For the second consecutive year, a Delaware resident has won the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s Service To Youth Award.

The 2013 award goes to second-generation horsewoman Janet Stevenson Davis, who follows the University of Delaware’s Susan Truehart Garey as the winner of HHYF’s most prestigious honour.

The Service To Youth Award is given annually to individuals, farms, or organizations that exemplify outstanding effort in facilitating youth participation in harness racing. Recipients show exceptional assistance (either financially or educationally as a catalyst) to existing HHYF programs or in their own successful efforts.

Davis joins a distinguished list of Service To Youth honourees which includes the Hanover Shoe Farms Foundation, Noel Daley, John Campbell, Martin Scharf, Brittany Farms, Odds On Racing, Steve Wolf and Ellen Harvey. (A complete list of winners is available here).

“I’m speechless,” said Davis.” I’m so honoured to be recognized by HHYF. It’s such a great organization and that they think I deserve an award, that’s great. I don’t do this for awards, I do it to help. That’s just me.”

Announcing the award, HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor had high praise for Davis. “Janet epitomizes the best of harness racing with her indefatigable positive attitude. She has never hesitated to assist HHYF in whatever way we requested and even in ways we haven’t. Her enthusiasm for helping the industry and young people, makes her most deserving of this year’s Service To Youth Award.”

(Harness Horse Youth Foundation)