All season long Nevertroubletrouble has been a standout here at the Mighty M racing against the best pacers on the grounds. To substantiate the previous comments one just has to look at the pacers 2008 statistics. Besides his 12 wins in 35 starts, Nevertroubletroubl has had 11 seconds and four thirds and has amassed a seasonal bankroll in excess of $75,000. His prowess was good enough to earn him the honor of "Older Pacing Horse of the Year" at Monticello Raceway this season, an award which was presented to his connections at the recently completed Annual Awards Banquet of the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of U. S. Harness Writers Association which was held for the third consecutive year at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello on October 26.

The horse's owner, Rebecca Williams of Monticello, was on hand as was her husband, trainer Kevin Johnson, and the horse's regular driver Mike Merton.

As the master of ceremonies of the banquet I usually bring the microphone to the award recipients after their honors are presented to them and if they are willing to speak and thankfully those who do usually keep their responses short much to the delight of the banquet attendees.

After Williams, Merton and Johnson received their award that evening I brought the microphone over to trainer Kevin Johnson, who not only was the breeder of Nevertroubletroubl but the horse's trainer throughout his racing career.

I was curious about the horses name and how he got it so I asked Johnson. He told a story of how, as youngster, his dad occasionally told him an anecdote about life as he saw it telling young Kevin "never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you" and when you think about those words not only do they make sense but they express a good rational about life itself..

So when Johnson was ready to name the foal whose dam's name is Howaboutamiracle, he reflected back on what his dad used to tell him and thus named the horse Nevertroubletroubl.

Please understand that I am not misspelling the horses name by leaving off the final ‘e' in the second trouble. It had to be done that way because the United States Trotting Association, which registered every horse's name, does not allow any more than 18 characters to be used. Thus no finale "e" in Nevertroubletroubl.

John Manzi