The U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) has announced that the 2024 Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, will be held Sunday night, Feb. 25, at the Rosen Centre on the famed International Drive in Orlando, Florida.

This will mark the third year in a row that Caesars Entertainment will be the title sponsor for the awards banquet, which honours the year’s best equines and humans in harness racing. Caesars operates three harness racing venues in the United States: Eldorado Scioto Downs in Ohio; Harrah’s Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Indiana, the host track for the 2023 Breeders Crown championships in October.

“Caesars is proud to be the title sponsor for the third year in a row of the Dan Patch Awards,” said Joe Morris, senior vice-president of racing for Caesars. “We are committed to supporting harness racing and honouring the sport’s year-end champions.”

“We are delighted to have Caesars back again this year,” said USHWA President Barry Lefkowitz. “They operate terrific venues and realize the importance of the Dan Patch Awards to the harness racing industry.”

The 2024 Dan Patch Awards banquet will be held at Rosen Centre for the first time after being hosted since 2018 at Rosen Shingle Creek. Due to scheduling conflicts with Shingle Creek and optimum dates not available, USHWA’s location committee deemed it best to hold the 2024 banquet and meetings at Rosen Centre.

“We are thrilled to be able to have the Dan Patch Awards weekend hosted by Rosen Centre in 2024,” said Lefkowitz. “When we were unable to get the dates we preferred at Shingle Creek, our locations committee discussed several options. We enlisted a USHWA representative to go to Rosen Centre and conduct a site survey, and after a thumbs-up approval, we all agreed Rosen Centre was easily the best choice.”

With more than 1,300 rooms, the impressive 24-story Rosen Centre is just 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport and soars high above all of International Drive’s best nightlife, shopping and attractions.

Guests can enjoy the outdoor Olympic-size tropical pool or quench their appetite at one of the hotel’s nine dining and lounging options. Dan Patch attendees will receive a 10 per cent discount at the following select restaurant outlets: Everglades, a fine-dining experience with offerings including prime steaks and fresh seafood; Café Gauguin; Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill; 98Forty Tapas & Tequila; and Banshoo Sushi Bar.

For any attendee wishing to travel the short distance to Rosen Shingle Creek, the 10 per cent discount will also be available at restaurants including A Land Remembered and Cala Bella by mentioning they are with the U.S. Harness Writers Association upon making reservations or with the server. Anyone who wishes to play golf at Rosen Shingle Creek can do the same and receive a 20 per cent discount.

Further details about the banquet (room reservations, dinner ticket information and advertising in the souvenir journal) will be posted as they become more established on USHWA’s website (usharnesswriters.com) and on the major websites and social media covering the sport. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the weekend, please contact USHWA President Barry Lefkowitz at [email protected] or Shawn Wiles at [email protected].

(USHWA)