by Jerry Connors, secretary, USHWA

Harrisburg, PA — Video streaming of the major annual awards event in harness racing, the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s Dan Patch Awards banquet, will take place Sunday, Feb. 27, and can be seen on the USTA’s website, www.ustrotting.com.

Todd Roberts is spearheading the production efforts through his Roberts Communications Network, a Las Vegas-based organization. Roberts Communications will also be a sponsor of the pioneering narrowcast, along with the USTA, and New York’s Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs racetracks.

The narrowcast will begin about 7:30 p.m. and figures to continue until approaching the 11 p.m. hour. The awards honoring the outstanding humans of harness racing in 2010 will kick off the broadcast; after a short dinner break, the honoring of the equine stars of this past year will round out the program.

Further information will be available on the USTA website in the days ahead.

The banquet is a sellout, with almost 400 expected to be in attendance. (Maybe a few of the attendees will bring along their Wi-Fi laptops and watch both the “live” and “web” shows!)

For those to be in attendance in Florida, USHWA alerts you to “GO Airport Shuttle,” a service that will take you to and from the Fort Lauderdale Airport and the weekend’s headquarters hotel, the Marriott North Fort Lauderdale (and likely other area hotels if you are staying there). Reservations with GO can be made online at www.floridalimo.com, and a credit card can take care of payment on the spot.