OHHA Awards Banquet/Meeting set for Jan. 15

Grove City, Ohio –The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting will be held January 15, 2022, at the Hilton Columbus-Polaris, 8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, Ohio.

Ten divisional harness racing equine winners will be honored at the banquet as well as the naming of the 2021 Ohio Horse of the Year.  The OHHA will also present the Dick Brandt Sr. Extra Effort Award, the Terry Holton Youth Award, the 2021 Outstanding Groom Award, the Maynard & Stella Hagemeyer Significant Contribution Award and OHHA Special Recognition Awards.  In addition, the United States Harness Writers Association – Ohio Chapter annual awards will also be presented as will the Ohio State Racing Commission’s Kaltenbach Awards.

Prior to the awards banquet, the annual First Lady’s Luncheon will take place Saturday afternoon.  The luncheon will include a charitable project to benefit With God’s Grace Mobile Food Pantry of the Dayton area.  Guest speaker, Executive Director Nicole Adkins will provide insight and detail into the organization’s goal to “eradicate hunger through compassion, dedication and helping from the heart.”  Attendees are asked to bring a canned food item to be donated.

Artist Anne Lufkin will also lead a painting project for those attending the First Lady’s Luncheon.

A stallion auction to benefit P.A.C.E.R. (Political Action Committee for Equine Racing) will take place.  The auction will begin January 5^th with on-line bidding at http://onGait.com.  Phone bidding will be available beginning January 15^th at 9am by calling 614-221-3650 or 800-353-6442.  Telephone bidding will close at 5pm.

OHHA Banquet Agenda: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022
9:00 a.m.–Stallion Auction opens via phone (online starts Jan. 5^th)
11:30 a.m.–Ladies Luncheon
1:00 p.m.– OHHA Annual Membership Meeting
4:00 p.m.–Cocktail Hour-Cash Bar
5:00 p.m.–Stallion Auction phone bidding closes
5:00 p.m.–Dinner Seating
5:30 p.m.–OHHA Awards Banquet
9:00 p.m.–Awards Banquet After Party. Includes live entertainment and cash bar.

Tickets to the banquet are $30 each and can be purchased by calling the OHHA office at 614-221-3650.  Reservation forms are also available on the OHHA website at www.ohha.com.

For hotel reservations, contact the Hilton Columbus-Paris at 614-885-1600.  Ask for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association block to get discounted room rate.

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA