The Florida HBPA held its annual General Nominating Meeting and Awards Dinner Saturday night at Gulfstream Park, with nearly 100 owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and racing executives in attendance at Ten Palms. The guest speaker was the new President and CEO of the NTRA, Tom Rooney. The evening closed with the annual FHBPA Awards Ceremony. Host Ron Nicoletti announced the winners in nine categories.
“Each year, the Florida HBPA recognizes the horses that shine not just during the Championship Meet, but year-round in South Florida,” FHBPA President Stephen Screnci said. “All of our Champions competed at Gulfstream during the Royal Palm and Flamingo Festival meets that run from April through November.
“We also changed it up a little this year to honor one of our owners or trainers not just for their accomplishments on the racetrack, but also for their contributions to our community,” Screnci added. “Steve Dwoskin is our first FHBPA ‘Person of Distinction,’ and we couldn’t have found a worthier candidate for the award.”
An owner and trainer in South Florida since 1969, Dwoskin has long been a partner with Sylvester Comprehensive Care Center, a part of the University of Miami Health System (UHealth). A generous donation to Sylvester helped to fund the Dwoskin Proton Therapy Center, which began treating patients with advanced and precise radiation therapy last September.
He is also the owner/trainer of this year’s Champion Older Filly/Mare Choose Joy.
Dwoskin, who lost his father and brother to cancer, was emotional when he said, “I can handle most anything, but I couldn’t handle it when my brother and my father got cancer. When I first got involved [with Sylvester], it was strictly for research, trying to find a cure for cancer. But I got pretty strong there, and I started helping people, friends and family. If anyone from the horse industry ever needs help, I’m here for you. Helping people – that’s what makes me feel really good.”
The complete list of the 2021 FHPBA Champions is:
Person of Distinction: Steve Dwoskin
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Octane (Arindel, Owner; Carlos David, Trainer)
Two-Year-Old Filly: Outfoxed (LNJ Foxwoods, Owner; Bill Mott, Trainer)
Three-Year-Old Colt: Papetu (Magic Stables LLC, Owner; Antonio Sano, Trainer)
Three-Year-Old Filly: Con Lima (Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro and Troy Johnson, Owner; Todd Pletcher, Trainer)
Older Horse/Gelding: Miles Ahead (David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa, Owner; Eddie Plesa, Trainer)
Older Filly/Mare: Choose Joy (Steve Dwoskin, Owner/Trainer)
Turf Horse/Gelding: Warrior’s Pride (Just for Fun Stables, Owner; Antonio Cioffi, Trainer)
Turf Filly/Mare: Shifty She (Chris Pallas and Harvey Rothenberg, Owner; Saffie Joseph Jr., Trainer)