Dexter Dunn’s “unbelievable” night at Dan Patch awards

The rushed trip back to the United States was well worth it for champion harness racing driver Dexter Dunn.

The 10-time Kiwi champion arrived in Florida just a hour before the annual Dan Patch awards started, and he’d be pleased he did.

Dunn had been in Brisbane over the weekend, finishing fourth in the inaugural Ultimate Drivers Championship at Albion Park. Earlier he’d been holidaying back home in New Zealand.

He always knew he was going to win his fifth USA Driver of the Year title in six years. Then came the award that meant a lot. Twin B Joe Fresh, a pacer he co-owns with the likes of fellow ex-pat Kiwi Chris Ryder, won Pacer of the Year and then Horse of the Year.

The star mare had 11 wins and two seconds from 13 starts in 2024. She is just the second mare to win Horse of the Year, joining the Kiwi-bred Shartin N in 2019.

“It’s always a great feeling as a driver to win big races, but having ownership in a horse that’s done what she’s done has been really special,” says Dunn,  “to be part owner of a Horse of the Year, it’s the moment of my career, probably. It’s unbelievable.”

Ryder was equally upbeat.

“It’s great. I’m pleased that she’s been recognized. I think it was well deserved. It means a lot for me and the barn and my two boys (Patrick and Samuel) and Nicola, my wife, who helped a lot. A real lot.”

Overall Dunn drove a record eight Dan Patch Award winners during 2024, including Trotter of the Year Jiggy Jog S. It’s the first time since the Awards started in 1970 that mares have won both Pacer and Trotter of the Year.

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk