Bethany Graffam named Caretaker of the Year

Akron, NY — Bethany Graffam, who works tirelessly in the Graffam family harness racing stable located in Falmouth, Maine, has been named the 2022 Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year.

The annual award is sponsored by Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm in conjunction with the United States Harness Writers Association and will be presented at the Dan Patch Awards sponsored by Caesars Entertainment on Sunday February 19, 2023.

“I am beyond grateful to have been chosen for this award. Every caretaker who works day in and day out deserves to be recognized. It’s hard work and long days but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” commented Graffam after being told of her recognition.

The 32-year-old Graffam has been involved in her father’s racing stable at Norton Farm since she could handle a shovel and brush a horse. She currently oversees everything that needs to be done at the farm for their over 20 racehorses, multiple broodmares, foals, yearlings and retired racehorses that reside at the farm. She is an intricate and critical part of Team Graffam with her father and trainer Michael Graffam, brother and driver Nicholas Graffam and the rest of their staff that make their racing stable so successful.

All year long, there are no days off for Graffam, who after morning workouts is either doing hay or is out on the road.  You see she also transports their horses — driving the rig from track to track — paddocks and warms them up before they race at Plainridge Park, First Tracks Cumberland and Maine fairs all over the state. And if the Graffam stable is not in action on a particular day, other trainers seek her out to paddock their horses, knowing what a meticulous and dedicated caretaker she is and how passionately she cares for all horses like they are her own.

Graffam is also on the Board of Directors and secretary for the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and is a full-time mom, raising her 6-year-old son, Evan.

And just when you might think there are no hours left in her day, Graffam also donates her time as a driving force behind “Pacing For The Cure”, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help those living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Jeff Gesek, co-founder of Pacing For The Cure, said of Graffam, ”A few years ago, my wife Janine and I attended the Dan Patch Awards where we met Bethany. Little did we know that this would have a major impact on creating extensive awareness and donations for Pacing For The Cure in the New England Harness Racing Community and beyond. Bethany implemented the Pacing For The Cure women’s caretaker brand ambassadors which single-handedly changed the game for our merchandise donations. She was instrumental in creating a social media group that grew to over one hundred members, drawing in other ladies who showed interest in becoming ambassadors in their region of the country.”

“Bethany has raised thousands of dollars while working tirelessly seven days a week, helping with our mission. She not only exemplifies compassion for her horses every day, but also for individuals living with MS and other autoimmune and muscular diseases that enjoy this great sport and she has certainly inspired many others to help as well through her actions.”

The Caretaker of the Year was initially titled Groom of the Year Award when first presented in 1982, an honor that was instituted as a result of a suggestion made by Delvin Miller at the annual Harness Tracks of America meeting. Previously sponsored annually by HTA and Hanover Shoe Farms, the tradition was continued in 2015 by MGM Northfield Park and USHWA, with Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm taking over the sponsorship in 2019.

“Leah and I are honored to continue the tradition of recognizing caretakers and the hard work they do on a daily basis,” said Zubrod. “And it is especially gratifying to honor one most-deserving person, Bethany Graffam as the Caretaker of the Year.”

A seven-member USHWA panel of former caretakers selected Graffam the winner of the Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year Award. Graffam will receive a cash prize of $2,500 as well as transportation costs to the Dan Patch Awards banquet sponsored by Caesars Entertainment in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday night (Feb. 19), where she will be recognized and presented with a trophy. Graffam will also receive a two-night stay at Rosen Shingle Creek, host hotel for the USHWA activities, and two complimentary dinner tickets.

A total of 15 caretakers were nominated for the Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year Award and all nominated caretakers will receive a certificate recognizing their accomplishments.

Room reservations at Rosen Shingle Creek for the star-studded Dan Patch Awards weekend can be made at the USHWA website at usharnesswriters.com.

Sponsorship opportunities for the event can be procured from sponsorship chairman Shawn Wiles at swiles@rwcatskills.com

Information regarding tickets to the event and congratulatory advertisements in the souvenir journal will be available shortly.

by Tim Bojarski, for USHWA