Lights on B'way best of Texas

Lights on Broadway, who swept the two richest dirt races offered for Texas-breds in 2001, collected the Texas Thoroughbred Association's horse of the year award during a Saturday night ceremony in Austin.

Joe McDermott, whose McDermott Ranch bred Lights on Broadway, accepted leading breeder honors for 2001.

In other awards, Leland Ackerley, who is part of the partnership that brought leading freshman sire Valid Expectations to Texas, was recognized as the organization's member of the year, while the husband and wife owner team of Leland and Sue Cook received lifetime achievement from the TTA.

Lights on Broadway won the $150,000 Assault Stakes at Lone Star Park on June 30, and his second consecutive $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston on Dec. 1. He won four races and $228,300 last year, and overall has compiled a record of eight wins in 26 starts for earnings of $341,895.

Lights on Broadway races for McDermott and George Slater, and is trained by C.W. "Bubba" Cascio.

In other equine awards, Nanie's Dinner was the leading older female; Rare Cure, 3-year-old; Miss Photogenic, 3-year-old filly; Nuclear Assembly, 2-year-old male; and Miss Ritz, 2-year-old filly.