By all accounts, the Richie Ingrassia Fundraiser Breakfast yesterday at the Trotting Horse Museum in Goshen was a rip-roaring success

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Nearly 300 people attended the all-you-can-eat breakfast where luminaries served the food and bussed the tables to raise money for the surviving family of Richie Ingrassia, who passed away unexpectedly on March 30.

Richie, the son of longtime horseman Ron Ingrassia, was a second trainer for Ray Schnittker at the time of his passing. He left behind a wife and two children.

Alan Schwartz, the president of the Monticello Harness Horsemen’s Association, was responsible for organizing the fundraiser.

“It was absolutely incredible, more than I imagined it would be,” Schwartz said. “We had such great cooperation from everybody. Our servers included Ray Schnittker, Jackie Ingrassia and Jordan Stratton, while we let the lawyers -- Joe Faraldo and George Casale -- serve as the bus boys.”

Schwartz also said tremendous help was given by some of the local Monticello horsemen, which included Terry Finch, Bob Beauregard and Steve Moore. Schwartz was also quick to pay accolades to a local Monticello Hunting Club whose members assisted with the cooking.

“And they worked their butts off and served a lot of meals let me tell you,” Schwartz added. “And they did it out of the goodness of their hearts.”

Goshen Historic Track donated a basket of cheer which fetched $500. The brother-in-law of Bob Beauregard won the 50-50 raffle and graciously donated his share back to the Ingrassia Fund.

New York Daily News sportswriter Dave Little served as emcee and he had a delegate from NY State Senator John Bonacic read a proclamation which told of a moment of silence for Richie Ingrassia in the Senate this past week.

According to Schwartz, $12,000 was raised just from those that attended the breakfast. Those funds will be added to the monies also raised earlier for the Ingrassia Fund. In a magnanimous gesture, Jeff Gural, owner and chairman of America Racing Entertainment, said his company will match the gate. Gural himself donated $2,500.

Geri Schwarz, the official photographer at Monticello Raceway and Historic Track, was there to take photos of the event.

"All I can say was that it was very busy and very well attended. The food was great. The horsepersons worked really hard, and from my point of view, it went off like a charm. The wait staff was exemplary… although short staffed, and they seemed to take their table service almost as seriously as their driving. Terry Finch was a no-nonsense captain… seating everyone, making sure everyone was waited on."

(Monticello Raceway)