The United States Harness Writers Association's has announced that the annual Dan Patch Awards banquet will return to Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando, Fla., for the third year in a row in 2020.

The banquet, which honours the best equines and humans in the sport, will take place during the evening of Sunday, February 23.

Rosen Shingle Creek played host to the Dan Patch Award weekend for the first time in 2018 and proved such a popular venue the past two years that it was unanimously voted to again return to the stunning 230-acre property. There have been ‘four-star reviews’ of the last two dinners – that latter of which included a surprise appearance by Stan Bergstein-Proximity Award winner Foiled Again that many proclaimed one of the most memorable moments ever in racing.

"USHWA is ecstatic to return to Rosen Shingle Creek for the third consecutive year," said USHWA President Shawn Wiles. "This is a first-class venue that our dinner quests and attendees thoroughly enjoy coming to."

All the award winners will be announced in advance of the dinner except for Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year, and Horse of the Year. The names of those three prestigious award winners will remain sealed in envelopes and revealed at the conclusion of the dinner.

As for Rosen Shingle Creek, the site is located just off Universal Boulevard, within 10 minutes of the Orlando International Airport and minutes from all area attractions. Rosen Shingle Creek is a five-star property that is ranked a top-20 U.S. meeting hotel by Cvent. The property includes an 18-hole, Arnold Palmer-redesigned golf course, four swimming pools, a spa that includes nine treatment rooms, two lighted tennis courts, sand volleyball, basketball and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.

There are 15 restaurant/lounges located on the property, including the upscale steakhouse A Land Remembered, the fine-dining bistro Cala Bella, Banrai Sushi, Mi Casa Tequila Taqueria, and a 24-hour deli.

As part of the weekend, USHWA's annual general membership meeting will take place earlier on Sunday morning, with its board of directors meeting the previous afternoon on Saturday, February 22.

More details will be made available on the USHWA website and through trade media as they become available throughout the year.

USHWA would again like to thank this year's sponsors, which included:

McWicked; Crazy Wow & Crawford Farms; Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association; Southwind Frank Partners; Shartin N connections; AM Bloodstock; Six Pack connections; Harrah's Hoosier Park; Delaware Valley USHWA; Bow River Jewelry; Fennell's Tack Shop; Embroidery Unlimited; Nick Surick, the Hambletonian Society; George Brennan; Hanover Shoe Farms; and the United States Trotting Association.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the weekend, including Dan Patch Presenting Sponsor, live video streaming sponsor, Red Carpet reception and live feed sponsor hosted by Heather Vitale and Heather Wilder, please contact Wiles at: [email protected].

(With files from USHWA)