by Tim Bojarski, for USHWA

Akron, NY — For the seventh consecutive year, the United States Harness Writers Association, in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association, will be looking for fans of harness racing to express their opinions by voting for their favorite horseperson and racing moment of the year in the 2015 Railbird Recognition Awards. This is the opportunity for every fan to indicate who they felt were the best in harness racing during the past year.

Voting will be available by clicking on the “Railbird Voting” banner on the USTA homepage (www.ustrotting.com) or by clicking on this link.

The nominees for each award were compiled by members of USHWA for being the most impactful to the sport in 2015. Fans can make their selections by clicking one choice from those listed and then submitting their vote.

Voting for the “Racing Moment of the Year” will run from Tuesday (Dec. 1) through Tuesday (Dec. 15) while the balloting for the “Horse Person of the Year” will be conducted from Wednesday (Dec. 16) until Thursday (Dec. 31) at midnight. Fans may only vote once per IP address.

The nine nominees for Racing Moment for 2015 are:

• Always B Miki wins Breeders Crown after a year off
• Bee A Magician becomes first mare to win Cutler final
• Freaky Feet Pete wins Breeders Crown
• JL Cruze wins in 1:49.4 at the Meadowlands
• International Trot returns to Yonkers after 20 years
• David Miller drives five winners on Breeders Crown night
• Pinkman wins over Mission Brief in the Hambletonian
• Jimmy Takter trains six winners on Breeders Crown night
• Wiggle It Jiggleit defeats Lost for Words in second Little Brown Jug heat

Nominees for Horseperson of the Year will be revealed in mid-December.

All the winners of the Railbird Fan Voting will be announced on Thursday (Jan. 7) and they will be presented their awards during the Dan Patch Banquet, held this year at the Hyatt Pier 66 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Sunday (March 6). Information on tickets and accommodations for that event can be found at www.ushwa.org.