Nominations now open for Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year

Lexington, KY — Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Caretaker of the Year. The award, sponsored by Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm in conjunction with the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), recognizes the unsung heroes of harness racing: the caretakers who maintain the health and welfare of the horses on a daily basis.

Any caretaker working for any stable or farm in North America is eligible to be honored as the Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year. All that is needed to nominate is an email or letter that consists of 200 words minimum from an individual or group detailing the skills and special qualities of the caretaker.

The Fair Island Farm Caretaker of the Year will receive a cash prize of $2,500 as well as transportation costs to the USHWA Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, in Orlando, Fla, on Sunday night (Feb. 23, 2025) where he or she will be recognized and presented with a trophy. The winner will also enjoy a two-night stay at Rosen Centre, host hotel for the USHWA activities, as well as two complimentary dinner tickets. All nominated caretakers will receive a certificate recognizing their accomplishments.

“Leah and I are honored to continue the tradition of recognizing caretakers and the hard work they do on a daily basis,” said Zubrod. “And it is especially gratifying to honor one most-deserving person as the Caretaker of the Year.”

Initially titled the Groom of the Year Award when first presented in 1982, the honor was instituted as a result of a suggestion made by Delvin Miller at the annual Harness Tracks of America meeting when he received HTA’s Stanley F. Bergstein Messenger Award. Previously sponsored annually by HTA and Hanover Shoe Farms, the tradition was continued in 2015 by MGM Northfield Park and USHWA, with Fair Island Farm coming on board in 2019.

“The U.S. Harness Writers Association is once again pleased to be able to honor the Caretaker of the Year in our Dan Patch Awards presentation,” said USHWA president Michael Carter. “Great thanks to Art and Leah for their sponsorship of this award through their Fair Island Farm. The caretakers are so important to this sport and it is especially gratifying to be able to work with Fair Island Farm in the recognition of these outstanding individuals.”

The winner will be chosen by an eight-person selection committee comprised of USHWA members, all of whom are former caretakers: Tim Bojarski (chair), Kim Rinker, Tom Charters, Moira Fanning, Jessica Hallett, Dean Hoffman, Mary McDermott and Shawn Wiles.

All nomination letters and emails must be received and/or postmarked by Friday (Dec. 6) and sent to chairman Bojarski at a159star@gmail.com or mailed to Tim Bojarski, 7523 Maple Road, Akron, NY 14001.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA