The venue was different, but the celebration remained the same.
A power outage on the morning of Sunday, July 5, coupled with a forecast for heavy rain and lightning later in the day, resulted in Sunday evening’s U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony to be relocated from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York to the Country Club at Otterkill in nearby Campbell Hall. Nevertheless, a large crowd gathered at the new location to celebrate the sport’s Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Vieux Carre Farms owner Dr. John Egloff, breeder/owner Marvin Katz, Blue Chip Farms founder Michael G. Kimelman, and Preferred Equine owner David Reid led the group, which was honored during the annual induction dinner on the museum lawn.
Bettors Wish, Buck I St Pat, Manchego, Nuncio, and broodmares Eloquent Grace and Lucys Pearl were recognized as the newest members of the Living Horse Hall of Fame.
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday were immortals Bea Farber, Morton Finder, Jennas Beach Boy, Kikikatie, Naughty But Nice, Ralph Hanover and Rum Customer.
Inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame were Derick Giwner and Tara Ellen Taylor.
Dr. John Egloff graduated from Texas A&M Veterinary School in 1966 and in the ensuing years became associated with some of the most notable Standardbreds of the past six decades, first at Lana Lobell Farms and then at his own Vieux Carre Farms.
Among the horses foaled and raised at Vieux Carre Farms were U.S. Hall of Fame pacer Always B Miki, as well as his sire, Always A Virgin, and dam, Artstopper. Always B Miki, who was the 2016 U.S. Horse of the Year and onetime fastest horse in harness racing history (1:46), earned $2.8 million in his career while Always A Virgin banked $1.1 million lifetime.
The farm also raised Pine Chip, the onetime world’s fastest trotter (1:51 in a time trial in 1994) and earner of $1.7 million. He was inducted into the U.S. Hall of Fame in 2004.
Other standouts raised at Vieux Carre included pacers Shark Gesture and Total Truth, both earners of more than $2 million lifetime, as well as millionaires Huntsville, Check Six, Yagonnakissmeornot, Tyberwood, Somwherovrarainbow, Feel Like A Fool, I Am A Fool and Semi Tough.
In addition to his work with horses, Dr. Egloff has been active in numerous roles within the industry, including as a Hambletonian Society director, Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame trustee, Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania vice president and Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission member.
“When I walk through the Hall of Fame, the number of people that I’m looking at who were my friends, who were my clients, over the last 50 years is pretty mindboggling,” said Dr. Egloff. “And it’s really pretty thrilling to think that I’m going to get to join them. That’s really special.”
Marvin Katz has bred and/or owned a long list of Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winners, including Hall of Famers such as Ariana G (bred and owned with Al Libfeld), Tall Dark Stranger, Captaintreacherous, and Peaceful Way. Other award winners have included Kissin In The Sand, To Dream On, Forever Starlet, Federal Flex, Duke Of York and Up And Ready.
Katz has won the Hambletonian, with Muscle Massive in 2010; four editions of the Hambletonian Oaks, including with homebred sisters All The Time and Ariana G consecutively in 2016-2017; and multiple editions of the Meadowlands Pace, North America Cup and Metro Pace. He also has 15 Breeders Crown trophies to his credit.
In addition, Katz has been part of four O’Brien Breeder of the Year Award wins as well as a Dan Patch Breeder of the Year Award.
His other contributions to the sport include sitting on the Woodbine Entertainment Board of Directors, serving as a Hambletonian Society Director and also as a trustee of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. In 2019, he launched the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, which has raised more than $2.4 million for national and regional charities.
“Standing here tonight, being inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” said Katz. “To be recognized alongside the greats of this industry, those who have shaped the sport, is an honour beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
“As I reflect on this honour, I realize that harness racing has given me much more than great horses and memorable victories. It has given me friendships that have lasted a lifetime. It has given me opportunities to work alongside extraordinary people. It has given me challenges that taught me perseverance and success that taught me gratitude. I accept this honour with tremendous gratitude and great respect for all those who make it possible.”
Michael Kimelman, known as the Chief, founded Blue Chip Farms with his father, Oscar (a Hall of Fame Immortal), and brother Ted. It soon became one of the sport’s top breeding operations, standing stallions such Most Happy Fella and Bettors Delight, but Kimelman’s impact spread far beyond the upstate New York farm.
Kimelman was a driving force behind the growth of the New York Sire Stakes program at home and he worked with others to strengthen the ties between North American and European breeders and owners abroad. He also played a role in the establishment of French wagering on the Hambletonian.
He has served as a director of the Hambletonian Society since 1987, as well as a member of the Society’s Executive Committee and Breeders Crown Committee.
Kimelman was unable to attend the induction ceremony, so his son Michael P. Kimelman accepted on his behalf.
“People make the world go around and my father is so honoured to be reunited with friends and heroes like Billy Haughton, Stanley Dancer, Bill Popfinger, George Sholty, Del Cameron, John Campbell, Frank Antonacci and so many more, with a very special shoutout to his good friend that he’s had so much fun with, Michel Lachance,” said Kimelman. “Thank you all for sharing this with him. And as the Chief often says, ‘Live life, it’s the greatest game ever invented.’”
David Reid is best known as the president of Preferred Equine Marketing, the full-service sales and bloodstock agency he established with Geoff Stein in 1989. Stein, who passed away in 2012, was inducted into the Hall of Fame as an Immortal in 2021.
Preferred Equine has sold more than 29,000 horses and grossed more than $800 million USD in total sales over the years. Last fall, Preferred Equine had more than $31 million USD in sales at the Standardbred Horse Sale, setting the all-time consignor record for the event.
In addition to his work with Preferred Equine, Reid is the co-manager of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and a stallion syndication manager. He also was among the owners of the Hall of Fame trotting mare Moni Maker and has enjoyed success on the Thoroughbred side, as well, with the Ice Wine Stables.
His service to the industry includes being a trustee of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame and a director of the Hambletonian Society. He also has been active with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and served as the first president of the Standardbred Transition Alliance.
“To be standing here tonight being inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame is something I truly never imagined when I got involved in the sport,” said Reid. “I’m deeply honoured, humbled and grateful.
“I’ve been very fortunate in my life in my career. It’s given me tremendous opportunities to meet people from all walks of life, experience tremendous diversity, create memorable moments from many countries. Like many of you, my career has been a major part of my life and during that time I continually learned from the sport’s great and influential leaders. Like so many in the room tonight, love, luck and loyalty have all played significant roles in my journey.
“This is not an individual honour. That couldn’t be further from the truth. So many people share this award; I can’t thank them all. Some are gone, but they’re never forgotten.”
Derick Giwner, the editor of "DRF Harness," is a three-time Hervey Award winner for news/commentary writing. He started his career at Sports Eye in 1996 and established the Daily Racing Form’s "DRF Harness" brand in 2012.
He has been honoured with the Phil Pines Award and the Clyde Hirt Media Award, and he was named the United States Harness Writers Association’s Member of the Year in 2019. He is a member of the New York City chapter of USHWA, has served as its Chapter Director on several occasions, and is chairman of USHWA’s Integrity Committee. Earlier this year, he was elected USHWA’s national first vice president.
“I couldn’t do what I do without the help of everyone in the industry: track management, drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and everyone in between,” said Giwner. “Your cooperation is vital to providing the best content to the public. Whether you roll your eyes when my name pops up on your phone or smile and look forward to hearing from me, I want to thank you all for taking the time to be part of it.
“I love harness racing. I love the puzzle of handicapping, the grace of the horses, the fierce on-track battles, the people in the spotlight and the people behind the scenes who make it great. I couldn’t imagine a different path in life and I’m so grateful to have been a small part of its history.”
Tara Ellen Taylor has served for over 30 years as the Executive Director of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, an industry organization which introduces young people to harness racing through hands-on involvement with horses.
Starting in 1996, she has been the person behind the efforts of summer programs run annually by the Foundation in association with racetracks and horsemen’s groups, and she is a contributor to both HHYF’s many promotional and educational pieces and several trade publications.
Recently elected to the Indiana Harness Racing Hall of Fame and a many-time award winner, including USHWA’s Stan Bergstein Proximity Award in 2008, Taylor follows in the tradition of her mother Margot, who is a Hall of Fame Immortal.
“Upon research on what makes a quality Hall of Fame speech, I discovered that providing a bit of motivation was appropriate,” said Taylor. “On this special evening, I take this opportunity to encourage every person who appreciates the business on any level to consider these six thoughts.
“I believe we, individually and collectively, must step up the education to the general public about the greatness of our industry; put aside petty arguing and do the next right thing; strategize to develop innovative ways of long-term sustainability; nurture upcoming leadership; improve lines of communication amongst all those involved; and cherish the opportunities we have to participate in our own unique way. Our future depends on it.”
Prior to Sunday’s program, Janet Terhune, the director of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, thanked those involved in making the venue change a success.
“We made the decision at 9:30 [a.m.] and everybody jumped into action,” said Terhune. “Between the museum staff and the catering people here, everyone pulled together and made it all work. We started bringing things here, setting up tables, brought the flowers, brought the awards – you name it, we brought it. This doesn’t happen without a great team, and we have a great team.”
(USTA)