Dan Patch Rising Star Award

The Dan Patch Rising Star Award is an annual award created in 1986 by members of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA). The award recognizes the exceptional early accomplishments of a young harness horse trainer and/or driver. The Association's website states that their members' determination is aided by input from the American Harness Racing Secretaries plus logistic expertise provided by the United States Trotting Association.[1]

The Dan Patch Rising Star Award is one of several categories in the Dan Patch Award program named for the legendary pacer Dan Patch (1896-1916).[2]


Past winners:[3][4]

  • 2000 : Stéphane Bouchard
  • 1999 : Eric Ledford
  • 1998 : Robert Stewart
  • 1997 : Daniel Dubé
  • 1996 : George Brennan
  • 1995 : Liz Quesnel
  • 1994 : Jack Baggit, Jr.
  • 1993 : David Miller
  • 1992 : Luc Ouellette
  • 1991 : Brian Sears
  • 1990 : Jerry Riordan
  • 1989 : Kenneth Seeber
  • 1988 : Brian Allen
  • 1987 : Joseph Essig, Jr.
  • 1986 : Richard Silverman
  1. ^ United States Harness Writers Association website Retrieved October 5, 2016
  2. ^ USHWA 2015 Dan Patch Award winners Retrieved November 3, 2016
  3. ^ United States Harness Writers Association Rising Star Award Winners Archived 2016-04-21 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved October 5, 2016
  4. ^ "Past Award Winners". United States Harness Writers Association. Retrieved February 14, 2023.