This past weekend, Yonkers Raceway’s horsepeople, as well as others from the harness racing community, went ‘Racing for a Cure’ – and everybody won.
The initiative, led by trainer Monica Banca and Kristen (Mrs. Jason) Bartlett, raised nearly $19,000 ($18,910, to be precise) for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That figure included a $3,000 donation made by the North American Amateur Drivers Association.
Last Saturday evening (October 24), Racing for a Cure found any number of Yonkers’ trainers and drivers – along with other prominent members and businesses involved in the harness industry – joining forces, with all funds raised benefitting the Frisco, TX based National Breast Cancer Foundation (nbcf.org).
To the surprise of no one, paddock participation was solid. Raffle tickets had been sold for the past month, with the big number – a pink Gorilla sulky, donated by Chad Foulk – won by Maine-based trainer Lisa Watson. Second and third-prize winners (Jennifer Sabot and Shane Taggart) each took home (or to the barn) a complete Walsh harness set, donated by Barbara Boese.
All winning horses that night earned spiffy pink blankets, underwritten by any number of benefactors, while the pink whips carried by the drivers last Saturday were donated by Karin Karlsson of Divine Equine.
“Monica and I are so appreciative of all the support,” Kristen Bartlett said. “We even received donations from Canada. It’s such a worthwhile cause, and we’re happy to do anything we can do to help.”
(Yonkers Raceway)
