Just before the annual Hall of Fame Trot at Goshen Historic Track, the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association made their annual donation Sunday (July 4) to the U.S. Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame.

Goshen Historic Track president Steve Jones cheerfully accepted the donation from chapter president Chris Tully and chapter secretary Janet Terhune.

Jones stated, “The track is always grateful for the funds received by the Harness Writers. Attendance at the races was strong this year, but we can still use help from within, and outside of, our industry to keep things running. This donation will certainly help defray some of our expenses.”

Tully emphasized, “Historic Track is an important venue to so many fans and participants in harness racing. We feel privileged to help them continue their mission of preserving sport for sport’s sake.”

Despite postponing their annual banquet in 2020 due to the pandemic, the chapter had sufficient prudent reserve to allow the benevolent organization to make this year’s donations to both Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, two separate and distinct entities that share the same hallowed ground and a mutual purpose of preserving and promoting harness racing.

The practice of raising money and donating funds to Historic Track and the Hall of Fame began in the mid-1970s with Monticello Raceway publicity icon John Manzi, and has continued ever since.

Back again this year, the banquet will be the chapter’s 62nd annual event and is being held at the Wallkill Golf Club on Sunday, Dec. 5.

(USHWA Monticello-Goshen Chapter)