Minnesota fair award winners announced

Columbus, MN – MHRI has announced the 2024 county fairs award winners:

The Minnesota Fairs Trainer of the Year is 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧, who continues a long winning streak in this category.

Anfinson had 27 wins at the Minnesota county fairs in 2024, including over 20 wins for owner/breeder Jay De Long.

Justin also trained one of the top fair pacers of the year Delco Irene, as well as the top fair trotter of the year, Wilamar Spark.

Overall for Anfinson, 2024 was a very good year. He sent out 79 winners and his trainees collected $736,765 in purse money and he also surpassed the $5 million mark in career trainer purse earnings during his 2024 campaign.

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 captured the title as 2024 Minnesota County Fairs Driver of the Year with 25 wins at the fairs.

One of the highlights of the 2024 fair campaign for Jenson came at Cannon Falls on October 5, when he piloted 7 winners on the afternoon.

Overall 2024 was a breakout year for Jenson, who was also the leading driver at Running Aces and also posted his first career $1 million season as a driver.

Delco Irene and The Creature tied for 2024 County Fairs Pacer of the Year with 200 points each.

𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞 (Wind Me Up) blossomed into a very formidable contender in 2024 and she dominated at the fairs with 4 wins in 4 starts, including a very impressive 1:59 mile at Cannon Falls on October 12. She took a sophomore mark of 1:52.2 at Running Aces and earned $81,204 on the season for owner/breeder Jay DeLong and trainer Justin Anfinson.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 (Easy Again) posted an excellent campaign at the fairs with 3 wins and 2 seconds from 5 starts, including a very sharp 2:00.2 win at Cannon Falls on October 5.

The Creature took his sophomore mark at Running Aces in 1:55.2 and earned a total of $40,588 in 2024 for owner Larry Jenson and trainer Brandon Jo Jenson . He was bred by Wolfswinkel Pacers.

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 (Southwind Flash) is the 2024 County Fairs Trotter of the Year. She had a tremendous county fair campaign and racked up 5 wins from 6 starts over the fair ovals, including a dominating 2:00.3 victory at Cannon Falls on October 5.

She closed out her 5-year-old campaign with a new career mark of 1:56.2 taken at Running Aces and total earnings of $60,826 for owners Jeanne Marquis (also breeder) and Jay De Long and trainer Justin Anfinson.

Stay tuned as all next week we will be announcing the 2024 Minnesota Divisional Awards winners, starting on Monday (Jan. 27).

All of the 2024 award winners will be celebrated at the MHRI Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet on Saturday, (February 22) at Running Aces.

by Darin Gagne, for Minnesota Harness Racing, Inc.