Florida Chapter USHWA

15/12/2025

Congratulations Bill O'Donnell. Very well-deserved honor!

William (Bill) O’Donnell, who had one of the greatest careers a driver has ever had and has stayed a major influence as president of the Central Ontario Standardbred Association, has been voted the winner of the United States Harness Writers Association's Stan Bergstein-Proximity Award.

20/11/2025

This Saturday morning (November 22), harness racing driver Joseph Fiorello will suit-up in his designed racing silks and put his undefeated winning streak on

12/11/2025

Time to get your entries submitted!

USHWA seeks entries for Media Awards
Hightstown, NJ by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager – The best of harness racing journalism in 2025 will be honored by the U.S. Harness Writers Association with the John Hervey Awards for writing, Sam McKee Award for broadcasting, and George Smallsreed Awards for photography. The deadline for entries in all categories is 5 p.m. (EST) Dec. 9.
Entries will be accepted for news/commentary writing, feature writing, broadcasting, race photography and feature photography. Entries published or broadcast between Dec. 1, 2024, and Nov. 30, 2025, are eligible. All entries must be in English.
Judges in each category will select a winner and, where appropriate, up to two honorable mentions. There are no entry fees or cash prizes. Winners will be announced in January and recognized at the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s annual Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, Feb. 22, 2026, at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla.
Entries in all categories should be emailed to [email protected].
A link for the complete details and rules can be found in the press release on the USTA.
https://ustrottingnews.com/ushwa-seeks-entries-for-media-awards/
Questions can be directed to Ken Weingartner, Media Awards Committee chair, at the above email address.

06/11/2025

Bring your lawn chairs and have some fun!

The second leg of the Florida Sunshine Stakes for two and three-year-old trotters and pacers takes place this Saturday (Nov. 8) at the Sunshine Meadows

05/11/2025

Congrats to Hall of Famer and fellow USHWAn, Leon Zimmerman, on the release of his book!

Leon J. Zimmerman, a member of the Harness Racing Communicators Hall of Fame, has written and published a memoir of his favorite stories during a remarkable

30/10/2025

First race post time Saturday morning is 11:00 am.

Coral Springs, FL - The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association will be hosting the opening leg of the Florida Sunshine Stakes Saturday morning

30/10/2025

Coral Springs, FL - The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association will be hosting the opening leg of the Florida Sunshine Stakes Saturday morning

30/10/2025

Great news for USHWA and thank you to Caesars Entertainment!

Caesars Entertainment to sponsor Dan Patch Awards banquet Posted on October 30, 2025October 30, 2025 mcarter Share via: More The U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) is pleased to announce that a three-year agreement has been reached with Caesars Entertainment to sponsor the annual Dan Patch Awa...

09/10/2025

Rosen Shingle Creek is a five-star hotel and has been a superb location for the Dan Patch Awards Weekend!

USHWA’s Dan Patch Awards Return to Rosen Shingle Creek Posted on October 8, 2025October 8, 2025 from the United States Harness Writers Association Share via: More Orlando, FL – The U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) is pleased to announce that the 2026 Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented b...

07/08/2025

Florida Chapter USHWA announces 2025 Allen J Finkelson Scholarship winners

The Florida Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (Florida USHWA) has announced the four candidates who will receive awards this year from the final 2025 Allen J. Finkelson Scholarship program.

This scholarship was established in memory of harness racing communicator Hall of Famer Allen J. Finkelson, the former Vice President of Public Relations at Pompano Park and longtime Chairman of the Board of the national USHWA organization.

“Andrianna Cegielski, Jonathan Clein, Samantha Mills and Sakina Robateau will each receive $1,000 in scholarship funds from our Florida USHWA Chapter,” said committee chair Thomas H. Hicks. “They are outstanding students.”

Preference for these scholarship awards is given to students majoring in journalism, communications, public relations or equine related studies. Applicants must be a resident of the state of Florida and currently accepted or enrolled in a fully accredited college or university in the United States. Criteria for selection also includes community service, academic achievement and leadership.

Andrianna Cegielski of Palm City is a recent graduate of South Fork High School and will be attending Indian River State College in the fall. She graduated with a weighted GPA score of 4.15 and will be a chemistry major leading towards attending veterinarian school. The daughter of Jaroslav and Halina Cegielski, Andrianna is already a CVA Certified Veterinary Assistant and has been an Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation volunteer for the last 7 years.

Jonathan Clein of Wellington is a recent graduate of Suncoast Community High School and will be attending the University of Florida in the fall. He graduated with a weighted GPA score of 4.27 and will major in journalism and communications-media production management and technology. The son of Kenneth and Deborah Clein was a producer at WRSN, the high school news station and was president of the Transaction Entrepreneurship Club.

Samantha Mills of Coconut Creek is a junior at the University of Florida majoring in public relations. She has earned a 3.59 GPA. The daughter of Scott and Shannon Mills has been on the fall and spring academic honor roll and was named the outstanding social media account executive award winner for Alpha PR. She is also a Student Fellow at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and has been a public relations intern at the Florida House of Representatives. This is her second year of winning a Finkelson Scholarship.

Sakina Robateau of Margate is a recent graduate of Pompano Beach High School and will be attending Florida A&M University studying broadcast journalism. She graduated with a weighted GPA score of 4.83. The daughter of Shakira Robateau was a Delta Academic Achievement Award winner in 2024 and 2025. She has been a Kiwanis/Key Club Member for the past three years and is a member of the National Art Honor Society.

On a sad note, due to lack of funding, the Florida Chapter of USHWA will no longer be able to award the Allen J Finkelson Scholarship.

The scholarship was first developed by the Florida Chapter in 1995 after the passing of Allen J Finkelson. The scholarship fund was first seeded by none other than NY Yankees owner George Steinbrenner with a $10,000 donation.

For more information about the Florida Chapter of USHWA visit ushwa-florida.com or go to the Florida Chapter USHWA page.

From the Florida Chapter of USHWA

08/05/2025

Application online for Allen J Finkelson Scholarship

Pompano Beach, FL — Steve Wolf, president of the Florida Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association, has announced that the chapter is now accepting applications for its 2025 Allen J. Finkelson Scholarship.

The scholarship fund was established in memory of Hall of Famer Allen J. Finkelson, the former Vice President of Public Relations at Pompano Park and longtime Chairman of the Board of the national USHWA organization.

Preference for these scholarships will be given to a student majoring in journalism, communications or veterinarian related studies.

Applicants must be a resident of the state of Florida and currently accepted or enrolled in a fully accredited college or university in the United States. Criteria for selection include community service, academic achievement, and leadership.

Applicants must have demonstrated scholastic ability with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and show evidence of community service and leadership through certificates, awards and/or letters of commendation.

Fully completed applications must be postmarked no later than July 15 for consideration for a September award. Recipients may reapply annually for a maximum of four years.

Applications should be submitted/addressed to the Florida Chapter USHWA, Scholarship Committee, 601 N. Federal Hwy. #320, Pompano Beach, FL 33062.

For more information or to receive an application on the internet, visit www.ushwa-florida.com or contact via e-mail Thomas H. Hicks at [email protected] or Steven Wolf at [email protected].

From the Florida Chapter USHWA

Photo below Allen J Finkelson