American Harness Horse of the Year


The Harness Horse of the Year is an honor recognizing the top harness racing horse in the United States. The award is selected by the United States Trotting Association and the United States Harness Writers Association who issue the annual Dan Patch Awards.
The inaugural honor was awarded to Victory Song of Castleton Farms Stables who was named the "Harness Horse of 1947" by a committee that consisted of 50 harness racing writers, radio commentators and sports editors. Victory Song picked up 23 first-place votes, to lead a field of 22 horses that had been nominated for the honor, edging stablemate Hoot Mon who finished in second in the balloting. Victory Song had set the harness racing record for stallions with a time of 1:57.6 in the mile. E. Roland Harriman, president of the Trotting Horse Club of America, announced the award and indicated that the enthusiasm shown for the honor led to the decision to make the "Harness Horse of the Year" an annual event.
Good Time became the first horse to win the honor two times, winning in both 1949 and 1952. Good Time held the single-season money record at the time of $110,299 and received 80 first-place votes from the 99 writers participating in that year's balloting, after finishing first in 23 starts in 1952, with three second-place finishes and two finishes in third.
In 1956, Scott Frost became the first horse to win the Harness of the Year honors in consecutive years, earning the first place on the ballots of 66 of the 95 writers participating that year. Driven by Joe O'Brien, Scott Frost won 18 of 21 starts in 1956, coming in second in the three other races.

Past winners

Horses that have been recognized as Harness Horse of the Year are:
YearHorseType
1947Victory SongTrotter
1948RodneyTrotter
1949Good TimePacer
1950ProximityTrotter
1951Pronto DonTrotter
1952Good Time Pacer
1953Hi Lo's ForbesPacer
1954StenographerTrotter
1955Scott FrostTrotter
1956Scott Frost Trotter
1957TorpidPacer
1958Emily's PrideTrotter
1959Bye Bye ByrdPacer
1960Adios ButlerPacer
1961Adios Butler Pacer
1962Su Mac LadTrotter
1963Speedy ScotTrotter
1964Bret HanoverPacer
1965Bret Hanover Pacer
1966Bret Hanover Pacer
1967Nevele PrideTrotter
1968Nevele Pride Trotter
1969Nevele Pride Trotter
1970Fresh YankeeTrotter
1971AlbatrossPacer
1972Albatross Pacer
1973Sir DalraePacer
1974Delmonica HanoverTrotter
1975SavoirTrotter
1976Keystone OrePacer
1977Green SpeedTrotter
1978AbercrombiePacer
1979NiatrossPacer
1980Niatross Pacer
1981Fan HanoverPacer
1982Cam FellaPacer
1983Cam Fella Pacer
1984Fancy CrownTrotter
1985NihilatorPacer
1986Forrest SkipperPacer
1987Mack LobellTrotter
1988Mack Lobell Trotter
1989Matt's ScooterPacer
1990Beach TowelPacer
1991Precious BunnyPacer
1992ArtsplacePacer
1993Staying TogetherPacer
1994Cam's Card SharkPacer
1995CR Kay SuzieTrotter
1996ContinentalvictoryTrotter
1997Malabar ManTrotter
1998Moni MakerTrotter
1999Moni Maker Trotter
2000Gallo Blue ChipPacer
2001Bunny LakePacer
2002Real DesirePacer
2003No Pan IntendedPacer
2004Rainbow BluePacer
2005Rocknroll HanoverPacer
2006GlidemasterTrotter
2007Donato HanoverTrotter
2008SomebeachsomewherePacer
2009Muscle HillTrotter
2010Rock N Roll HeavenPacer
2011San PailTrotter
2012Chapter SevenTrotter
2013Bee A MagicianTrotter
2014JK She'saladyPacer
2015Wiggle It JiggleitPacer
2016Always B MikiPacer
2017Hannelore HanoverTrotter
2018McWickedPacer
2019Shartin NPacer