OwnerView Honors Dawson, Kearney as Top New Owners

OwnerView announced Nov. 15 that the award for 2022 New Owner of the Year, sponsored by 1/ST Racing, finished in a dead heat between Rick Dawson and Pat Kearney.

Dawson races under the name Red TR-Racing, which campaigns Rich Strike , winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Dawson raced his first Thoroughbred in 2019, and he and trainer Eric Reed claimed Rich Strike in a $30,000 maiden race at Churchill Downs in September 2021. Dawson has only five horses in his stable, and Rich Strike and a horse named Common Bond  are his only horses in training.

"I can't believe my luck in acquiring Rich Strike and achieving so much in such a short time in the sport," Dawson said. "I can't thank my trainer, Eric Reed, and all of our connections, including Rich Strike's jockey, Sonny Leon, enough. I am honored and humbled to receive this award."

Kearney entered the Thoroughbred industry in 2021 and was rewarded with a black-type winner in Kathleen O.  His first Thoroughbred purchase, Kathleen O., was bought for $275,000 in April of last year at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by trainer Shug McGaughey. Kathleen O. races under Kearney's Winngate Stables and has won four of her five starts, including two graded stakes. Winngate Stables' other runner, Cloudy , has won three of his last four races from six overall starts.

"I have been a racing fan for years and thought I was imposing on my friend Shug when I asked him to help me get into racing, but I'm so glad I did it," Kearney said. "Purchasing Kathleen O. was an amazing decision, and I am thrilled to be named as a New Owner of the Year." 

The New Owner of the Year Award was previously presented to MyRacehorse, Larry Best, the Churchill Downs Racing Club, Charles and Susan Chu, LNJ Foxwoods, Sol Kumin, and Boat Racing.