Florida USHWA announces honorees

Murray Janoff, president of the Florida Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association, has announced the award winners for the 2008 season that will be honored at the association’s annual Hall Of Fame Awards Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Diamante’s Banquet Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Elected to the chapter’s Hall of Fame, which recognizes special individuals who have been outstanding leaders within the industry for more than ten years and who have contributed to the betterment of the Standardbred Industry, are Dr. Mark Phillips and the top stallion, Raging Glory.

Dr. Phillips, of Coconut Creek, is one of the leading equine veterinarians in South Florida. He, along with his wife, Donna, runs the Millpond Farm which features Dr. Phillips Equine Clinic and Donna’s Equestrian Center. They also have the Hippo Therapy Center that helps rehabilitate children with cerebral palsy, autism, Downs Syndrome, and other disorders to help them become more independent through grooming and riding of horses. Dr. Phillips has been an equine veterinarian at the Isle Pompano Park for more than 20 years, helping and working with trainers in caring for their horses. He also has helped trained numerous people in the equine profession. In addition, he served for 15 years as the Veterinarian Coordinator for Broward County for the Large Animal Disaster Committee. Phillips also helped draft the county's Large Animal Disaster Plan. These safeguards were put into place in the 1990s after Hurricane Andrew resulted in the loss of many horses in Dade County.

Raging Glory may not have been the fastest or richest pacer during his career from 1987 to 1989. He started just twenty times with four wins and earnings of $54,963, but he sure made up for it in the stallion barn. Owned for most of his breeding career by Dana Irving and since 2003 by Samuel McMichael, Raging Glory foals made the races. From 307 registered foals, 235 started on the track and from those 235 foals, 145 had a record of 2:00 or less and 41 additional foals had a sub-1:55 record. His babies combined to earn $12,653,000. Leading the way of Florida’s top foals, his offspring included world champion Red Bow Tie, 1:48.2 with earnings of $2,673,000; Swinging Glory, 1:49.4 ($817,000) and Florida Boy, 1:49.3 ($528,000).

The Allen J. Finkelson Award for great contributions to the promotion of the Standardbred industry goes to Gary Seibel of Los Angeles, Cal., the former assistant general manager and long time race announcer at Pompano Park, who has had an illustrious career as a national television broadcaster for both CBS and NBC, covering horse racing and professional bowling. Gary is now one of the lead broadcasters for TVG since 1999. Allen J. Finkelson actually gave him his first job in the sport.

Winner of the Delvin G. Miller Award, which recognizes someone whose life in harness racing has maintained the dedication and integrity furthering the growth of the sport, goes to Jean Emerson of Pompano Beach, whose career in harness racing spans more than 50 years as an owner, breeder and publicist in the Standardbred industry.

The Frances Dodge Van Lennep Award, which recognizes an outstanding female who has made great contributions to the sport, goes to Rosie Huff, who works for the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, is an owner and breeder, and has donated countless hours to charity work and helping promote the Standardbred industry.

Winner of the R.D. Ricketts Award, which goes to an owner or owners whose contributions to Florida racing has been outstanding, is Frank and Inge Smith of Deerfield Beach, who are the owners and breeders of the top Florida-bred filly trotter, Pearl Of Capri. The Smiths, relative newcomers to the sport, started in the business just four years ago and now have 25 horses, mostly Florida-sired and have raised and raced such standouts as Railee Possible and D’Artagnan.

Winner of the Dana Irving Award for breeding an outstanding juvenile performer in 2008 are Chris and Sophia Valkanoff of Pompano Beach, who were the breeders and co-owners of the undefeated two-year-old trotter, Whosgoinwhostayin, who won all 12 of his starts, took a record of 1:59.4f  and shared in the $100,000 FSBOA bonus award this year. The Valkanoff’s have been involved on the sport for more than 20 years.

The Dan Gawlas Good Guy Award recognizes an individual who has been outstanding at his or her job, outgoing towards promoting the sport and courteous to everyone they are associated with. This year’s honors goes to Mary Davis of Margate. Mrs. Davis has been employed by the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park for 16 years, mainly as the Matri’d of the Top of the Park Restaurant and now as an F & B Supervisor. She has always been outgoing in providing excellent service to customers, always with a positive smile and a hello, helping to promote the sport and helping individuals whenever in need.

The William Popfinger Award for developing an outstanding juvenile pacer goes to Tom Audley of Bell, who this year was the trainer, the co-owner and breeder of the top two-year-old Florida-bred pacer, Goldstar Rosie. Sired by Rock On, Goldstar Rosie won seven of eight starts with a record of 1:54.4 and shared in the $100,000 FSBOA bonus award this year.

The Stanley Dancer Award, which recognizes achievements of a trainer who has been continuously outstanding in the development of trotters, goes to Veral Bowman of  Deerfield Beach, who had an outstanding year with Pearl Of Capri, a two-year-old filly, who won 10 of 12 starts with a record of 2:01.4f and shared in the $100,000 FSBOA bonus award this year.

The annual Caretaker of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding individual who over his or her career has dedicated untiring time and effort towards caring for the horses in the stables they worked for. This year’s honoree is Melanie Laurent, who is a groom for the Veral Bowman Stable.

The Florida USHWA Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Gloria Lewis of Ft. Lauderdale, a long time Standardbred owner, professional handicapper and patron at the Isle Pompano Park, who has sponsored race events for many years and has been devoted to the sport for an extended period of time. Her son is noted owner/trainer Gary Lewis.

In addition to the Florida Chapter’s awards, presentations will also be made by the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and the Florida Amateur Driving Club.

Tickets are $60 per person for the full course dinner that also includes a one-hour open bar with hors d'ourvres. Tables of ten will be available. For more information to purchase tickets or place a congratulatory ad in the program book, please contact Steven Wolf at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park Racing Operations office at 954-633-6507, Rosie Huff at the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association office at 954-972-5400 or at the qualifying races at the Isle Pompano Park. You can also order tickets or ads via email by writing steve.wolf@islecorp.com.

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