Harness: Time to make Dan Patch Awards reservations

The U.S. Harness Writers Association’s (USHWA) annual Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesar’s Entertainment, is set for Sunday night (Feb. 25, 2024) at Rosen Centre on International Drive in Orlando, Fla.

The deadline to make room reservations is Friday (Feb. 2) and can be made by using the USHWA link to the hotel’s reservations page. Room reservations may be still available after the deadline but only by calling the hotel at 800.204.7234 and asking for the Dan Patch Awards/USHWA rate.

Attendees, please note that the host hotel for the Dan Patch Awards festivities for the first time will be Rosen Centre.

The Dan Patch Awards banquet annually honors the best and brightest performers, both human and equine, of the previous season. The award winners are selected by USHWA, with all winners already having been announced except for Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year, and Horse of the Year, which will be revealed the night of the banquet. USHWA will hold its annual director’s meeting on Saturday (Feb. 24) and its general membership meeting the morning of the banquet.

The host hotel for the Dan Patch Awards festivities for the first time will be Rosen Centre on International Drive. With more than 1,300 rooms, the impressive 24-story Rosen Centre is just 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport and soars high above all of International Drive’s best nightlife, shopping, and attractions.

Guests can enjoy the outdoor Olympic-size tropical pool or quench their appetite at one of the hotel’s nine dining and lounging options. Dan Patch attendees will receive a 10-percent discount at the following select restaurant outlets: Everglades, a fine-dining experience with offerings including prime steaks and fresh seafood; Café Gauguin; Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill; 98Forty Tapas & Tequila; and Banshoo Sushi Bar.

For any attendee wishing to travel the short distance to Rosen Shingle Creek, the 10-percent discount will also be available at restaurants including A Land Remembered and Cala Bella by mentioning they are with the U.S. Harness Writers Association upon making reservations or with the server.

Anyone who wishes to play golf at Rosen Shingle Creek can do the same and receive a 20-percent discount.

Further details about the banquet (room reservations, dinner ticket information, and advertising in the souvenir journal) will be posted as they become more established on USHWA’s website (www.usharnesswriters.com) and on the major websites and social media covering the sport. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the weekend, please contact USHWA President Barry Lefkowitz at barryl22@aol.com or Shawn Wiles at swiles@empireresorts.com.

All standard rooms under the USHWA block are $199 nightly (plus applicable taxes). For room reservations, please click here for USHWA’s dedicated hotel link. Attendees looking for a king bedroom can place the request under the comments section, and those will be assigned by the front desk based on availability upon arrival.

-edited release (USHWA)