Bulldog Hanover creates history at Dan Patch Awards

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk

Not surprisingly Bulldog Hanover has dominated the annual Dan Patch awards in the USA, and star Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn had a big night too.

The awards, run by the US Harness Writers Association, were held at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando Florida.

In 2022 Bulldog Hanover became the fastest pacer of all time when he won at the Meadowlands in 1:45.8. He became a sensation both within and outside the sport as he compiled a winning record of 14 from 16 races, with Dunn driving him in his last 12 starts.

Bulldog Hanover was the first horse ever to be unanimously selected as the Horse of the Year, gaining all 136 votes.

He is now retired from racing and very much in demand as a stallion at Seelster Farms in Ontario, Canada.

The New Jersey-based Dunn was at the awards to receive his fourth consecutive Driver of the Year award. He clinched the title after an epic 2022 that included 308 wins and stakes earnings of more than $15m.

He also had a winning partnership with Trotter of the Year Bella Bellini, trained by another ex-pat Kiwi in Richard "Nifty" Norman.

After spending a summer back home in New Zealand where he was a regular sight at race meetings, especially in the South Island, Dunn is now back in North America, where he's had nine wins from 64 drives so far in 2023.