The Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) made its annual donation to Goshen Historic Track during the Saturday, July 4 card of its Grand Circuit meet.
Once again, due to the success of the chapter’s collaboration with the New York Sire Stakes and their combined annual banquet, this year’s cheque for $7,500 USD goes a long way toward helping Historic Track manage ongoing refurbishment and maintenance projects.
“Everyone that appreciates this facility should also be grateful to the Monticello-Goshen chapter for their hard work and continuous generosity," said Steve Jones, president of Goshen Historic Track. "As always, Historic Track has several projects earmarked for renovation and improvement, and this lofty sum certainly goes a long way.”
“Historic Track is one of the most distinct places in all of harness racing," commented Monticello-Goshen Chapter representative Chris Tully. "Each year the grandstand comes alive amid the cheers of hundreds of racing fans. It’s an incredible sight to see and it is an honour to raise money for both of our beloved ‘Cradle of the Trotter’ facilities.”
The organization makes annual donations to both Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, two separate and distinct entities that share the same hallowed ground and a mutual purpose of preserving and promoting harness racing.
The practice of raising money and donating funds to Historic Track and the Hall of Fame began in the mid-1970s with Monticello Raceway publicity icon John Manzi, and has continued ever since. In just the last 20 years, the local Monticello-Goshen chapter has donated over $150,000 USD to these important industry preservationists.
This year’s Monticello-Goshen USHWA awards banquet will be the chapter’s 67th annual event, sponsored by the New York Sire Stakes, and will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Country Club at Otterkill in Campbell Hall, New York.
(USHWA; photo of Chris Tully [right] presenting the donation to Steve Jones [left])