Finalists Announced for Maryland End-of-Year Awards
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Post Time, a finalist for Maryland-bred Male Dirt Horse of the Year, wins the 2024 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct
The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced the 2024 finalists for various horsemen and horse awards that will be presented as part of this year's Renaissance Awards dinner, which will be scheduled for this spring.
The Renaissance Awards honor the top owner, trainer, jockey, and breeder of the previous year in Maryland, as well as Maryland-bred horses in various categories and other awards for horses that have competed with distinction at Maryland tracks but may not be Maryland-bred.
The MTHA awards process is as follows: A slate of candidates for each category is prepared by several individuals with knowledge of day-to-day racing in the state and through statistics compiled by Equibase. The horsemen categories are Owner, Trainer and Jockey, while the equine categories are Dirt Male, Dirt Female, Turf Male, Turf Female and Claimer of the Year.
The candidates are submitted to the MTHA Board of Directors, and each member then votes for their top three choices in each category. The MTHA, beginning with the 2022 racing season, added the five equine categories to the overall Renaissance Awards program.
Two Groom of the Year awards, winners of which are selected by MTHA staff after trainers are solicited for nominees, also are part of the Renaissance Awards program.
Based upon discussions by organizers during a Feb. 3 meeting, the Renaissance Awards dinner will be held the third week of April, as it was last year, most likely in the clubhouse at Laurel Park. Details on the event will be announced at a later date.
The following are the finalists for the three human awards and five equine awards.
Owner of the Year
Hillwood Stable
Mens Grille Racing
No Guts No Glory Farm
Trainer of the Year
Brittany T. Russell
Gary Capuano
John J. Robb
Michael J. Trombetta
Jockey of the Year
Jaime Rodriguez
J.G. Torrealba
Sheldon Russell
Claimer of the Year
Band Camp
No Easy Days
Suga Steve
Male Dirt Horse of the Year
Celtic Contender
Copper Tax
Post Time
Female Dirt Horse of the Year
Apple Picker
Caprice
Roanan Goddess
Male Turf Horse of the Year
Crabs N Beer
Fulmineo
Witty
Female Turf Horse of the Year
Bosserati
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