For his vision of giving back to life beyond the racetrack, the United States Harness Writers Association has voted Jack Darling two Dan Patch Awards: the Unsung Hero and Good Guy awards.
Darling was the driving force behind two major fundraising efforts in 2014 -- initiating a broad-based fundraising effort to support telecasts of the Meadowlands Pace and the Little Brown Jug and establishing a fund for the family of his late friend and fellow horseman Mark Austin.
Both projects became overwhelming successes. The drive for television fund and the campaign to help Austin’s family -- centered around a “tribute night” to Keith and Ron Waples -- each raised more than $100,000 for their respective causes.
On Wednesday, USHWA also announced that Robbie Siegelman has been selected to receive the January Davies Humanitarian Award.
Siegelman, a New York/New Jersey trainer, has been working with unsung heroes for years –- human heroes, people with daunting life challenges, such as the effects of military service on veterans and their families, the underprivileged of large inner cities, kids battling the horrors of cancer. Siegelman’s special tool is the use of one of the mostly universally-acclaimed means of therapy – the Standardbred horse.
Both men have rung up very good training statistics since the USTA began compiling conditioner standings in 1991, with both individuals having guided the winners of more than $10 million in that period.
Awards for Darling and Siegelman, along with the Dan Patch Horse of the Year and additional human awards, will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. Tickets for this gala event, the Dan Patch Awards Banquet --Night of Champions, are now available.
Tickets for the Dan Patch Awards Banquet are now available can be reserved via telephone or Email by contacting Judy Davis-Wilson at 302-359-3630 or Email: [email protected] or Steve Wolf at 954-654-3757 or Email: [email protected].
Substantial savings on hotel rooms can be attained for this event, which is being held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld. A special rate of $115 can be reserved by calling 407-352-1100 BEFORE January 25, 2015, and mentioning code: Dan Patch.
(USHWA)
Congratulations Jack on these
Congratulations Jack on these two prestigious awards. I have always thought that racing needs a Czar. In my mind you are the perfect candidate to represent Canada.
Gord
The world is full of two
The world is full of two kinds of people, the givers and the takers. The takers eat well but the givers sleep well. Jack Darling can sleep well because he is a giver. He gives passion, persistence, intelligence and leadership to the sport of harness horse racing and in a broader sense he gives all of those estimable qualities to improve the quality of life for his fellow human beings.
Congratulations Jack on being recognized by the USHWA for your exemplary efforts. You are a class act!
Congrats to you Jack.
Congrats to you Jack.
Congratulations Jack, these
Congratulations Jack, these are two very special awards and no one could be more deserving than you . You have repeatedly shown your caring spirit and generosity .The story of your acts of kindness are a refreshing way to close out the old year and welcome in a new one . Thank you for all you do .
Congratulations Jack. You
Congratulations Jack. You must have a great feeling about yourself for these two great efforts. Anyone who can get $550 out of Al & Kendra Casselman deserves all the accolades he receives !!! "Happy, Healthy New Year"