Lachance is rising star

In balloting conducted by the directors of the U.S. Harness Writers Association, Patrick Lachance has been voted the winner of the 2004 Rising Star of the Year Award. Additionally, trainer George Teague Jr., the conditioner of the top-ranked filly Rainbow Blue, has been voted the recipient of the William Haughton Good Guy Award, and New York-based owner and breeder Jeffrey Gural has been recognized with the Lee Anne Pooler Unsung Hero Award.



Being the son of Hall of Famer Mike Lachance and the cousin of certain Hall-of-Famer Luc Ouellette, it's no surprise 29-year-old Patrick Lachance has harness talent in his genes. So it should come as no surprise that Lachance has been voted this year's Rising Star, following in the footsteps of Ouellette who was the 1992 recipient.



Lachance trained the winners of more than $2.2 million in 2004, and over the past year he has turned more of his attention to driving, banking more than $2.4 million in purses. His talent in the sulky was most recently displayed when he directed Syncro's Z Tam to a Governor's Cup victory at the Meadowlands Dec. 4. Earlier this year he guided Casimir Camotion to a victory in the $708,400 Canadian Pacing Derby.



After training for many years a modest stable in Delaware, Teague burst into the national spotlight this year with Rainbow Blue, who he owns in a partnership that includes his sister, Brenda.



Deluged by media requests everywhere he and his filly competed, Teague always obliged every request, answering questions with honesty and aplomb. Even with Rainbow Blue's season complete, Teague continues to make himself available to the press and fans, even bringing the filly to the racetracks so local fans can get an up-close look at one of the sport's brightest stars.



A longtime owner and breeder, Gural was an instrumental force in keeping the New York State slots bill on track throughout its crafting, and then through to its final passing. Already, horsemen in the Empire State are reaping the benefits of the millions of dollars that have been added to the purse accounts.



Gural is also part of a partnership that recently purchased the defunct Tioga Park racetrack in New York in the hopes of re-opening the site in the future as a harness facility.

Lachance, Teague and Gural will be recognized for their accomplishments at USHWA's annual awards banquet at Caesar's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City Feb. 13, 2005.

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