Atlantic City, NJ --- Real Desire was real good.

The older pacer on Sunday night was named the 2002 Horse of the Year in Dan Patch Award voting by the U.S. Harness Writers' Association. A son of Life Sign, Real Desire won 10 of 13 races and $1.06 million last year as a 4-year-old, and beat trotter Kadabra for the sport's top honor, which was presented at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

The U.S. Harness Writers’ Association awards, named for the renowned pacer of the early 20th century, Dan Patch, honor the top horses in each gait, sex, and age. The U.S. Trotting Association tabulated the votes. Real Desire garnered 93 votes for Horse of the Year and Kadabra was runner-up with 44.

Among Real Desire's wins were the $532,665 Canadian Pacing Derby, the $500,000 Breeders Crown for Open pacers, and the $400,000 U.S. Pacing Championship. Trained by Blair Burgess and driven by John Campbell, Real Desire is the third consecutive pacer to win Horse of the Year following filly Bunny Lake in 2001 and the gelding Gallo Blue Chip in 2000.

Overall, a pacer has received the honor 31 times and a trotter 25 times since the award was first presented in 1947. Real Desire is the first older pacer to receive the award since Staying Together in 1993.

Real Desire, who also was named 2002 Pacer of the Year and Older Pacing Horse of the Year, is owned by Brittany Farms, Robert Burgess, Perretti Farms, and Karin Olsson-Burgess. Ms. Burgess was also the horse's caretaker. He was bred by Fair Island Farm of Versailles, Ky.

It was the first Horse of the Year honor for trainer Blair Burgess, who trained the 1986 3-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year Amity Chef. Real Desire got 136 votes for Pacer of the Year, besting Art Major, who received 32. In the Older Pacing Horse category, Real Desire garnered 185 votes and Camotion received four.

Kadabra was selected 2002 Trotter of the Year and the 3-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year after a campaign that saw him win 11 of 14 starts and $1.2 million. His top victories were in the $721,035 Canadian Trotting Classic, the $542,500 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old colt trotters, and the $400,000 Stanley Dancer Trot. Driven by David Miller and trained by Jimmy Takter, Kadabra is owned by the Abra Kadabra Stable of Port Perry, Ont., headed by R. Peter Heffering. Kadabra beat older trotter Fool's Goal, 122-34, in voting for Trotter of the Year and topped Like A Prayer, 179-9, for honors as the 3-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.

Other division honorees were Broadway Hall, the 2-year-old trotting colt; Pizza Dolce, 2-year-old trotting filly; Cameron Hall, 3-year-old trotting filly; Fool's Goal, trotting horse; Emma Hanover, trotting mare; Allamerican Native, 2-year-old pacing colt; Loyal Opposition, 2-year-old pacing filly; Art Major, 3-year-old pacing colt; Worldly Beauty, 3-year-old pacing filly; and Eternal Camnation, pacing mare.