Linda Toscano wins harness racing's Trainer of the Year

FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) -- Linda Toscano has been voted harness racing's Trainer of the Year, becoming the first woman to win the award.

Toscano's stable earned a career-high $6.71 million in purses in 2012 and included three division champions. Chapter Seven was Horse of the Year, trotter of the year and best older trotter; Market Share was voted top 3-year-old male trotter; and Heston Blue Chip was best 3-year-old male pacer.

The 57-year-old Toscano says: "You work a lifetime and all of a sudden everything happens."

The award is voted on by members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

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