Caesars Entertainment to sponsor 2025 Dan Patch Awards banquet

Lexington, KY — The U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) is proud to announce that the 2025 Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, will be held Sunday night (Feb. 23) at Rosen Centre on the famed International Drive in Orlando, Fla.

This will mark the fourth year in a row that Caesars Entertainment will be the title sponsor for the awards banquet, which honors the year’s best equines and humans in harness racing. Caesars operates three harness racing venues in the United States: Scioto Downs in Ohio, Harrah’s Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and Hoosier Park in Indiana.

“Caesars is proud to be the title sponsor once again for the Dan Patch Awards,” said Joe Morris, senior vice president of racing for Caesars. “We are committed to supporting harness racing and honoring the sport’s year-end champions.”

“We are delighted to have Caesars back again this year,” said USHWA President Michael Carter. “We are also thrilled to return to Rosen Centre, which is a first-class facility and was a great host site for the 2024 Dan Patch Awards weekend earlier this year.”

USHWA will hold its annual directors’ meeting on Saturday (Feb. 22), with its general membership meeting the morning of the banquet.

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 satisfy 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.

All standard rooms under the USHWA block are $209 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.

Further details about the banquet including dinner ticket information and advertising in the souvenir journal will be posted as they become more established on USHWA’s website and on the major websites and social media covering the sport.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the weekend, please contact USHWA President Michael Carter at ushwamcarter@gmail.com or Shawn Wiles at swiles@empireresorts.com.

From the U.S. Harness Writers Association