The Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association will hand out its annual awards at the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association banquet on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at the Columbus Marriott Northwest (Dublin).

The Ohio Chapter has voted Brian Brown as the recipient of the Winner’s Circle Award for the Ohioan who has achieved outstanding accomplishments in the past year; named Hunter Myers as the Peter Haughton Memorial Award winner as the young Ohioan who is an “up-and-coming” star among harness horsemen; elected George Alber into the Immortal Hall of Fame; selected Buck I St Pat into the Standardbred Hall of Fame; and will honour Dr. Robert Schwartz as the winner of the Rambling Willie Award for the Ohioan who has done the most for harness racing over the past two decades.

Brown, 50, secured a career-best 106 training wins and $2.1 in earnings in 2014. The native of Upper Sandusky, Ohio conditioned Jugette champion Colors A Virgin ($532,622 in 2014), Lost For Words ($200,286), Candys A Virgin ($181,371) and Friskie Lil Devil ($177,266).

Hunter Myers is the 16-year-old resident of Williamsport, Ohio. Myers had 17 wins in 105 seasonal starts to garner an impressive .342 drivers rating. Myers earned his first career win on July 11, 2014 at the Wellston Fair with Uptown Dreamer.

Alber, a native of Marion, Ohio, was a highly respected businessmen and longtime owner/breeder. His top horses included the trotting mare Sara Rodney and Sara Flo. Alber owned the Marion Plant Life Fertilizer Company and upon his death donated more than $32 million to Marion area charities and organizations, including the Matinee Club Barn at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

Three-time USTA Trotting Mare of the Year Buck I St Pat was one of the greatest Ohio-bred trotters ever to compete. The daughter of Jailhouse Jesse was campaigned by Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen and Ron Fuller during her seven-year career. Buck I St Pat won 51 of 106 lifetime starts, including two Breeders Crown finals, the Armbro Flight, the Classic Series final, the Conway Hall, the American National and two Maxie Lee Memorial titles. She earned $2.32 million in purses and is credited with a lifetime mark of 1:51.

Dr. Robert Schwartz has been a veterinarian for the state’s largest nursery, Midland Acres, for 43 years. Schwartz has been the farm’s vet since his graduation from Ohio State University in 1971. Schwartz is also a member of the Fayette County Fair Board and leads their racing program.

For banquet or ticket information, please visit www.OHHA.com or call (800) 353-6442.

(USHWA)