony

Abbatiello.

Butler began driving and training horses in 1962. Among the top horses cam-

paigned by Butler were Straight A by Dale Frost and Butler’s Burner by Oil Burner.

“Dad served on the SBOA Board for about eight years, beginning in the late 1960's and then the late 1970's into the 1990's - about 25 years total,” Dr. Butler said. “He originally got involved to insure that the horsemen had a strong voice and was one of the key people involved in the implementation of the health

insurance and pension program.”

He is survived by two sons Kenneth Scarr and Robert Scarr; daughter Dr. Bonnie Butler; grandchildren, Stream and his wife, Jackie and Sonia; and a great-granddaughter, Mia. His beloved wife of more than 50

years, the former Patricia Duff, passed away June 20, 2005.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation [adoptahorse.org] or

the Franklin Township Fire Company, PO Box 43, Broadway, NJ 08808.

Bill Butler

PACESETTER SBOANJ.COM 5 January/February 2015

ABBATIELLO & SURICK TAKE 2014 MEET TITLES AT FREEHOLD

Eric Abbatiello captured his fifth driving title and Nick Surick claimed his first training title when the 2014 racing season concluded at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, December 13,

2014.

Abbatiello completed the 2014 meet with 190 wins, 185 sec-onds and 134 thirds from 995 starts and earnings of

$719,339.

“It’s been a pleasure to compete at Freehold Raceway and win the driving title the last five years,” Abbatiello said. “A special thanks to all the trainers, owners and grooms who

have given me a chance to compete with their horses.”

Abbatiello, 46, from East Windsor, NJ, has 1,647 career victo-

ries and nearly $11 million in earnings.

The runners-up in the driving competition at Freehold were James Marshall III with 148 wins,

Stephen Smith with 127 and Vincent Ginsburg with 117.

Surick collected 54 training wins during the meet toward his career total of 466. His stable also topped the earnings list with

$199,465.

“Freehold Raceway is synonymous with harness racing, and Freehold is my hometown,” said Surick, 26. “There is no higher honor than one being bestowed on you in your hometown. Win-ning the training title at Freehold Raceway was once a dream;

now it’s a reality.”

Vincent Fusco with 41 wins, Karen Garland with 33 wins and Julius Czermann Jr. with 31 wins were his closest challengers in

the trainers’ race.

The end of the meet also marked the end of the racing career of Newsam, a 14-year-old gelding, who was honored in the win-ner’s circle after he won the second race. He retires with 63

victories, 49 second and 49 thirds from 313 starts, and earnings of $393,732.

He has spent most of his racing career for owner Robin Hess of Burlington, NJ and trainer Ken Hess. His final campaign also produced his most wins in

a year – 10.

Freehold’s live racing sea-son resumes on January 2, 2015 with a 110-date meet. The first qualifiers will be held on Friday, January 2 before switching to Thursday mornings at

9:30 a.m.

Freehold General Manager Howard Bruno and Director of Racing Karen Fagliarone present end of meet awards to Eric Abbatiello [top], Nick Surick [center] and the Newsam crew on closing

day. [Photos by Helene Gregory for World Wide Racing Photos]

Nick Surick

Eric Abbatiello

PACESETTER SBOANJ.COM 6 January/February 2015

NJ BREEDER OF THE YEAR HONORS TO DEO VOLENTE FARMS

The Breeders Committee of the Standardbred Breed-

ers & Owners Association of New Jersey has selected

Michael Gulotta’s Deo Volente Farms as the 2014

New Jersey Standardbred Breeder of the Year.

Deo Volente will be

among the honorees

at the 58th Annual

New Jersey Breeders

Awards Luncheon at 1

p.m. on January 25,

2015 at Charley’s

Other Brother in

Eastampton Township,

NJ.

Deo Volente Farms

features state-of-the-

art accommodations

for stallions, mares

and foals. Currently, it is the home to 37 mares,

25 foals and two stallions. The 120 acres of black-

fenced paddocks and stabling are located in Frank-

lin Township, NJ.

It was the success of a horse named Lis Mara, the

2006 Older Pacer of the Year and earner of more

than $2 million, which led to the purchase of the

land on Quakertown Road, construction of the farm

and the concept of horses supporting a charity

which builds homes in Haiti.

The newest addition to Deo Volente is 2014 Ham-

bletonian winner Trixton, who will make his debut

as a trotting stallion based in New Jersey in 2015.

He will share the four-horse stallion barn at Deo

Volente with pacer If I Can Dream.

In two seasons of racing, Trixton earned $947,057,

taking his mark of 1:50.3 in the Hambletonian.

Trixton is by a Hambletonian winner – Muscle Hill,

whose sire, Muscles Yankee also won harness rac-

ing’s richest and most prestigious trotting event for

three-year-olds.

Trixton will stand for a fee of $12,000 in 2015.

Deo Volente, which is Latin for “God Willing,” is a

showcase facility which opened in 2008, featuring

a striking stone entrance and bronze statuary of a

romping mare and foal.

The cream of the broodmare band includes BJs

Canouan, Electric Fool, See and Be Seen and Yursa

Hanover.

Gulotta was co-breeder of 2013 Three-Year-Old

Pacing Filly of the Year and New Jersey Standard-

bred of the Year I Luv The Nitelife, who retired with

earnings of nearly $2 million. She is out of another

Deo Volente broodmare of note, Lisjune.

Previous New Jersey Breeder of the Year winners

include three-time winner White Birch Farm, two-

time winner Perretti Farms, Valley High Stables,

Southwind Farms, Kentuckiana Farms, Fair Winds

Farm, Walnridge Farm and Heritage Hill Farms.

2015 PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR

SBOANJ SPONSORED STAKES

Mike Gulotta

Deo Volente Farms

PACESETTER SBOANJ.COM 7 January/February 2015

A total of 195 standardbred racing dates for 2015 will be

contested in New Jersey, with 110 dates at Freehold and

85 dates at the Meadowlands.

Four of the Meadowlands dates were not in the original

allocation and will be addressed at the New Jersey Racing

Commission meeting on January 14, 2015.

The Meadowlands schedule will begin on January 2 and

run through August 8 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

through February 28 and Fridays and Saturdays from

March 6 through August 8.

The fall meet (subject to approval) will take place on No-

vember 13-14, November 20-21, November 27-28, De-

cember 4-5, December 11-12, December 18-19 and De-

cember 26.

Post time at the Meadowlands will be 7:15 p.m. except

for 12 noon on Hambletonian Day, August 8 and 5:30

p.m. on May 2 and July 11.

Freehold’s two meets run from January 2 through May 16

and September 4 through December 12.

Racing days at Freehold will be Mondays, Thursdays, Fri-

days and Saturdays in January and February [dark on

Monday, February 23]; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

from March 5 to May 16 and also September 4 through

December 12 [Dark on Thursday, November 26] with live

racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

Post time at Freehold is 12:30 p.m.

Thoroughbred racing dates were awarded to Atlantic City

Racecourse and Monmouth Park.

Atlantic City’s six dates of racing are April 23, 24, 25, 26,

28 and 29. Post time is 3 p.m.

Monmouth Park’s 49 -day season will run from May 9

through September 7, post time of 12:50 p.m. The Mon-

mouth schedule will be Saturdays and Sundays for May 9

through June 28 [plus Monday, May 25 and Friday, June

26] and then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from July 3

through September 6 [plus Labor Day, September 7].

The issue of racing Monmouth Park thoroughbred dates

on the Meadowlands turf course was tabled until the Janu-

ary meeting of the NJRC.

HARNESS DATES FOR 2015 ANNOUNCED

HONORS ANNOUNCED FOR TAKTER, JOHANSSON & GINGRAS For the fourth time in his Hall of Fame career, Jimmy Takter is the Dan Patch Trainer of the Year as voted upon by the members of the United

States Harness Writers Association (USHWA).

Yannick Gingras, who led all drivers in purses this season with more

than $17 million, was named Driver of the Year.

Nancy Takter Johansson, trainer of Horse of the Year JK She’salady, was

voted USHWA’s Rising Star Award.

All three are based in New Jersey; Takter lives in East Windsor while Gin-

gras and Johansson reside in Allentown.

Takter received 84 of 140 votes for Trainer of the Year, finishing ahead of Ron Burke, who got 56 votes. Gingras was the only driver nominated

for Driver of the Year by USHWA’s chapters.

Takter’s stable earned a career -best $13.3 million, for an average of more than $18,300 per start thanks, in part, to victories by Trixton in

the Hambletonian and Lifetime Pursuit in the Hambletonian Oaks. Takter joined Jan Johnson (1988) as

only the second trainer to win both races in the same year.

The Takter-trained Nuncio swept the remaining two legs of the trotting Triple

Crown, the Kentucky Futurity and Yonkers Trot.

Takter, 54, also picked up three Breeders Crown trophies and Dan Patch divi-sional awards with two-year-old male trotter Pinkman, three-year-old male trotter Father Patrick, and three-year-old female trotter Shake It Cerry, who

was also honored as Trotter of the Year.

Takter dominated the 2014 three-year-old trotting ranks as he had the top three money-earning colts (Father Patrick, $1.69 million, Nuncio, $1.45 mil-lion and Trixton, $893,370) and the top two money-earning fillies (Shake It

Cerry, $1.23 million and Lifetime Pursuit, $795,216).

Takter’s previous Trainer of the Year honors came in 2010, 2000 and 1996.

Johansson, the 33-year-old mother of two, wife of Marcus since 2003 and daughter of Jimmy and Christina Takter, guided the career of JK She’salady to a perfect season of 12 wins in 12 starts for earnings of $883,330. JK She’salady became the first two -

year-old pacing filly to win the title of Horse of the Year.

Overall, the Johansson Stable banked $1.6 million with 32 wins, 20 seconds

and 20 thirds from 162 starts.

The 35-year-old Gingras established career highs in purses, with nearly $17.3

million, and wins, with 555.

His earnings led all drivers in North America and were more than $5 million ahead of second place. Never in history has a driver finished at least $5 million in front of his nearest competitor. In addition, Gingras’ purses were fourth high-

est in history for a driver.

Gingras won four Breeders Crown titles, victories that were among 15 triumphs in stakes worth more than $300,000 this year. Those 15 lucrative wins came with nine different horses and included in the Canadian Trotting Classic, Ham-

bletonian Oaks, Little Brown Jug and Cane Pace.

A native of Quebec, Gingras was USHWA’s 2003 Rising Star Award winner.

The Dan Patch Awards banquet will be held Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the Doubletree Hilton Orlando at Sea World. For more information on the banquet,

hotel reservations and the ad journal, visit www.ushwa.org.

Yannick Gingras

Nancy Johansson & Jimmy Takter

Johansson with “Lady”