The Hall Of Fame Screening Committee of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), after meeting with a select group of Harness Racing Museum trustees over the Fourth Of July weekend, announced on Wednesday, July 9 that Mike Kimelman Sr. has been elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
The direct election in the Veterans designation is provided for in the USHWA bylaws, allowing for one longtime distinguished contributor to the sport who has cut back on current direct activity being put straight in by the Committee, selecting from nominations made by chapters of USHWA.
Mike Kimelman Sr. entered harness racing through an investment opportunity brought to his late father Oscar, a Hall of Fame Immortal, and soon Oscar, along with sons Mike Sr. and Ted, became so enamoured of the sport that they purchased a 600-acre property in Wallkill, New York that would eventually be fashioned into Blue Chip Farms.
Kimelman Sr., while still running the Wall Street investment firm Kimelman and Baird, served as president of Blue Chip Farms from 1970 to 2001. Coupled with the successful debut of the New York Sire Stakes program, which soon became a model for many racing jurisdictions, and Kimelman luring Hall of Fame farm manager Bill Brown to join the Blue Chip team, the farm grew into one of North America’s leading breeding operations, with sires such as Most Happy Fella and Bettors Delight. Mike and Ted sold Blue Chip Farms into 2001 to Mike’s partner and friend Thomas Grossman, who continues to operate the farm in a first-class manner.
Kimelman Sr. was also one of a small group who was a focal point in strengthening ties between North American and European breeders and owners, which has resulted in many stars from “across the pond” racing in North America. The establishment of French wagering on the Hambletonian was also a part of the success of Kimelman’s group.
Kimelman Sr. has served on the Board of the Hambletonian Society since 1987; he is today First Vice President as well as a member of the Society’s Executive Committee and Breeders Crown Committee, in the latter role setting up a key rights fee structure that has enabled the Crowns to remain among the sport’s premier events.
Kimelman Sr. will be feted for his Hall of Fame selection on two occasions: the first comes on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at the Dan Patch Awards Banquet hosted by USHWA, to be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. The second will be the official date of his Hall induction, Sunday, July 5, 2026, at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner in Goshen, New York.
At Goshen, the Screening Committee and Hall of Fame trustees also discussed the Hall of Fame candidates nominated by the chapters, and the Screening Committee has decided to advance the following three people to the summer balloting of USHWAns and Hall of Famers:
- Dr. John Egloff, squire of Vieux Carre Farm of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, veterinarian and an owner/breeder with a half-century of top-level production of horses in his pedigree;
- Marvin Katz, Toronto, Ont. businessman, who has been associated with a very long list of horses, in ownership and breeding, that might be topped by Dream Maker, Tall Dark Stranger, Peaceful Way and Muscle Massive; and
- David Reid, who has ascended the ranks of marketing and Standardbred sales company administration to heading the annual Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, regarded as the leader in Standardbred circles.
All three have long and varied service to most of the sport’s top organizations and associations, giving back to the sport in which they have enjoyed success.
This trio will be joined on the ballots by Communicators Hall of Fame nominees Derick Giwner and Ellen Taylor, selected by USHWA’s directors. A candidate must receive 75 per cent of the yes-no ballots cast to earn election into the Hall. Results will be announced later in the summer. Electees would be honoured in Florida and Goshen, as Kimelman Sr. will be.
(United States Harness Writers Association)