by Steve Wolf, for USHWA
Orlando, FL — On Sunday, February 12, 2012, the United States Harness Writers Association will host its annual national awards dinner in Orlando, Fla. Highlights include the presentation of the prestigious Dan Patch Awards, which go to the 2011 harness horses of the year. Other awards will honor the leading men and women in the sport for the past year.
This year there will be a special memorial celebration of the life of the only member of both the Living Hall of Fame and the Communicators Corner, Stanley F. Bergstein, who died Nov. 2, 2011.
This year, the Dan Patch Awards dinner is being held at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando. Tickets are on sale at $125 each. Tables of ten are available for $1,250, and seating is limited to the first 500 people who purchase tickets. Ticket order deadline is February 1, 2012.
The cocktail party begins at 6 p.m. and the USHWA awards dinner program starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be simulcast live on video streaming. In addition, a silent auction benefiting the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and USHWA will be held, along with a live auction featuring rare pieces of harness racing and sports art plus special multi-prize raffle drawings.
To make hotel reservations at the Doubletree Hilton at Orlando SeaWorld, call 800.327.0363 and ask for the special rate for the U.S. Harness Writers Association or Dan Patch Awards, or go to the special USHWA hotel website at this link. Rooms must be booked by January 12, 2012, to receive the discounted rate.
Special Orlando discounts are offered to USHWA guests by Visit Orlando. They have a webpage designed just for the event with transportation (airport to hotel), rental cars, Disney and other attraction discounts. The Visit Orlando website is at this link.
For those wishing to congratulate the 2011 honorees, there is an USHWA banquet journal, Ad deadline is January 12, 2012 (camera ready only). For an ad form and rates, go to www.ushwa.org or contact Kim Rinker at 708.557.2790 or e-mail trotrink@aol.com.