Nominations are due by this Monday, Jan. 9 for nominations for the 2016 harness racing 'Caretaker of the Year Award', sponsored by Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park in conjunction with USHWA honoring the sport's unsung heroes, its caretakers. Dover Downs leads in the number of grooms at the track who have won this award in the past. To nominate for this award with a number of benefits, contact USHWA president Tim Bojarski at a159star@gmail.com with a minimum 200 words, stating the special qualities of the caretaker being nominated.

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The biggest social night for Delaware horse people is set for next Friday, Jan. 13 when Delaware Standardbred Owners Association (DSOA) presents its Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet. After the horsemen's meetings begin at 10:30 a.m. at Dover Holiday Inn, .the popular Awards Dinner takes place at Modern Maturity Center with the cocktail hour at 5:45 p.m. Following dinner at 7 p.m. Heather Vitale will host the awards ceremonies. Mike Hines and the Look then entertain with music and dancing starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $40.00 per person, purchased at DSOA Office at Dover Downs or at 830 Walker Square, Dover. Inquiries at 302-678-3058.

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Later this month, Canada presets its Black Tie 2016 O'Brien Awards on Saturday, Jan. 28 in Mississauga, Ont. The classy banque theme this year is the 250th anniversary of horse racing in Canada."

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Then next month, the annual highlight of the Winter banquet season comes on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nevada with the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Night of Champions honoring the 2016 Dan Patch Awards winners. For more information, check www.ushwa.org .

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George Teague will be honored with several prestigious awards for 2016 at banquets in Las Vegas. Teague has been named Harness Horsemen International (HHI)'s "Dominic Frinzi Person of the Year." In addition to conditioning 1,631 winners of $35-million to date, Teague has been honored for graciously allowing the public to meet and greet his great pacer, 2015 Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit, several times during 2016 to help promote harness racing. On Sunday, Feb. 26, the U.S.Harness Writers Association will honor Teague, the first person honored for a second time as its "Good Guy" award winner. Team Teague gets a major award, receiving the sport's second highest honor, The Stan Bergstein Proximity Award. For ticket and hotel arrangements consult www.ushwa.org .

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Vic Kirby is back on top of the leading driver standings after emerging from a tie las week with Tim Tetrick with 56 wins each. Kirby topped off his week with four winners. Kirby now has 67 wins. Tetrick, who is away vacationing until March, is second with 56. Yannick Gingras, is third with 52 wins. Defending champion Corey Callahan is fourth with 49 winners and Allan Davis holds down fifth place with 40 wins. Tony Morgan has been red hot. He drove nine winners in two days and has 38 wins, one behind Ross Wolfenden, in sixth place with 39.

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Jim King continues atop the leading trainer stats with 42 winners. Josh Green is second with 22 while Joe Hundertpfund is in a third-place tie with Leigh Raymer, with 22 wins. Wayne Givens rounds out the top 5 with 18 winners.

Marv Bachrad