Sacramento, CA --- The California Harness Horseman's Association held their annual meeting on Sunday, March 29, where Desmond was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Vickie Desomer poses with Desmond's plaque along with Robin Clements and Stephen Chambers.

A fan favorite at Los Alamitos, Cal-Expo and Hollywood Park, he dominated the Cal Bred invitational ranks for several years. In 1981, Hollywood Park gave away drinking glasses with top horses etched into them like Niatross, Bret Hanover and Desmond.

For the first time, the Hall of Fame committee gave out a "Lifetime of Service" award to Best Of Dani for the promotion and commitment to the sport of harness racing.

As a race horse Best Of Dani earned a bankroll of $203,623 and took a lifetime mark of 1:54.1f. He was the only 3-year-old to ever win The Great Western Pace and as a 4-year-old won the 1-5/8 mile Marathon Series Final, breaking a world record in 3:13.2 that still stands today.

Best Of Dani earned $203,623 in his four years on the racetrack.

Best Of Dani suffered significant health issues, with inguinal hernias, suffered often by Standardbred stallions, and also equine recurrent uveitis, better known as moon blindness. Many articles were written about Dani's medical struggles in Hoof Beats and Equus, raising money and awareness to help fight them in other horses.

Best Of Dani and Desmond both died from complications of uveitis but remain models by which California harness racing can be proud.