During the cold, winter months, Maine weather dictates a much slower pace for both horse and human. Racetracks are closed and almost silent, except for the steady, methodical sounds of pacers and trotters plodding around the half-mile track in daily jogging routines to be in condition for Maine’s March return to live harness racing. It’s an annual winter ritual.

Each year, the players change, but the routine always remains the same.

During this “down time” from live racing, horsemen’s organizations and agricultural fair associations hold winter meetings and awards banquets honoring outstanding performers from the past racing year. Its also a time for harness racing fans to support the organizations’ efforts and to find out what happened in their sport over the past year and what’s planned for the next year.

Two horse-oriented organizations kick off the winter meeting season in the next two weeks with annual winter meetings – The Down East Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association.

On Friday, Jan. 12, the DEHHA will meet at Miller’s Restaurant in Bangor. The DEHHA is a Standardbred horse organization formed in 1974 to support horsemen at Bangor Raceway both financially and legislatively.

For almost three decades, this non-profit Bangor-based horsemen’s group has provided financial assistance to horsemen racing at Bass Park by holding special events and using the proceeds to make facilities improvements, sponsor races and legislation. DEHHA has spent more than $60,000 on Bass Park projects, plus countless hours of volunteer time.

The agenda for next Friday’s DEHHA meeting begins with a business meeting and election of officers at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Robert W. Spear, Maine’s commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, will speak at 7 p.m. More than 13 DEHHA awards will be presented to owners, drivers and trainers who raced at Bangor Raceway during the 2000 racing season.

The Bangor Daily News’ Harness Horse of the Year award, which was instituted in 1985 and is selected annually by BDN readers, will be presented to the winning owner following the DEHHA awards. More than $200 in cash door prizes will be given out following the awards, compliments of Miller’s Restaurant, Bangor Raceway, DEHHA and The Maine Gate.

There will be no auction at this year’s DEHHA meeting. This is also the last chance to send in an official ballot for BDN Harness Horse of the Year. This is the last time the ballot will be published.

Wendy Glaster, president of DEHHA, said, “We have a great program this year and the awards are well earned and quite varied. We hope we have a good turnout of area horsemen and that they will support the Bangor racing at Bass Park next spring.”

Tickets are $13 each and reservations may be made by writing: DEHHA, P.O. Box 1963, Bangor, ME 04402-1963 or call Joan Corbett, 942-6197, Dot Ward, 989-4739 or Wendy Glaster, 588-0581.

The second winter meeting is The MHHA, Maine’s largest organization representing horsemen, will hold its annual winter meeting and awards banquet Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Augusta Elks Club in conjunction with the USTA District 9 winter meeting.

The MHHA general membership meeting begins at 3:30 p.m. with the USTA District 9 meeting at 4:30 p.m. There is a social hour at 5:30 p.m. and the banquet and awards ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and reservations may be made by writing MHHA, Box 610, Turner, ME 04282 or by calling Bill Hathaway at (207) 255-3663.