by Anne Chunko, administrator, the USTA Standardbred Equine Program

Columbus, OH — From now until May 31, 2006, the USTA is accepting entries for the 2006 Marie Hill Youth Writing Award contest, with cash prizes totaling $1,000.

The contest, created by and named for harness racing author Marie Hill, is open to persons age 16 or younger, and entries can be in the form of articles, stories, or essays about harness racing. Entries can be either fiction or non-fiction. The winning entry will be published in Hoof Beats magazine in 2006.

$500 goes to the winning author, the second place author will receive $250, and third place will receive $100. Six $25 awards for honorable mention will also be awarded. The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Trotting Association with support from Christopher Schick, a Standardbred owner from California.

The winner of the inaugural Marie Hill Youth Writing Award was Ryan Jordan of Pataskala, Ohio. In 2005, Elizabeth Collingwood of Great Britain and Molly Konkle of Muncie, Indiana were tied for first. The 2004 and 2005 US winners were presented their awards in the winner’s circle on Little Brown Jug Day in Delaware, Ohio.

Marie Hill, a native of New Brunswick, Canada, is the author of books on Adios, Single G, Delvin Miller and Joe O’Brien. Hill created the award to encourage young people to write about her beloved sport and its greatest heroes, the horses.

Judging will be handled by the USTA. Winners will be chosen on a cumulative score of the three judges. In case of a tie, the Executive Editor of Hoof Beats will be the tiebreaker.

The maximum length of entries is 1,000 words. One entry per person will be accepted. The subject of each entry must be harness racing and/or Standardbred horses. The entry must be the original, unpublished work of the author, who must be 16 years of age or younger on May 31, 2006. All contestants must be members of USTA, and USTA Youth membership is free! Each entry must be accompanied by an entry form. Online entries may be accepted by going to http://www.ustrotting.com/sep/mhywa/form.cfm. Entries will be judged on content, creativity, accuracy of harness racing references, and spelling and grammar.

For questions, more information or a printable entry form, please contact USTA toll free at 1-877-800-8782, ext. 3260 or email sep@ustrotting.com. Mailed entries may be submitted, along with an entry form, to: Marie Hill Youth Writing Award, c/o USTA Youth Program, 750 Michigan Avenue, Columbus OH 43215.