U.S. Hall Of Fame Weekend Approaches
The annual Harness Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York.
The induction ceremony begins at 7:15 p.m.
Congratulations are in order for the newest class of Hall of Famers: Frank Antonacci, Per Eriksson and Lucien Fontaine, and Communicators Bob Roberts and Ken Warkentin. The new members of the Living Horse Hall of Fame are also being honoured: Hannelore Hanover, McWicked, My Little Dragon, Road Bet and Yankee Glide. Charlie Coleman, Dr. Gordon Gilbertson, Ira Malott, Margot Taylor, Edward Willis, Adios Scarlet and Exciting Speed will be inducted as Harness Racing Immortals. The 2023 Museum Amateur Driving Champion is Charlie Longo. Bulldog Hanover will be honoured with the Delvin & Mary Lib Miller 2022 Horse of the Year Perpetual Trophy and Jim Brooks will receive the Pinnacle Award.
Lindy Farms is the 2023 Hall of Fame dinner sponsor. The Museum owes special thanks and appreciation to the Antonacci family. Other sponsors are Kentuckiana Farms, Preferred Equine and Alterity Wines LLC.
Other activities during Hall of Fame Weekend include a memorial for Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg at the Harness Racing Museum in Haughton Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 1. All are welcome to stop by to see the video, scrapbooks and memorabilia that celebrate the life of one of the greatest women in harness racing. The grand opening of the Museum’s newest exhibit featuring the Brooks-Kaloidis Children’s Collection is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday morning.
On Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., there is a children’s craft at the Fleming Barn, followed by the Hall of Fame autograph session at 3 p.m.
Visitors can attend the New York Sire Stakes reception on Monday, July 3 at 4 p.m. in Haughton Hall. Grant recipients will be presented with oversized cheques and food will be served.
The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, located at 240 Main Street in Goshen, New York, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there is free admission this weekend. Historic Track will be racing with a post time of 1 p.m. on July 1-3.
(With files from Harness Racing Hall of Fame)