from the United States Harness Writers Association

Harrisburg, PA — The United States Harness Writers Association have chosen Lia Eustachewich and Jessica Schroeder as 2009 USHWAns of the Year.

“It was too close to call,” said the committee charged with picking the winner, so for the first time in the award’s 31-year history, it will go to more than one recipient. The award is given annually to a member of the organization who has given outstanding service to the Association — and thus to harness racing.

Eustachewich and Schroeder, 22 and 25, respectively, are both active in the sport as well as integral parts of the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop.

“It would have been hard to have a workshop for the past two years without Lia and Jessica,” said USHWA president and workshop co-chair Debbie Little. “Lia was working three part-time jobs and going to school and Jessica had to take time off work and fly or drive across the country.”

Both Eustachewich and Schroeder are workshop graduates.

These young ladies were viewed by the committee as “the faces of tomorrow and a driving force that will take USHWA into the future.”

Bloomfield, New Jersey resident Eustachewich had no concept of harness racing before attending the workshop in 2007, but fell in love with it immediately. She has covered the Yonkers Trot, Peter Haughton and New York Night of Champions, among other events, for several publications, including the New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer and Harness Eye.

She is a 2009 graduate of New York’s Baruch College and is currently working as a sports web editor at the New York Daily News.

A third generation horsewoman, Schroeder is a licensed trainer who grew up working and racing at the county fairs in Wisconsin and Illinois.

She graduated in 2006 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and went to work in the marketing department at Thoroughbred Times magazine in Lexington and as a caretaker for the Pete Foley Stable.

She currently works for the U.S. Trotting Association as the assistant fair liaison.

Eustachewich and Schroeder will receive their awards at USHWA’s annual Night of Champions Awards banquet on Sunday, February 28, at Empire City at Yonkers Raceway. For further information on the banquet or to place an ad in the souvenir Journal please contact Dave Little at 212.210.1691.