The United States Harness Writers Association has announced that its 2020/21 USHWA Youth Membership drive has produced a talented triple-dead-heat finish.

Brief profiles of the three latest USHWA Youth members appear below.

Tony Elliott (Twitter: @elliottracing99; pictured below leading a horse) was recently hired as assistant to the general manager at Hanover Raceway in Ontario. The 20-year-old University of Western Ontario student is a writer, handicapper, Standardbred owner, and harness racing promoter. Tony is also Hanover's on-track analyst, and was profiled on the Ontario Racing website earlier this year.

Grady Hachey (Twitter: @grady_hachey; pictured below in a Blue Jays cap) made headlines in the Fredericton Gleaner newspaper in 2017, when he called matinee races at Fredericton Exhibition Raceway in his New Brunswick hometown. He was 12 years old at the time. Grady continues to develop his racecalling and writing skills, while also assisting a local trainer.

Edison Hatter (Twitter: Edison_1999_l; pictured below in suit and tie) is a 20-year-old University of Maryland student who is Rosecroft Raceway's Wednesday-night announcer. His skills also include writing, handicapping, and promoting the sport. Look for an upcoming article about Hatter, written by USHWA Youth Committee Chair Melissa Keith.

Nominations for this year's youth memberships ended on June 1. The memberships have been generously sponsored by Tim Konkle, the editor of the Midwest Harness Report, since they were introduced in 2018. Konkle has covered the first year of new USHWA youth members' dues ($20) for the past three years, and has encouraged talented young participants in harness racing and its media side.

The three latest USHWA Youth members join Nathan Bain, Jessica Hallett, Nicholas Barnsdale, and Ryder Skinner as the next generation of emerging talent to join the world's oldest organization for harness racing communicators.

The USHWA Youth Membership category was founded to help youth (under age 21) with a demonstrated interest in Standardbred media participate in their local USHWA chapter meetings and activities, and connect with resources like the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop, USHWA chapter scholarships, and relevant networking opportunities. Please contact the committee chair if interested in finding out more, or in offering opportunities for USHWA Youth to further their skills in harness racing media.

(USHWA)