Robert (Bob) Lasky has been selected as the recipient of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s 2019 Service To Youth Award. He will accept his plaque at the Dan Patch Awards on February 23, 2020 in Orlando.

“Without Bob’s willingness to assist with the trucking, this past summer’s programs would likely have been very limited. Bob stepped up to get the organization shipped through the first few weeks in the Midwest and got the horses safely to the East coast so we could continue our travels,” explained HHYF President Adam Bowden. “He then put us in contact with others in the horse transportation field so we could get to each of our locations in July and August. Bob epitomizes a caring guy who is willing to help whenever and wherever he can.”

When informed of his honour, Bob was humbled. “I am very pleased. My time this summer with HHYF was fantastic. Seeing the participants around the horses renewed my appreciation for the importance of introducing young people to harness racing. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘living life on the HHYF edge’ (our informal summer slogan),” he joked.

The Service To Youth Award is given annually to an outstanding individual, group, or farm who has contributed significantly to the mission of HHYF. The award depicts old-time trainer Curly Smart sitting on a bucket in a shed row as he gives instruction to an attentive young student.

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation has been making a difference in young people's lives since 1976; its programs include interactive learning experiences with racehorses as well as offering scholarships and creating and distributing educational materials relating to harness racing.

For more information on opportunities through HHYF, or to support its mission, go to www.hhyf.org or call 317.908.0029.

(HHYF)