Tremor Hanover, owned by Charles Moses of Butler and Shawn Johnston of Evans City, was recently named Horse of the Year at The Meadows.

BUTLER TWP — As a 2-year-old, Tremor Hanover didn't look like much of a race horse.

The filly made its racing debut at the Big Butler Fair three years ago “and we thought she was gonna fall down,” trainer Aaron Johnston of Evans City.

“She was so bad ... It was almost embarrassing to watch,” he added.

How times have changed.

Now a 5-year-old, Tremor Hanover was recently named Horse of the Year at The Meadows Racetrack. The horse also earned Pacer of the Year by posting the fastest track time of 1 minute, 51 seconds for horses age 3 and up this season.

Tremor Hanover is co-owned by Charles Moses of Butler and grandson Shawn Johnston of Evans City. Its harness driver on the track is Brian Zendt.

Moses, 70, owns three horses right now and has participated in the horse business for 27 years.

“She's turned into the best horse I've had,” Moses said. “She's won more than her share of races.

“As a 3-year-old, she won the Pennsylvania Fair Stakes final. She's just gotten better each year. This year, she came into her own.”

Tremor Hanover earned $130,000 in purse money this season, The horse began the year having won $90,000 in her career.

In 34 starts at the The Meadows, Tremor Hanover finished first seven times, second on six occasions and took home the third spot 13 times in 2011.

She has 19 lifetime wins.

Moses, a Butler County Sports Hall of Fame inductee after a versatile career in gymnastics, football and golf, bought Tremor Hanover as a yearling for $9,000 at a horse sale in Harrisburg.

“Most horses I've had, I'd race them in the claiming division where an interested buyer could see the horse and get it,” Moses said. “We didn't do that with this horse. We knew she had a lot of ability.

“After 27 years, we've learned a bit. This horse has what it takes and we saw that early.”

Aaron Johnston said maturity turned Tremor Hanover into a winner.

“That's all it is,” he said. “The horse has a lot of speed and is really put together well.

“Some horses react to racing better than others. Some definitely do have a sense of competition among them, a competitive edge. With Tremor Hanover, her heart is probably her best attribute.”