February 24, 2004

SENATOR CODEY, WRITER ROBERTS,
TO BE HONORED BY HTA

Richard J. Codey, president of the New Jersey Senate, and Bob Roberts, veteran racing writer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, will be honored at Harness Tracks of America’s Night of Stars awards dinner Friday night, March 5, at the Sanibel Harbour Resort in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Senator Codey has served in the New Jersey Senate for 23 years, and was elected president of the 211th session that began January 13 after serving previously as Senate Democratic President and Senate Minority leader from 1998 to 2002. He is past chairman of the Senate Health, Institutions and Welfare committee, and chaired the State Government Committee for six years and played a central role in development of New Jersey’s Casino Control Act. During his entire legislative career he also has played a key role in racing legislation in New Jersey, and it is for that long and consistent interest in racing that HTA is presenting him with its 2004 Distinguished Service Award. Senator Codey also will be keynote speaker at a Thursday, March 4, luncheon of attendees at the joint meeting of HTA and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations.

Bob Roberts has covered harness and thoroughbred racing for the Cleveland Plain Dealer for 19 years, and his coverage and handicapping have been a popular feature of the newspaper among racing fans in Ohio and beyond. Before joining the Plain Dealer, he wrote for the Cleveland Press and the Lake County News-Herald, and was named sports editor of that paper in 1970. He will receive HTA’s Dan Patch award for media contributions to harness racing at the Night of Stars awards dinner.