POLISSENI 'TRULY HUMBLED' TO RECEIVE STAN BERGSTEIN-PROXIMITY AWARD

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ -- February 27, 2025 -- Wanda Polisseni has had success as an owner and breeder, but the enjoyment she gets from watching horses flourish on the track is equaled by the pleasure derived from seeing those athletes thrive away from it after their careers come to an end.

The 85-year-old Polisseni, who got involved in harness racing two decades ago, started the Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program five years ago to provide horses with opportunities to enjoy safe and fulfilling lives following retirement. The program, which is accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance, operates out of Polisseni’s 105-acre farm in Oxford, N.Y., and focuses on the rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming of Standardbreds.

PHSAP, led by Polisseni as president and Betty Holt as executive director, has already placed 90 former harness racehorses in well-matched new homes. 

Beyond her efforts in racing, Polisseni’s numerous philanthropic endeavors include the Polisseni Foundation, which assists Upstate New York organizations working in the areas of education, human services and civic improvement.

This past Sunday, Polisseni’s efforts were recognized at the Dan Patch Awards banquet. She was the recipient of the 2024 Stan Bergstein-Proximity Award, the highest honor voted on solely by the United States Harness Writers Association.

Polisseni was unable to attend the event, but Trond Smedshammer, who has trained horses for Polisseni for more than a decade, accepted on her behalf and read a speech she provided.

“I wish I could be with you tonight to celebrate and honor all our top horses and people who make our sport so special,” Polisseni wrote. “I am truly humbled to receive the Stan Bergstein-Proximity Award. It is a great honor to be recognized for doing the right thing, but I never expect it or seek it out. That said, I’m very appreciative of the recognition and support I have received for providing an adoption program and a facility to retire, retrain, and rehome our wonderful athletes when they are done racing.

“When I started racing, I thought they would all retire into wonderful homes and enjoy the best of their lives. The reality of what actually happens to many of our athletes was quickly apparent to me. It became a mission of mine to provide a safe future for as many horses as possible by creating a program to take horses directly off the track and retrain them for riding careers for loving homes and protecting them for life. I hope all of you seriously consider providing aftercare and lifetime follow-up for your horses. They give so much to us, and we owe them a future.”

Polisseni’s successes on the track under her Purple Haze Stables banner include Breeders Crown champion Winndevie, millionaire Dejarmbro, and Hambletonian Oaks runner-up Phaetosive, as well as a number of New York Sire Stakes stars. The stable has ranked among the Top 50 owners in purses on multiple occasions.

In addition, Purple Haze Stables bred 2024 Hambletonian Maturity winner Chapercraz, who has earned more than $1 million in his career.

In 2019 Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stables received the Cradle of the Trotter Breeders Award for her continued commitment to breeding Standardbred racehorses in the state of New York.

In 2020, she was the recipient of USHWA’s Unsung Hero Award.

Polisseni’s speech concluded, “I would also like to thank all of those people who helped me succeed in the Standardbred industry. Without your friendship, support, and encouragement, I don’t think I could have been as successful or enjoyed my journey half as much. Your friendship has been a joy and great source of pleasure. Thank you once again for this very special award and I hope you all have an amazing time tonight and continued success in the new racing season.”

To watch a replay of the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, click here.