As a racehorse, Gallo Blue Chip was one of the gamest and most determined campaigners in harness racing history. In his honour, two determined students will receive scholarships that will help them make their own mark on history in the future.

Laura Doherty of Monticello, New York, has been granted a $15,000 Gallo Blue Chip scholarship by the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. The stipend is sponsored by Martin Scharf, who campaigned Gallo Blue Chip. Doherty will be in the ivy as she plans to attend Harvard where she will study Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Ranked second in her class at Monticello High School, Doherty has a long list of extra-curricular achievements. In addition to being a four-year track athlete, she has shown her determination through her participation in forensics, and in numerous engineering courses and clinics at prestigious universities including MIT, winning awards at several. She has been a peer mentor and a biology and algebra tutor. She is a member of the National Honor Society and in her spare time she volunteers at the E.B. Crawford Public Library.

Sarah Papa of Oneida, New York, near Syracuse, is also ranked second in her class. She attends Stockbridge Valley Central School where she has studied, among other things, equine science. Sarah has been accepted into the 3+3 Physical Therapy program at SUNY-Geneseo, one of just 17 students accepted to the program from 152 applicants. She plans to continue that course of study in graduate school, eventually becoming a physical therapist. A member of the National Honor Society, Sarah has been a member of the wind ensemble for four years, where she plays the alto saxophone.

“Both Sarah and Laura have worked exceptionally hard to get to this point,” said HHYF Executive Director Ellen Taylor. “They epitomize everything that Gallo Blue Chip represented and are remarkable recipients of this award, which will be presented at the Meadowland by Mr. Scharf this winter.”

(HHYF)