The deadline for
nominations for the 2020 Caretaker of the Year, sponsored by Art Zubrod and
Leah Cheverie’s Fair Island Farm in conjunction with the United States Harness
Writers Association (USHWA), is nearing on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. The Fair
Island Farm Caretaker of the Year Award recognizes the unsung heroes of the
sport — 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 the Fair Island Farm
Caretaker of the Year. All that is needed to nominate is a letter or email, 200
words minimum, from an individual or group detailing the skills and special
qualities of the caretaker.
“Leah and I were very
honored to continue the tradition of recognizing the outstanding caretaker of
the year last year and we look forward to again rewarding an exceptional
individual this year,” said Zubrod. “While the racing season may have been
altered a bit with the covid-19 pandemic, caretakers continued to work as hard
as ever. A caretaker’s work is important to the success of not only the horse,
but the entire stable.”
The Fair Island Farm
2020 Caretaker of the Year will receive a cash prize of $500 and a trophy that
will include a photo of the winning caretaker and a favorite horse.
“In 2020, caretakers
have had to endure and persevere in spite of the overwhelming obstacles
associated with the pandemic,” said USHWA President Kim Rinker. “These folks
are the backbone of our industry and have seen to it that racing has continued
to not only survive, but thrive, in these troubled times. This award is a
shout-out to grooms across North America and beyond who dutifully care for
their equine athletes.”
All nomination
letters and emails must be received and/or postmarked by Monday, Dec. 21, 2020,
and sent to committee chairman Tim Bojarski at a159star@gmail.com or mailed to
Tim Bojarski, 7523 Maple Road, Akron, N.Y. 14001. With the deadline near, it is
recommended to email all nomination letters at this point.
The winner will be
chosen by a seven-person selection committee comprised of USHWA members, all of
whom are former caretakers: Bojarski, Tom Charters, Moira Fanning, Dean
Hoffman, Rob Pennington, Kim Rinker, and Shawn Wiles.
