News and Events

For the second time in its history, the event, hosted by the Delaware Valley USHWA chapter, will honor the outstanding performers of the 2007 racing season.

"Dover Downs has become an outstanding "destination" for many organizations for meetings and special events," says USHWA president Judy Davis-Wilson. "With a beautiful banquet facility and an award winning catering staff, the four-star Dover Downs Hotel will have doubled its number of available rooms and parking making it a great place for the 2008 USHWA awards-dinner."

Dover Downs has been recognized by Casino Player magazine as its "Racino of the Year Award" winner in each of the last four years. The Dover Downs Hotel has been rated as Four Star by Keystone AAA and others. The enlarged hotel will boast 500 luxurious rooms with a spacious lobby, 6.000 SF Spa with 11 Spa suites, several dinning rooms including the famed Michele's Gourmet Restaurant for elegant cuisine. Dover Downs harness racing is located adjacent to the hotel and slots casino, only a few steps away.

Annually the U.S. Harness Writers Association honors the outstanding performers of the standardbred season. Following balloting by USHWA members, the sports top honors are presented at its awards-dinner. They include the prestigious Dan Patch awards including the E. Roland Harriman Horse of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Trotter of the Year awards. In addition, the Dan Patch Award for each two-, three- and older division winning male and female trotters and pacers will be presented.

Other distinguished honors presented at the event include the Proximity Award to Ebby Gerry of the Harness Horse Museum; Norman Woolworth Owner of the Year to Teague Inc. (George and Brenda Teague of Houston, Del.); both the Driver of the Year Award and the Rising Star Award go to Tim Tetrick; the Glen Garnsey Trainer of the Year is Steve Elliott, trainer of Southwind Tempo during most of her Grand Circuit season; the W.R. Haughton Good Guy Award; the Leeanne Pooler Unsung Hero Award to David Carr of the U.S.Trotting Association, the Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award to Rodney Mitchell of Dover, Del.; and the Broodmares of the Year Awards to Pacing bred Lismore, dam of standout pacer Lis Mara and the Trotting Broodmare of the Year is D Train, dam of trotting sensation Donato Hanover. Judy Davis-Wilson will present the President's awards.

In addition, the 2008 inductees to the Hall of Fame, Lou Guida, Chuck Coon, and writers Alan Prince and Murray Janoff will be introduced and the John Hervey awards for Newspaper, Magazine, and Broadcast categories will be presented.

The biggest night in harness racing begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. followed by an elegant dinner prepared by the award-winning Dover Downs culinary staff. Entertainment featuring the popular Clarence Smith and On The Edge will follow the presentation of awards.

Local award winners are: Tim Tetrick, the 2006-07 leading driver at Dover Downs and in the sport in 2007, is being honored after breaking both the one-season all-time dash win and money earned by horses he has driven titles. For these unprecedented performances, Tetrick has unanimously earned the Driver of the Year and the Rising Star Award voted by USHWA members.

George and Brenda Teague, will take the coveted 2007 Owner of the Year Award for their stable, Teague Inc., owner of Southwind Lynx, winner of two $1-million stakes, Danae, winner of the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks and Artcotic, the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Pace winner.

Unheralded horse owner for two decades Rodney Mitchell became well know in 2007. During the season, Mitchell was co-owner of a number of top horses with Teague Inc. including Hambletonian Oaks' winner Danae and Breeders Crown champion Artcotic. He will be presented the Lew Barasch Memorail Breakthrough Award honoring an up-and-coming non-trainer or driver. Mitchell also has been a generous contributor to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and a number of other civil organizations.

The trainer of Delaware-based Southwind Tempo, the Three-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year, was conditioned by Steve Elliott, who trained two of the 2007 season's champion performers, to win Glen Garnsey Memorial Trainer of the Year Award. His top horse was Trotter of the Year Donato Hanover, Elliot trained Southwind Tempo, the Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year for Delaware-based Toby Lynch and his partner Wayne Chrebet, former New York Jets receiver who races as Double Down Stable. For Teague and Elliott, this is the second time they receive their award, voted by the harness writers.

Tickets for the USHWA Night of Champions Awards-Dinner are now on sale at $100 per person. Mark Short or Scott Warren handle tickets for the affair and can be reached at 302-398-7595 or e-mail DEValleyUSHWA@aol.com. For hotel reservations call 1-800-711-5882.

For those horsemen and fans attending racing that night at Dover Downs and who want to enjoy the post banquet music and dancing featuring Clarence Smith and the popular On The Edge, featuring music from the '50s to today, The price for the after awards-dinner admission is $35 or $50 for a couple, which includes tickets for two drinks.

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