When Moira Fanning, the co-CEO of the Hambletonian Society, told me early last year that she was retiring following the 2025 Breeders Crown I should have known better. Contacted earlier this week, Fanning still had some unfinished business and now suggested that by the end of this month her work will officially conclude. Sort of. "I'm going to the Prix d'Amerique," Fanning said on Monday. "I want to introduce Gunjan (Patel) to the officials in France." Patel is taking over Fanning's role at the Hambletonian Society, and it is only fitting that Fanning is going the extra mile, actually a few thousand, to complete the transition and assure that the structure within the Society remains strong and fluid. The Prix d'Amerique is Sunday, January 25, and perhaps a week later Fanning will be relieved, but whatever retirement is supposed to look like it's hard to be totally convinced those in the sport won't be seeing Moira Fanning. "There are still a couple of projects that I'm working on," said Fanning, "So I could be going into the office maybe once a week to finish them up." It's that kind of attention to detail that has exemplified Fanning's near 40-year association with the Hambletonian Society, working diligently behind the scenes to assure all the details were covered while presenting the Breeders Crown and Hambletonian races on an annual basis. There are those that get to watch these great races annually without ever knowing some of inner workings of the Hambletonian Society. As someone fortunate enough to watch Fanning in action behind the scenes, first in the Breeders Crown series and then later with the Hambletonian, it was amazing how many hats she wore and how incredibly she put complicated scenarios together. In the early years of the Breeders Crown, races were contested at different tracks on different weekends with what would have to be considered a skeleton staff. No worries, Fanning was ever-present, coordinating with some tracks that lacked the manpower to handle a major event and others that needed extra support. It's somewhat ironic that Fanning started out in this sport as a caretaker and she will leave it full-time in a similar capacity. Not lost on her or anyone that loves the sport of harness racing is keeping the lifeblood of the sport's history moving forward and seeing races like the Hambletonian and Breeders Crown continue to be showcases of the best we can offer. It is that commitment that helped guide Fanning through the years. "If you ask me what I'm most proud of," said Fanning, "It's the longevity of races like the Hambletonian that's been going on for 100 years and the Breeders Crown that's going on for 40 years." Keeping races alive is not an easy task and the Hambletonian Society has had to juggle many races in the last few decades for obvious reasons. "When you see the number of racetracks that have closed over the years, you see how special it is that we've kept these great races and their rich history alive," said Fanning. Ultimately, preserving the breed has been the mission of the Hambletonian Society, and perhaps now-retired CEO Tom Charters knew better than anyone that he had a gem when he offered employment to Moira Fanning in 1986. "I was very lucky to be hired by two great men," Fanning said. "First Marv Bachrad at Brandywine hired me for the publicity department. I didn't even know how to type." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter That minor hiccup didn't stop the late Bachrad from recognizing talent and more meaningfully offering an enthusiastic young girl a chance. "Then I got hired by Bill Fidati at Garden State," said Fanning. "I actually had two jobs at Garden State, one in the accounting department and the other operating the Matrix system that was brand new at the time." Despite her lack of experience, Fanning had the interest and desire to learn along the way, and that's likely what Charters saw when his secretary decided to leave her job. "It wasn't any easy decision," Fanning said. "I loved working at a racetrack and I still do. I just loved everything about that." Fortunately, Moira was able to discuss the opportunity with her husband Tom. "He was always great with sound advice," said Fanning. "He told me that racetracks aren't always around forever but that the Hambletonian Society would be." So, despite taking a cut in pay and having to leave working at a racetrack, Fanning became more than a secretary to Tom Charters. Over time, much of the nuts and bolts that included staking other major races found Fanning at the lead. While Charters was the front man, Fanning incorporated her publicity skills in the backdrop and did her best to promote the sport in every way possible. That's where the two of us crossed paths for the first time. "There were a lot of good writers out there like Pohla Smith and Anne Doolin that deserved an opportunity to write and be rewarded," said Fanning, in essence paving the way for others to get recognition, much as both Bachrad and Fidati had done for her. Yet it was more than that. Offering different voices on the sport was a means of broadening coverage to the benefit of the industry. For me, much of the work centered on chart calling and race coverage, including doing the morning line for many Breeders Crown races. There was always a sense when Fanning gathered a large group of writers to accompany her to Breeders Crown events that everything had to be perfect, and those working along needed to elevate their games to at least approach Fanning's level of near perfection. The importance of the Hambletonian Society's signature races has not been taken lightly and the message will live on. "It's the owners that take care of all of the expenses," said Fanning. "That's why it's the most important part of our job to create the best experience we can for the owners through these major racing events." While it may not be easy to ever replace a person with Fanning's talent, she is more than confident that great people are already in place to continue the Hambletonian Society's efforts for the next generations. "Gunjan's background at Hanover Shoe Farms made her a great fit," said Fanning of the current co-CEO. "Nadia Tarnawa has taken over the staking responsibilities and really picked it up quickly." Tarnawa is the wife of young driver Patrick Ryder. Those two will help support CEO and President John Campbell, who has left a glowing impression on Fanning. "He's really been outstanding," said Fanning of the Hall of Famer Campbell, who transitioned perfectly from the sport's leading driver to the helm of the Hambletonian Society. So, what's next for Fanning? "I guess I'd like to get more sleep and do more reading," Fanning said, also hoping to perhaps spend a little extra time closer to her year-and-a-half old grandson Casey. Here's wishing the best to one of the true champions of this sport.