The United States Harness Writers' Association this afternoon released highlights from its annual meeting, held in conjunction with the Harness Racing Congress in Las Vegas.
Murray Brown and Jim Moran, laudable veterans of the racing game, were picked as ballot candidates for election to the Communicators Hall of Fame this summer. USHWA president Debbie Little was voted in for a second year, while Jason Settlemoir of Tioga/Vernon was selected for the position of 1st vice president and in an election for the second vice-presidency, Steve Wolf of the Isle Pompano Park was voted into office.
The remainder of the officers who retained their positions were Alan Prince (treasurer), Jerry Connors (secretary), Bill Brown (executive secretary) and Judy Davis-Wilson (chairperson of the board).
USHWA states that there were the usual committee reports, perhaps none so detailed or fascinating as the report of Tim Bojarski, USHWA’s Member of the Year, who spoke of both the quick growth in popularity of USHWA’s website and a plan to involved more fans in USHWA through associate memberships and contests.
Thought was given to the 2010 national meeting and awards dinner, and of the names bandied about, two racetracks enlivened by slots revenue generated the most discussion – Yonkers Raceway near New York City, and Chester Downs in suburban Philadelphia.
The dinner journal, produced by Debbie Little and her husband Dave, along with creative guru Rick Smith, sold a record number of congratulatory ads, which help fund USHWA. The organization also stated that there were very few left behind after the dinner crowd cleared out.
USHWA would like to extend thanks to Jim Simpson of Hanover Shoe Farms for donating a breeding to benefit USHWA, and to Jeff Gural of Tioga and Vernon Downs for again sponsoring the Hervey and Smallsreed Awards.
(With files from USHWA)