Three-year-old trotting star Sir Pinocchio, the Yonkers Trot and New York Sire Stakes champion, has been honoured as the United States Trotting Association (USTA) District 8 Horse of the Year. Trained by Eddie Hart for owner and breeder Carolyn Atherton, the gelded son of Mets Hall boasts an impressive 11 victories in 17 starts this season, amassing $876,707 in earnings.
Guided by driver Jason Bartlett, Sir Pinocchio’s season highlights include wins in the Dexter Cup, Matron Stakes, a division of the Simpson Stakes (where he achieved a lifetime mark of 1:51.4f), several legs and the final of the New York Sire Stakes, and an elimination of the Canadian Trotting Classic.
Awards Celebration
The 65th annual Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Awards Banquet will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8, in a larger venue to accommodate this year’s expanded program. The event, presented by the New York Sire Stakes, will feature awards for top performers in District 8 and across New York State.
Notable honorees include Kentucky Futurity winner R Melina, NYSS champion Howlenthehills, and multiple Grand Circuit stakes winner Super Chapter.
District 8 Human Awards:
- Driver of the Year: Jason Bartlett
- Trainer of the Year: Travis Alexander
- Breeder of the Year: Crawford Farms
- Owner of the Year: Winbak Farm
District 8 Horse Awards:
- Horse of the Year: Sir Pinocchio
- Champion Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Sir Pinocchio
- Additional champions include The Last Martini (2FP), Super Chapter (2CT), and R Melina (3FT).
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Trainer Eddie Hart will receive the chapter’s highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his decades of excellence in harness racing.
Event Significance
The banquet also supports historic preservation efforts, with funds raised benefiting the Goshen Historic Track and Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame. Over the past two decades, the Monticello-Goshen Chapter has contributed over $135,000 to these institutions, ensuring the continued celebration of harness racing’s legacy.