February 7, 2010 - by Bill MacDonald - The University of Maine at Farmington's North Dining Hall held a capacity crowd as the Farmington Fair Horsemen's Association held its annual banquet here on Saturday night. After the social hour and dinner, Robert Cushing served as Master of Ceremonies. He talked about the goals of the FFHA and their financial condition. Short speeches were given by Chandler Woodcock, executive director of the MHHA, Don Marean, lobbyist for the MHHA and Diane Perkins, secretary of the MSBOA.

Michael Cushing then took over for the awards portion of the night.

Shannon Smith Photo

Kenneth Orr receives the FFHA Breeder's Award from Michael Cushing.

New to this year awards was the Breeder's Award. This year's reciepiant was Kenneth Orr of the Circle O Farm. Orr bred and raced CIRCLE'S DRAGONLADY in the Maine Sire Stakes Program. She has gone on to become the fastest filly graduate of the stakes program, taking a mark of 1:51.1 at the Meadowlands and earning $181,881.

ROADSHOW VIC, a stakes final winner, owned by Neal Tranten won the award for Best 2 Year Old, LIL MS PRISS, a stakes finalist owned by Terry Farrington won for Best 3 Year Old. The award for Most Wins went to OFF KEEL, who had 13 wins for owner Scott Pushard

FOUR STARZ TRUMP won the award for Most Money Earned, who earned $44,256 while taking a seasonal mark of 1:58.4 for owners Darrell & Jessica Tibbetts. The Fastest Pacer Award went to Scott Dillon's ON A TEAR for his 1:53.0 mile at Bangor this year.  The Fastest Trotter Award went to BATALJ LAUNCHER, owned by Green Racing Stable & Meadowbranch Stable. He trotted in 1:57.4 at Scarborough Downs.

After the awards, an auction was held that raised $1,400 for the FFHA. Those funds will go to the banquet costs and general track expenses incurred by the FFHA to maintain the training facility at Farmington Fair.