Judy Ludlam awarded Groom of the Year

Grove City, Ohio – Harness racing caretaker Judy Ludlam of Northfield, Ohio has been named the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Outstanding Groom for 2022.

Ludlam works for and was nominated by trainer Kelly O’Donnell.

O’Donnell says Ludlam pays attention to every horse she takes care of.  “Judy works tirelessly on all the horses in the stable from start to finish every day.”  O’Donnell says he can send Ludlam to any track by herself with any horse in the barn and not have to worry about a thing.

Ludlam says the best part of her job is seeing the horses’ faces each morning.  “They want their little treats; they are just beautiful animals.  I’m very blessed to be capable of taking care of them.  Every one of them has their own little personalities in their own way, their own little quirks.  They are just like kids.”

Ludlam says her life centers around the horses, and she says the joke is, “if it doesn’t have anything to do with the horse, she isn’t doing it.”

Ludlam will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet January 14, 2023, at the Hilton Columbus-Polaris in Columbus, Ohio.

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA