by Tim Bojarski, for USHWA

Akron, NY — Hundreds of voters have thrown 52 names into the mix as their choice to be the recipient of the inaugural “Railbird Recognition Horseperson of the Year Award,” one of two new awards offered by the United States Harness Writers Association, in association with the USTA.

These awards will be given out during the Night of Champions presentation of the Dan Patch Awards. The recipients of these awards will be decided, for the first time anywhere, through voting open to all fans of harness racing. A “Fan” is anyone who loves the sport, whether involved in it or not.

The voters will be choosing one Horseperson of the Year (driver or trainer) and one Racing Moment of the Year (any racing or racing-related event that occurred in 2009) from any track in North America. The winners will be decided by popular vote from all respondents who cast a ballot through a link on the USHWA Web site or at the voting page available on the USTA Web site. The winners will receive their awards in February at Yonkers Raceway along with the regular year end-awards during the USHWA banquet.

So far, (listed in alphabetical order) the nominees for Horseperson of the Year are: Tony Algana, Jeff Amann, Frank Antonacci, Jr., Fran Azur, Larry Baron, Jason Bartlett, Tracy Brainard, George Brennan, Ron Burke, Jim Campbell, John Campbell, Cassie Coleman, Pierre Couture, Neal Ehrhart, Steve Elliot, M. Wayne Givens, Valerie Grondin, Justin Hall, Brent Holland, Jody Jamieson, Marvin Kaufmann, Mike Lachance, Lisa Lederhouse, Anette Lorentzon, Paul MacDonell, Ricky Macomber, Jr., Dave Magee, Andy Miller, David Miller, Julie Miller, Jim Morand, Jim Morrill, Jr., George Napolitano, Jr., Bill O’Donnell, Dave Palone, John Patterson, Jr., Greg Peck, Ron Pierce, Dan Plesac, Thomas Pontone, Toni Rose, Brian Sears, Buzzy Sholty, Jordan Stratton, Anneli Svensson, Kevin Switzer, Jr., Chuck Sylvester, Troy Sylvester, Jimmy Takter, George Teague, Jr., Tim Tetrick, and Trace Tetrick.

Some of the racing moments of the year (in no particular order) that have been nominated are: Won The West’s Breeders Crown, Broadway Schooner’s Hambo Oaks, The Barton Fair in Vermont, Muscle Hill’s Hambo win, Well Said’s Jug win, Napolitano wins 10 at Chester, and the Story of Lucky Jim.

Everyone who votes will automatically be entered into a drawing for 2 free tickets to the 2010 USHWA Dan Patch Awards Dinner at Yonkers Raceway on Sunday, February 28, 2010 and the honor of making the award presentations themselves on stage!

You still have time to nominate your own choices or add support to those already mentioned. But this is your opportunity to choose a 2009 award winner. Voting runs through Thursday, December 31, at 11:59 p.m. It is limited to one vote per category per e-mail address, as is entry into the drawing for the Grand Prize. The prize has no cash value and the decision of the United States Harness Writers Association on all aspects of this contest is final. Winners will be announced on the USHWA Web site on Friday, January 8, 2010. Complete rules are available at www.ushwa.org.

You can cast your ballot through a link at www.ushwa.org or at www.ustrotting.com. Vote today!