A dozen takeaways from Dan Patch weekend in Orlando

Mark Hall / USTA – The connections of Beau Jangles after receiving the Dan Patch Horse of the Year Award on Sunday at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL.

by Bob Heyden

With another Dan Patch weekend in the books, let’s take a look at some stats surrounding the winners and Horse of the Year.

1. The Rising Star Award won by Braxten Boyd, the same year he captured the Meadowlands Pace, is completely consistent with recent honorees. Marcus Miller put his first Breeders Crown on his bio in his award-winning season of 2016. Scott Zeron (2012) won his first Triple Crown event with Michaels Power in the Jug. Nancy Takter had the Horse of the Year (HOY) the same year she won it in 2014. Montrell Teague drove the HOY Wiggle It Jiggleit in 2015 and was so honored. Bob McClure doubled up in 2019 with Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade. Lucas Wallin got on the Trotting Triple Crown board in 2022 with Kentucky Futurity winner Rebuff which propelled him to the award platform. Tim Tetrick went so far as to rewrite the record books when he was recognized in 2007.

2. Here’s something odd: Super Chapter easily won 3-Year-Old Male Trotter, but did not get a single HOY vote. His trainer 33-year-old Marcus Melander won half the divisional hardware on the trotting side.

3. It’s been 27 years now since the last HOY repeater: Moni Maker (1998-99). A combined 38 starts, 26 of which were not made in North America. Funny, I can’t recall a single person/voter having a moment’s issue with territorial this or territorial that.

4. Chris Ryder did something unusual, he got HOY votes the year after having the HOY with a different horse. Miki And Minnie finished third with 21. Twin B Joe Fresh also had a pair.

5. Beau Jangles did what Camtastic (1987) and Captaintreacherous (2012) fell short of doing, be Pacer of the Year at age 2 and HOY. “Beau” has a leg up on the rest in 2026 if history matters. All three male freshman named HOY all repeated at 3, in a romp: Bret Hanover (1965), Nevele Pride (1968), and Niatross (1980).

6. As Owner and Breeder of the Year, Team Burke joined 3 Brothers Stable (2014) and George Segal’s Brittany Farms (2006) becoming the third to do so.

7. Jason Bartlett captured his initial Driver of the Year Award at age 44. He’s seven months older than Tim Tetrick, both born in 1981. Bartlett is No. 9 and Tetrick No. 3, the two youngest members of the top 20 $$ earners club.

8. Ron Burke is the seventh consecutive different
Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year. The record is 13 from 2000-12.

9. The USHWA President’s Award had zero ladies among its first 25 winners, but Janet Terhune made it now nine of the past 30.

10. USHWA and HOY both began in 1947, but, the first several years of HOY ballots were filled out by sports editors and radio commentators.

11. Chapter Seven has been HOY and Sire of the Year. Now, we have to wait and see if he can combine the two and possibly become the first ever to do all three with a son or daughter as HOY.

12. Wally Hennessey has always been a Good Guy. Some who watched him get his award might not know he was the driver of the last HOY repeater Moni Maker (1998-99).