Richard Dawson and Pat Kearney, the owners of GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and MGSW Kathleen O. (Upstart), respectively, have been named joint New Owners of the Year by OwnerView. The award is sponsored by 1/ST RACING.
Dawson, who races as Red TR Racing, purchased his first horse in 2019 and currently only has two horses in training, including Rich Strike, who was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 5 and is scheduled to remain in training for 2023.
“I can't believe my luck in acquiring Rich Strike and achieving so much in such a short time in the sport,” said Dawson. “I can't thank my trainer, Eric Reed, and all of our connections, including Rich Strike's jockey, Sonny Leon, enough. I am honored and humbled to receive this award.”
Kearney bought his first horse in 2021 and races under the name Winngate Stables. Like Dawson, he also has just two horses in training, but that first purchase was Kathleen O., who won four of her first five starts, including the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and the GII Davona Dale S.
“I have been a racing fan for years and thought I was imposing on my friend, [trainer] Shug [McGaughey], when I asked him to help me get into racing, but I'm so glad I did it,” said Kearney. “Purchasing Kathleen O. was an amazing decision, and I am thrilled to be named as a New Owner of the Year.”
To qualify as OwnerView's New Owner of the Year, nominees must have made their first start as an owner since 2019, had an ownership stake in a horse at the time it won a stakes race in the past 12 months, and had a verifiable owner's license in 2022. Previous winners have included Boat Racing, MyRacehorse, Larry Best, the Churchill Downs Racing Club, Charles and Susan Chu, Sol Kumin, and LNJ Foxwoods.
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