Elbridge T. Gerry, Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame president, announced today that 'The Story of Harness Racing by Currier & Ives,' the popular free travelling exhibit, has begun travel to the farthest location since its inception in 2001

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The exhibit, which has been seen by more than half a million people, is journeying, via the Wallenius Lines’ M/V Tijuca, from the United States via Baltimore, MD to Gothenburg, Sweden. Once there it will travel overland to the Nordiska TravMuseet in Arjang, Sweden. Pehr Wallenius of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics is arranging this door to door move.

The exhibit is made possible by a generous annual grant from Bob Tucker of Stonegate Farms, Glen Gardiner, New Jersey and the CTW Foundation of which he is a trustee. Its engagement in Sweden is under the sponsorship of Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg, a trustee of The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame.

Sweden’s harness racing museum, the Nordiska TravMuseet, under the directorship of Marita Arvidsson, will host the exhibit from March 14 until November 30, 2009. Negotiations are currently underway to then transfer it to the racetrack, Stockholms Travsällskap in Solvalla, where it is anticipated it will be on exhibit until after Sweden’s major 2010 trotting event, the Elitlopp.

“The Story of Harness Racing” explains, through the eyes of the world famous nineteenth century lithographers, Currier & Ives, how the sport of trotting (now known as harness racing) evolved in the United States. Another exhibit in the same series will be appearing at the National Sporting Library in Middleburg, VA from February 20 through July 8, 2009 and the Hoyt Institute of Fine Art in New Castle, PA from August 4 until October 23, 2009.

A new exhibit, sponsored by Hanover Shoe Farms, 'A Drive To Win' will also be travelling to a foreign destination: The Rideau Carleton Raceway, Ottawa, Canada from April 23 through May 23. It is then slated to appear at the Saratoga Raceway’s Hall of Fame from June 2 through June 29; the Cobleskill Fair from July 31 through August 8, and The Little Brown Jug for a second appearance in the Jugette barn from September 15 through September 25. It will round up the busy year at the Red Mile’s Stable of Memories from September 29 through October 9. 'A Drive To Win' tells the heart rending, brave stories of 27 of the sport’s most charismatic trainers and drivers. They are not inducted into Harness Racing’s Hall of Fame or its Hall of Immortals, but their inspirational stories are important and worthy of recognition and appreciation.

(With files from Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame)