Popular horse owner Martin Scharf was on hand at the Meadowlands on Saturday evening to present nursing student Maddie Dudka with the $15,000 Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship, named for his champion pacer

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Scharf, a successful New York real estate manager, has awarded more than $95,000 in tuition funds in the name of his 2000 Horse of the Year since 2005. The Gallo Blue Chip scholarship is administered to sons and daughters of horsemen and women in the New York and New Jersey area through the Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF).

Maddie Dudka, the 2009/10 Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship recipient, is from Saratoga Springs, NY and the daughter of trainer Paul Dudka. A nursing major, Dudka recently completed her first semester at Russell Sage College with a 4.0 GPA. She was selected as one of 10 students from her area to participate in New Visions Health Careers Exploration during her senior year.

“We get quite a number of applicants, but [selecting a recipient] was easy this year with Maddie,” Scharf noted. “Maddie blew me away with her [4.0] GPA and I was happy to see that she wanted to pursue a career in nursing.”

For his continued generosity to the sport, Martin Scharf will be honoured with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation Service To Youth Award February 28 at Yonkers Raceway during the annual U.S. Harness Writers Association banquet.

Students who would like further information about the Gallo Blue Chip Scholarship should contact HHYF at 317-867-5877 or visit the website. The deadline for application is April 30, 2010.

(The Meadowlands)