Trainer Tony Alagna, U.S. Trotting Association Social Media and Publicity Manager Allison Conte and Emily Gaskin, race marketing manager, Commentator & Publicist at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino at Hoosier Park have been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

Incumbent trustees Marly Pinske, Leah Cheverie, Lillie Brown and Corey Callahan were re-elected to the board.

Also elected was the existing slate of officers: President Marlys Pinske; Vice-President Nicola Abrams; Secretary Leah Cheverie; and Treasurer Lillie Brown.

Alagna is one of the most successful trainers in the sport, with earnings just shy of $25,000,000. Among his most successful horses are 2012 and 2013 Pacer of the Year Captaintreacherous, who is standing his second year at stud at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania; 2015 O’Brien Award winner Caprice Hill; and 2012 Kentucky Futurity champ My MVP. He opened his public stable just six years ago after stints as an assistant trainer with several top operations. He has been a strong financial supporter of the HHYF Drive For Youth Fundraiser. You can learn more about Tony at his website, alagnaracing.com.

“I am honoured to have been given the great opportunity and responsibility to serve as HHYF trustee,” Alagna commented. “HHYF is an organization near and dear to my heart, due to the fact that I attended many camps as a child. I hope to be a positive voice to help take HHYF into the future and give back what harness racing has given me.”

Conte has been a driving force behind the USTA’s social media initiative since joining the organization in May of 2014. She graduated from the School of Communications and Information at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. Allison served as a caretaker in the Ron Burke stable during college, working with the richest pacer of all time, Foiled Again, among others. Allison also spent time working with HHYF Leadership campers in 2015.

Conte looks forward to working more closely with the organization. “HHYF represents something incredibly important, our future. I love the organization and admire everything they do and the passion with which they do it. Spending time at the leadership camp was one of the highlights of last summer for me. I’m thrilled to be an active part of something I believe in so wholeheartedly,” she said.

A resident of Pendleton, Ind., Gaskin graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in agricultural communication and joined Hoosier Park in 2012. Emily has an extensive background in harness racing. Her family, Ernie and Darla Gaskin, own and operate Crimson Lane, a training centre just south of Hoosier Park. Gaskin also worked as a reporter for Horseman and Fair World and Harness Racing Update as well as owning the Indiana-sired warhorse Jammin Joshua. She was named winner of the 2014 Breakthrough Award by the United States Harness Writers Association.

“Our new trustees bring a vibrant and energetic perspective to HHYF,” said executive director Ellen Taylor. “While we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, looking forward to the next 40 years is equally as important, and having Tony, Allison and Emily as trustees will provide fresh viewpoints.”

(HHYF)