Ken Weingartner, Media Relations Manager for the United States Trotting Association and a 2019 electee into the Communicators Hall of Fame, has been named Member of the Year of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) by a committee of former winners of the award.
“I can think of no one more deserving than Ken Weingartner to be named USHWAn of the Year,” said Kim Rinker, USHWA President. "Ken is reticent to toot his own horn, but has provided help and exposure a thousand times over for countless members of the harness racing community. He truly is a standout member of our organization."
Weingartner first went to the harness races with his father “before I could walk,” and upon returning to his native New Jersey after college and early newspaper work, his harness racing stories attracted the attention of the USTA, and Weingartner worked for the organization to the title he holds today. Weingartner writes feature stories along with previews and reviews of major races, and also is the point man for the weekly Top 10 ranking of star equines.
For USHWA, Weingartner, entering his 20th year of membership in the organization, serves as the secretary of his New Jersey Chapter. He also serves as the Webmaster of the group’s online site (usharnesswriters.com). Weingartner has been a longtime chairman of the Broadcasters Awards committee, which yearly honours outstanding journalism, and a co-chair of the Clyde Hirt Workshop Committee, which exposes budding communicators to promulgating the sport during Hambletonian Week.
In addition to his election to the Communicators Hall of Fame, Weingartner has been honoured with the Allen Finkelson Golden Pen Award for excellence in harness racing publicity, and also by Harness Horsemen International.
Ken Weingartner will be honoured at USHWA’s Dan Patch Night of Champions Awards Banquet, to be held on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.
(With files from USHWA)