IaHHH holds annual meeting and awards banquet

On Saturday, November 19, Iowa Harness Horse Association held their annual meeting and awards banquet in Marshalltown, Ia.

Starting off the meeting, USTA District 4-A director, Gabe Wand, reviewed all proposed rule changes to the members.  After discussion, the membership gave Wand direction on how to vote in the upcoming USTA meeting.  The association general meeting was held, with reports given by the executive committee members.

Roger Huston, The Voice, headlined the awards banquet.  Huston recounted his time spent as an announcer, calling races for 63 years.  A poignant moment was shared as he told the tale of a young boy at the track.  The youngster was continuously underfoot and curious as to what Huston was doing, thus beginning the career of Sam McKee.  Huston reminded the attendees to always make time for anyone who is interested in harness racing.

Chicken N Dice took top honors, being named 2022 Horse of the Year.  Scoring a perfect season, thirteen starts with thirteen wins, Chicken N Dice earned $37,258 for owners Jeff Carey and Jesse DeLong.

Adam Hauser was crowned Driver of the Year with the most wins in Iowa.  From 248 starts, Hauser picked up 70 wins, 53 seconds and 40 third place finishes.

Driver of the Year with the highest UDRS went to Will Roland.  In 170 starts, Roland captured 61 wins, 37 seconds and 18 thirds.  Chad Svendson and Cory Larson reached driver milestones, Svendsen with 300 driving wins and Larson 100 driving wins.

Paul Hochstedler and Heidi Saner were celebrated for obtaining their first driving wins this past season.  Joel McDanel reached a trainer milestone with 600 training wins and Kayveonna Johnson was the recipient of the Katherine Carey Caretaker of the Year award.

Winner of the Russell Doggett Fastest Aged Pacer of the Year was Its A Marcs World, pacing in 1:52.4 for owners Royal Roland and Carol Polkowske.  Aged Pacer of the Year honors went to Red N Hotallover, with lifetime stats of 18 wins, 19 seconds and 24 thirds in 100 starts for owner Edmund Krapp.

The Trou Inspiration Fastest Trotter of the Year was I’m Another Wilson, trotting in 1:59.2 for owners Carol Paris and Tyson Paris.  I’m Another Wilson also was named Aged Trotter of the Year, with stats of 24 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds in 42 lifetime starts.

The following Iowa-Registered winners were announced:

2 Year Old Pacing Filly: 

Roland N Rita, owner Roger Roland

2 Year Old Pacing Colt:

Chicken N Dice, owners Jeff Carey and Jesse DeLong

2 Year Old Trotting Filly:  

She Pirate, owner Rian Sherman

2 Year Old Trotting Colt:  

Lucky Twenty Two, owners Rick Huffman, Keith Wilson and Kayveonna Johnson

3 Year Old Pacing Filly:

Huntress, owner John Hendricks

3 Year Old Pacing Colt: 

Hangman McGee, owner Terry Lattin

3 Year Old Trotting Filly:  

Merly, owner Fred Wagner

3 Year Old Trotting Colt:

No Mo Fashion, owners Set The Pace Racing and Joel McDanel

The following Iowa Sired winners were announced:

2 Year Old Iowa Sired Pacing Filly:  

Pink Moonshine, owner Bernard         So Over This, owners Mark and Brenda Mintun

Juneparker, owners Jesse LeLong and Jason Wilson

2 Year Old Iowa Sired Pacing Colt: 

Chicken N Dice, owners Jeff Carey and Jesse DeLong

2 Year Old Iowa Sired Trotting Filly:

She Pirate, owner Rian Sherman

2 Year Old Iowa Sired Trotting Colt:  

Lucky Twenty Two, owners Rick Huffman, Keith Wilson and  Kayveonna Johnson

3 Year Old Iowa Sired Pacing Filly:  

Spunktown, owners Mark Mintun, Joseph and Keevyn Kilb

Yvette Yankee, owners Connie Roland and Cory Larson

3 Year Old Iowa Sired Pacing Colt:

CR Dudley, owners Keith and Jeff Carey

3 Year Old Iowa Sired Trotting Filly:  

Secretive Kate, owners John Saner and Jason Telfer

3 Year Old Iowa Sired Trotting Colt:  

Prince of the Field, owners Carol Paris, Tyson Paris and Norman NIsley

Wilson Hall, owners Carol Paris, Tyson Paris and Norman Nisley

The evening’s entertainment was provided by hypnotist Cheryl Shagen.  With volunteers from the crowd, Shagen provided laughs and good fun for all.

by Tara Spach, for the IaHHA