Each year since 1959 the Monticello Goshen Chapter USHWA has held an annual awards banquet to honour prominent people in the sport as well as the exploits of the local horses and horsemen who compete at Monticello Raceway and Goshen Historic Track.

Over the years, from the monies raised from those banquets, the chapter has donated tens of thousands of dollars to both Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.

According to longtime harness racing publicist and past USHWA National president, John Manzi, the chapter members take pride in being able to donate money from those banquets back to the industry. “We are lucky to be based in the area where harness racing began and we feel it’s our honor to donate annually to both Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame; after all, Goshen is to harness racing what Cooperstown is to baseball,” Manzi says.

This year’s annual awards banquet, the 57th presented by the Monticello Goshen Chapter USHWA, will be held on Sunday evening November 22 at The Fountains at the Wallkill Golf Club on Sands Road in Middletown, NY and once again it promises to be an outstanding gathering of great people in our sport.

Besides honouring local horses and horsemen the chapter will also cite prominent industry people. This year the chapter’s main honorees will be Betty Holt (Excelsior Award), Janet Terhune (Amy Bull Crist Distinguished Service Award), local columnist Barbara Bedell (Phil Pines Award), Hannah Miller (Amateur Driver of the Year), Ed Hart (John Gilmour Good Guy Award), Howard Oil (Award of Appreciation) and Shawn Simons (Rising Star Award).

The Banquet is open to the public and tickets are still available for anyone who would like to attend. The ticket price of $65 includes a one-hour open bar, a full course dinner and door prizes.

It promises to be a fun night and tickets can be purchased by contacting Shawn Wiles at ([email protected]) or call him at 845-794-4100x458. Tickets can also be had by contacting Chris Tully at ([email protected]).

(USHWA)