By Darin Gagne for Minnesota Harness Racing 

Friday, February 3, 2023 

Columbus, MN – 

Minnesota Harness Racing, Inc has announced the Minnesota County Fair Award winners for 2022. 

Rick Magee captured the County Fair Driver Of The Year award with 24 Wins from 42 starts and a very impressive (.716) UDR rating. 

Justin Anfinson posted 18 wins and 57 top-three finishes from 70 starts and a .419 UTR to pick up the County Fair Trainer Of The Year award. 

Two-year-old filly Wavzeka (Art’s Chip) was named the County Fair Pacer Of The Year. She was undefeated in 4 starts on the fair circuit for owner Jesse De Long and trainer Anfinson, and was also regularly driven by the aforementioned Magee. De Long is also the breeder of Wavzeka who also captured her divisional final on Night of Champions at Running Aces.

Four-year-old gelding Rush To The Bank (Banker Volo) was recognized as the 2022 County Fair Trotter Of The Year after also posting an unbeaten record of 4 starts and 4 wins at the fairs. Jeralene Roland and Vickie Rush were the winning owners and Dan Roland was the winning trainer, along with assistant Angie Coleman. 

Rush To The Bank scored 2 wins with Rick Magee in the bike, another with Dean Magee in tow and his first win of the season came with Adam Hauser as the pilot. 

Dan and Jeralene are also the breeders of Rush To The Bank, who was also Horse Of The Year in Minnesota in 2020. 

The 2022 Minnesota County Fair Award winners, along with the 2022 Minnesota overall divisional winners will be celebrated at the MHRI Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet on Saturday, May 6 at Running Aces. 

MHRI will be releasing the information about all of the 2022 award winners throughout the month of February.  

Photos: 

First photo: Rick Magee (Kim Schneider photo) 

Second photo: Justin Anfinson (Dee Leftwich photo) 

Third photo: Wavzeka at Cannon Falls (MHRI photo) 

Fourth photo: Rush To The Bank at Cannon Falls (MHRI photo)