by Gerry Connors, for the United States Harness Writers Association
Harrisburg, PA — Not much more than a month remains before the Dan Patch Awards banquet, honoring Stan Bergstein, and the annual meetings of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. And not much more than a week remains before you can no longer get a discounted room rate at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Orlando (FL) SeaWorld for the gala festivities!
The Dan Patch Banquet, honoring the top industry achievers, both human and equine, will take place on Sunday evening, February 12, at the DoubleTree Hilton Orlando, just after the annual meetings of USHWA.
To make hotel reservations at the Doubletree Hilton at Orlando SeaWorld, call 800.327.0363 and ask for the special rate for the Dan Patch Awards, or U.S. Harness Writers Association, or go to the special USHWA Hotel website by clicking on this link.
Rooms must be booked by January 16.
You can also check out the special Orlando discounts offered to USHWA guests by Visit Orlando. They have a special webpage designed just for us with transportation (airport to hotel), rental cars, Disney and other attraction discounts. Our special Visit Orlando website can be reached by clicking on this link.
Dinner tickets, priced at $125 each, are obtainable through Steve Wolf at stevejw@bellsouth.net or Callie Davies-Gooch at callie@hambletonian.org, 732.547.9459.
And if you would like to take out a Dinner Journal congratulatory ad honoring an award winner (or a “thank you” ad if you are a winner, or are grateful for Bergstein’s immense contributions to harness racing), please contact Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com, 708.557.2790. (The Journal will be “closing” quickly as it readies to be sent to the printer, so please reserve your ad space today!)
Here is the list of award winners announced to date:
2YO trotting colt–Possess The Will
2YO trotting filly–Check Me Out
2YO pacing colt–Sweet Lou
2YO pacing filly–Economy Terror
3YO trotting colt–Broad Bahn
3YO trotting filly–Cedar Dove
3YO pacing colt–Roll With Joe
3YO pacing filly–See You At Peelers
Older trotting horse–San Pail
Older trotting mare–Action-Broadway
Older pacing horse–Foiled Again
Older pacing mare–Anndrovette
Trotting Broodmare of the Year–Armbro Vanquish
Pacing Broodmare of the Year–Sweet Future
(Trotter, Pacer, and Horse of the Year to be announced at banquet)
Living Hall of Fame–Jimmy Takter
Communicators Hall of Fame–Jean Emerson
Communicators Hall of Fame–Moira Fanning
Proximity Award–Roger Huston
Woolworth Owner of the Year–John Fielding
Garnsey Trainer of the Year–Ron Burke
USHWA and HTA Driver of the Year–George Brennan
Rising Star Award–Dan Noble
Barasch Breakthrough Award–Frank M. Antonacci
W.R. Haughton Good Guy Award–Larry Lederman
Pooler Unsung Hero Award–Dr. Karyn Malinowski
January Davies Humanitarian Award–Karin Olsson-Burgess
Prince USHWAn of the Year–Leon Zimmerman
President’s Awards–Jeff Gural, Tom Luchento, Leo McNamara
Amateur Driver of the Year–Kelly Walker
Railbird Award–Person–Jeff Gural
Railbird Award–Event–the Little Brown Jug (Big Bad John)
HHYF Service To Youth Award–Hanover Shoe Farm Foundation