USHWA honors best

In balloting conducted among the directors of the U.S. Harness Writers Association, Ron Pierce, Trond Smedshammer and Ted Gewertz have been voted the 2004 Driver of the Year, Trainer of the Year and Owner of the Year, respectively.



Ron Pierce, 48, who leads all drivers in 2004 with $12.1 million in purse earnings, captured four Breeders Crowns, the World Trotting Derby the Little Brown Jug, the Cane Pace and the Adios. His greatest victory, however, came not on the racetrack, but in the voting booth. He was also elected by the Harness Writers into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame and will be inducted in July 2005.



It was a career year by any estimation, but 2004 actually marked the eighth straight season that Pierce's mounts won more than $5 million--including victories in at least one $500,000-plus race in five of the past seven years.

In 2004 he won six races worth more than $500,000 and 24 contests with purses of $100,000 or greater. His top mounts on the year were Horse of the Year contender and likely Pacer of the Year Rainbow Blue, and Tom Ridge, who became the fastest trotter of all time with his 1:50.2 second-heat win in the World Trotting Derby.



Other top performers on the year for Pierce were Timesareachanging, who won two legs of the Pacing Triple Crown; Breeders Crown and Woodrow Wilson winner Village Jolt; and Merrie Annabelle winner Reinvent.

Pierce currently stands 21st in the nation with 381 wins. His .302 UDRS is the second highest of his career in years with 1,000 or more starts.



It seemed that nearly every major trotting stakes event contested this past year was won by a horse trained by Trond Smedshammer. The 37-year-old Smedshammer, a native of Norway, trained (and drove) Windsong's Legacy to wins in the Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot and Kentucky Futurity, becoming the first trotter in 32 years to capture the Triple Crown. Other Smedshammer-trained horses include Housethatruthbuilt, older horse performers HP Paque, Bebop and Center Field, older mare trotter Stroke Play, Habit's Lady, Brazen, Enflammatory and Strong Yankee. Smedshammer-trained horses earned more than $5.3 million in 2004.



One of Smedshammer's primary clients is Ted Gewertz, whose first exposure to racing came as a teenager by sneaking into Roosevelt Raceway. Gewertz has owned horses for nearly 30 years and he has become known for his loyalty, discretion and class as well as his graciousness in victory or defeat.



Compiling one of the finest seasons ever for an owner, Gewertz shares ownership in the trotting Triple Crown champion Windsong's Legacy as well as Breeders Crown champion filly Housethatruthbuilt. Among Gewertz's other top horses this year are Enflammatory, Strong Yankee, Dawn Ofa New Day, Sure Sign, Driven To Win, Center Field and Dear Old Boy.

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