(Edited press release)
Good Night Shirt, two-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s leading steeplechaser, was named 2008 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, as well as champion steeplechaser, in the annual poll conducted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.
The son of former Maryland sire Concern dominated his division last year at age 7, going undefeated in five grade I steeplechase stakes and setting a steeplechase single-season earnings record of $485,520, which topped all Maryland-bred starters for the year.
Owned by Sonny and Ann Via and trained in Maryland by Jack Fisher, Good Night Shirt pushed his career earnings to $969,083, ranking him 18th on the all-time Maryland-bred money winners list. He is the first of his division to be named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year.
Good Night Shirt was one of four 2008 stakes winners bred solely or in partnership by Tom and Chris Bowman of Chestertown, Md. All were named divisional champions, the others being 2-year-old male Peace Town, 3-year-old male, Willsboro Point, and older female Smart and Fancy.
Other divisional champions are as follows:
Peace Town, 2-year-old male
Breeder: Bowman & Higgins Stable
Owner: Vinery Stables and Singer Stables
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Miss Charm City, 2-year-old female
Breeder: James Glenn
Owner: Estate of James Glen
Trainer: Carlos Garcia
Willsboro Point, 3-year-old male
Breeder: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Jason Layfield, and The Thoroughbred Corporation
Owner: Bonnie Wooster
Trainer: Scott Schwartz
Sweet Goodbye, 3-year-old female
Breeder/owner: William Harris
Trainer: Christopher Grove
Smart and Fancy, older female
Breeder: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman
Owner: Park Avenue Racing Stable
Trainer: Anthony Dutrow
Heros Reward, older male, sprinter, and turf runner
Breeder: Gretchen Mobberley
Owner: Rob Ry Farm and Jayne Marie Slysz
Trainer: Dale Capuano