Preceded by the annual DSOA meeting at mid-day and an early evening cocktail hour, mistress of ceremonies Heather Moffett presented a colorful, fun-filled video of high spots of her weekly Post Parade programs on WBOC-TV, followed by highlights of the 2012 racing season featuring top horses of the Dover Downs and the Harrington Raceway meets. The banquet also featured a silent auction to benefit Horse Lovers United, Inc., a not-for profit organization which provides a residence and care for retired horses.

In addition to leading horsemen and friends in attendance at the banquet were many of Delaware’s top legislative executives. The list included Congressman John Carney; Delaware Secretary of Finance Tom Cook; State Senators Brice Ennis and Gary Simpson and State Representatives Don Blakey, Gerald Brady, Ruth Briggs-King, Ronald Gray, Harvey Kenton, John Kowalko, Bobby Outten, Michael Ramone, Jeff Spiegelman and Dave Wilson and former State Senator Nancy Cook, a longtime strong supporter of racing in the First State.

Among the attendees were Delaware Harness Racing Commission Administrator Hugh Gallagher, Commission Chair Beth Steele and commission members Breezy Brown, Patricia Wagner and Larry Talley. Also present were U.S. Trotting Association District 11 directors Jim Boese, Russell MacKinnon and Dr. William Moffett; the DSOA board of directors, President Andy Markano; Brenda Bramble, First Vice President; Dr. William Moffett, Second Vice President; Presley Moore, Treasurer; Frances West; Secretary and Sal DiMario, Executive Director. Other directors include, Frank Deliberti, George Dennis, Russell McKinnon, George Teague, Max Walton, Valerie Warnick, Dan Camac and Ralph Holloway, directors emeritus.

Also among the dignitaries was Harness Hall of Fame publicist John Manzi of Monticello Raceway and members of the media.

The DSOA 2012 award winners were:

The second annual James T. Case Jr. DSOA Horizon Award (to a horseman making outstanding progress during year) was presented to harness owner, trainer and driver Daryl Bier, one of the sport’s rising stars.

The James T. Case Jr. $1,000 Scholarship in memory of the longtime DSOA president was presented to William Chambers, University of Delaware, a communications and business major.

Again this year, the DSOA gave out a total of $6,000 in Scholarships. The recipients of awards were Bill Connor Brewer, York College; Brooke Gannon, a nursing major at Wesley College; Kierston Gray, Wor-Wic Community College major/secondary education/counseling; Danielle Leager, University of Findlay, physical therapy; Wade Z. Marsh, Washington and Lee University, double major in politics and religion; and Danielle McDougall, Delaware State University, pre-professional chemistry.

The top DSOA horses honored were:

Two-Year-Olds: Trotters – Dingys Boy (colt); JA Going Alltheway (filly); Pacers – Hot Roddy (colt), Inittowinafortune (filly).

Three-Year-Olds: Trotters – Windshield (colt), Alleigh Girl (filly), Pacers – Flying Instructor (colt), Heres My Ticket (filly).

The DSOA Horses of the Meet were:

Dover Downs: Horse of the Meet – I’m Won Wine Wiser; Trotter of the Meet – Chocolate N Roses; Claimer of the Meet – Hancock

Harrington Raceway Horse of the Year – As Bad As Thunder; Trotter of the Year- Marong A; Claimer of the Year – Dreamluck

Special Achievement Awards presented to:

Daryl Bier; Higher And Higher; Somwhereovrarainbow; Dan Warrington and Janet Davis

A highly successful silent auction of harness memorabilia to benefit Horse Lovers United under the supervision of its founder, Lorraine Truitt, was supported for the care for horses whose racing careers had ended.

Following the award presentations Clarence Smith’s popular group “On the Edge” provided musical entertainment.