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Tioga Strong will receive the 2023 January Davies Humanitarian Award from the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), the harness racing sport’s largest organization of communicators.
The award was created in 2008 by U.S. Harness Writers Association member Callie Davies-Gooch in memory of her daughter to recognize contributions beyond harness racing, and it is given annually at the Dan Patch Awards Banquet.
After the devastating tragedy on November 9 at Tioga Downs when an arsonist set fire to a barn, leading to 30 horses perishing and an overwhelming loss to the horsemen, the aftermath saw a following of immense support by everyone in and out of the racing community.
Donations poured in through GoFundMe by people around the world. Major breeders and farms auctioned off breedings with all funds going to support the Tioga Strong cause.
Events, photos, artwork, and stories were created in tribute to the horses that lost their lives and to the horsemen that lost their worlds. Multiple horse trailers filled with equipment made their way across the country in every direction, headed for the final destination of the racetrack in Nichols, New York. The equipment and supplies filled an entire barn and were accompanied by donated racehorses. Altogether, over $800,000 was raised to go to those that lost everything in the early hours of November 9.
The Tioga Strong movement saw the greatest facets in humankind rally around the horses and horsemen in which people did and gave anything they could think of to show their support. An unthinkable tragedy and an unforgettable day in the history of harness racing was met with the unity of all. Though competitive on the racetrack, Tioga Strong was one demonstration of how horsemen come together like no other occupation and no other population to help one another in a time of need.
“January loved horses and gave a lot of herself to our industry. I know she would be very pleased to have this award go to Tioga Strong, knowing that it would help the horsemen and women to recover,” said Callie Davies-Gooch, January’s mother and the award’s originator and administrator.
Tioga Strong will be recognized at the 2023 Dan Patch Awards Banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, which will honor the best of the best of harness racing, both human and equine. Jessica Hallett, a two-time award winner at the Banquet due in no small part to her efforts in helping the massive relief campaign, will accept the award on behalf of the Tioga Strong movement.
The banquet will take place on Sunday, Feb. 25 at the Rosen Centre on International Drive in Orlando, Fla.
Room reservations at Rosen Centre for the star-studded Dan Patch Awards weekend can be made at the USHWA website at usharnesswriters.com.
Sponsorship opportunities for the event can be procured from sponsorship chairman Shawn Wiles at swiles@rwcatskills.com.
Advertisements in the souvenir journal can be arranged with journal chairman Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com. The advertising deadline is Jan. 31. For a journal advertising form, click here.
Tickets for the banquet can be procured from ticket chairman Judy Davis-Wilson at zoe8874@aol.com or Liz Cheesman at Elizabeth.Cheesman@winbakfarm.com. For a ticket order form, click here.
