Nominations are now being accepted for Harness Tracks of America's 2012 'Groom of the Year' Award.

The award, sponsored annually by Harness Tracks of America and Hanover Shoe Farms, recognizes the unsung heroes of the sport, the grooms who maintain the health and welfare of the sport's horses.

All that is needed to nominate a groom for the 31st annual Groom of the Year Award is a letter from an individual or group to Harness Tracks of America detailing the skills and special qualities of the groom.

The winning groom receives an oil painting of himself or herself with the horse of their choice. All individuals nominated for the award receive a certificate of excellence and the first 50 grooms nominated also receive an embroidered jacket as a groom of the year nominee.

The Groom of the Year Award was founded in 1982 after Delvin Miller, addressing attendees at the annual HTA meeting as its Messenger Award winner for that year, noted the sport gave no recognition to its grooms, its unsung stars. The 2011 Groom of the Year was Greg Haverstick.

The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2012. All letters detailing why candidates are deserving of the honour as groom of the year should be mailed to Harness Tracks of America, 12025 E. Dry Gulch Pl., Tucson, AZ, 85749. Nominations also may be submitted by fax to 520-529-3235 or by email to [email protected]. Letters must contain the name, address, telephone number and jacket size (S, M, L, XL, XXL) for the nominated groom, along with the name, address and telephone number of the nominator.

(HTA)