When the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA holds its 51st Annual Awards Banquet at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, NY on Sunday night, October 25th
the chapter will present the first annual Phil Pines Award to perpetuate the memory of the Hall of Fame Communicator, award winning writer and harness racing historian.
The deserving recipient is Kelly Young herself an award-winning writer and lifetime devotee to the Standardbred sport.
Kelly has harness racing in her blood and grew-up on Castleton Farm of New York in Orange County where her dad, Thom, for many years, was the farm manager.
In the mid-1990’s while attending High School she found time, and pleasure, working in the Historic Track office. That led to working in the Harness Racing Museum in Collections and Public Relations during the summers (1998-2000) while she was attending college.
In 2001 Kelly graduated from Boston University with a BS in Biology. Always a great writer among Kelly’s first jobs was as Associate Editor of the Horseman and Fair World, one of harness racing's significant trade magazines.
That led to a stint with the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State in 2003 where she not only traveled to the various New York State racetracks during the summers to make presentations to the Sire Stakes winners but with her writing ability she conjured interesting advance new releases promoting the schedule and upcoming races and her Sire Stakes race wrap-ups were second to none.
During 2007 Kelly held the position of the Executive Director of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State and while with the breeders she almost single-handedly produced the New York Sire Stakes year-end Award Banquets
“She is an immense talent and there’s nothing that she can’t do and do well,” noted Monticello Raceway General Manager and Chapter Vice President, Shawn Wiles. “She’s knowledgeable, hard working and a true lover of the Standardbred sport. “And she’s such an accomplished and talented writer whose articles are descriptive, informative, and always enjoyable to read.”
Currently Kelly is the Associate Director for Communications for the New York Farm Bureau. She also freelances for harness racing publications and was a John Hervey Award winner for magazine features in both 2002 and 2008.
(USHWA)