by Tim Bojarski, for the United States Harness Writers Association

Akron, NY — Many people have been nominating their favorite horsemen for USHWA’s newest trophy, the “Railbird Recognition” Award. Horsemen from Michigan to Florida, New York to Toronto have all been named and the votes keep coming in.

Some of the people in the mix so far include (but are not limited to) Brian Sears, Brent Holland, Dave Magee, Julie Miller, Jim Morrill, Jr., Troy Sylvester, Paul MacDonnell, Ricky Macomber, Greg Peck, Jason Bartlett, Jody Jamieson, Frank Antonacci, Jr., Dave Palone, Ron Pierce, and many, many more.

There is still time for you to cast your ballot for your favorite horseperson and racing moment in the Railbird Recognition Award voting.

The United States Harness Writers Association has initiated these two new awards that will be given out during the Night of Champions presentation of the Dan Patch Awards. The Railbird Recognition Awards are presented in co-operation with the United States Trotting Association. The recipients of these awards will be decided, for the first time anywhere, through voting open to all fans of harness racing. (A “Fan” is anyone who loves the sport, whether involved in it or not!)

The voters will be choosing one Horseperson of the Year (driver or trainer) and one Racing Moment of the Year (any racing or racing-related event that occurred in 2009) from any track in North America. The winners will be decided by popular vote from all respondents who cast a ballot through a link on the USHWA Web site or at the voting page available on the USTA Web site.

The winners will receive their awards in February at Yonkers Raceway along with the regular year end-awards during the USHWA banquet.

But the top vote getters won’t be the only winners here! Everyone who votes will automatically be entered into a drawing for 2 free tickets to the 2010 USHWA Dan Patch Awards Dinner at Yonkers Raceway on Sunday February 28, 2010 and the honor of making the award presentations themselves!

This is an opportunity for fans of harness racing everywhere to have their opinions heard, and for the first time choose who they feel was the best of the year in each category.

Voting runs through Thursday, December 31 at 11:59 p.m. It is limited to one vote per category per e-mail address as is entry into the drawing for the Grand Prize. The prize has no cash value and the decision of the United States Harness Writers Association on all aspects of this contest is final. Winners will be announced on the USHWA Web site on Friday, January 8, 2010. Complete rules are available at www.ushwa.org.

You can cast your ballot through this link or by visiting www.ushwa.org. Vote today!