by Chris Tully, vice president, United States Harness Writers Association

Monticello, NY — The much anticipated winner of the E. Roland Harriman Harness Horse of the Year trophy will be announced live on Sunday (Feb. 23) at Dover Downs. Tickets for this gala event, the Dan Patch Awards Banquet Night of Champions, are now available.

In addition to equine divisional honors, a host of the industry’s biggest and brightest will be feted at the annual awards ceremony, including this year’s inductees to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, David Miller and Bill Weaver; and Communicators Hall of Fame, Carol Cramer and John Pawlak.

The U. S. Harness Writers list of human awards also includes the Stan Bergstein Proximity Award winner, Joe Thomson, as well as the Owner, Trainer, Driver, and Breeder of the Year, Rising Star, Breakthrough, Good Guy and a host of others, which are listed below and available on the www.USHWA.org website.

Adding to the festivities will be the popular souvenir red carpet photo shoot during the cocktail hour followed by a main course dinner of lobster surf and turf.

Tickets for the Dan Patch Awards Banquet can be reserved via telephone or e-mail by contacting Judy Davis-Wilson (302.359.3630), zoe8874@aol.com or Scott Warren (302.222.1222), voiceofrcr@aol.com.

Substantial savings on hotel rooms can be obtained for this event, which is being held at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, on US Rte. 13 (DuPont Hwy.), in Dover, Del. A special rate of $149 can be reserved by calling 866.473.7378 before Jan. 22, and mentioning code: GHWA.

The deadline for the Dan Patch Awards journal is Monday (Jan. 27). To advertise in the souvenir journal, please contact Chris Tully by calling 845.807.7538 or e-mail tullytrot@yahoo.com.

All of this information and applicable advertising forms can be accessed via internet link: www.USHWA.org.

Dan Patch Horse Awards–2013 Champions and Finalists*
2-Year-Old Trotting filly: Shake It Cerry
2-Year-Old Pacing Filly: Precocious Beauty
2-Year-Old Trotting Colt: Father Patrick
2-Year-Old Pacing Colts* — He’s Watching, Luck Be Withyou
3-Year-Old Trotting Colts* — Royalty For Life, Spider Blue Chip
3-Year-Old Trotting Filly: Bee A Magician
3-Year-Old Pacing Filly: I Luv The Nitelife
3-Year-Old Pacing Colt: Captaintreacherous
Trotting Mare: Maven
Trotting Horse: Market Share
Pacing Mares* — Anndrovette, Rocklamation
Pacing Horse: Foiled Again

*Finalists, Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year, and the E. Roland Harriman Harness Horse of the Year to be announced live on Sunday (Feb. 23).

United States Harness Writers Association–Awards and Honorees
Harness Racing Hall of Fame: David Miller and William Weaver
Communicators Hall of Fame: Carol Cramer and John Pawlak
Stan Bergstein–Proximity Award: Joe Thomson
Norman Woolworth Owner: Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi
Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year: Ron Burke
Driver of the Year: Tim Tetrick
Breeder of the Year: White Birch Farm
Lew Barasch Breakthrough: Heather Wilder
Rising Star: Corey Callahan
President’s Award: Mary Lou Dondarski
W. R. Haughton Good Guy: George Ducharme
USHWAn of the Year: Judy Davis-Wilson
Unsung Hero: Sam Landy and Open Space
Amateur Driver of the Year: Steve Oldford
Trotting Broodmare of the Year: Beehive
Pacing Broodmare of the Year: Worldly Treasure
January Davies Humanitarian Award: Donna Marshall
HHYF Service to Youth Award: Janet Stevenson Davis
USTA & USHWA Railbird Recognition Awards: TBA
Hervey & Smallsreed Awards: TBA

Grand Circuit Awards:
Owner: Burke Racing
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Yannick Gingras