The 2022 U.S. Horse of the Year will be announced on Sunday night (Feb. 19) at the annual United States Harness Writers Association’s Dan Patch Awards dinner, sponsored by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. But even if you aren’t among the attendees, you will be able to watch the announcement live.
The banquet will be held in the Panzacola F ballroom, with the awards ceremony getting underway at 6:30 p.m. and available to view via the US Harness Writers Facebook page. At approximately 9:30 p.m., emcees Roger Huston, Jason Settlemoir and Dave Little will announce the winner of the E. Roland Harriman Horse of the Year trophy, which follows the revealing of the names of the Trotter of the Year and Pacer of the Year.
The entire video will also be available on the U.S. Trotting Association’s YouTube channel on Monday afternoon (Feb. 20).
Post time for the evening is 5:30 p.m., with the cocktail hour and open bar for the entire evening sponsored by Cameo Hills Farm, Lindy Farms, Preferred Equine and David McDuffee. Also starring on the Runthetable Stable’s Red Carpet will be Heather Vitale and Heather Wilder, with the two Heathers broadcasting live on their individual Facebook pages. It’s your opportunity to see who’s wearing what and what the attendees have to say about the festivities.
The Dan Patch Awards evening will be capped off by a special afterparty in the Butler room, near the ballroom. The three-hour, open-bar afterparty, sponsored by Nancy Takter Stable, Courant Inc./Green Manalishi, Kentuckiana Farms, Svanstedt Stable, Marcus Melander Stable, Lucas Wallin Stable, Noel Daley Stable, Marvin Katz, East Coast Equine and Bluegrass Staking, will be highlighted by local deejay DJ Mike spinning tunes for dancing.
(With files from USHWA)