With the resignation of John Berry from the US Harness Writers Association’s Hall of Fame Screening Committee, USHWA President Chris Tully has appointed Shawn Wiles to replace Berry.
Wiles – a vice president and longtime member of USHWA’s Monticello-Goshen chapter and general manager of Monticello Casino and Raceway – is a current USTA District 8 director. He is also second VP of USHWA National and he has a long history in the sport.
His career in harness racing started in the backstretch of Monticello Raceway during the 1970s, where he worked as a groom for Richard Sturgis, Robert Camper and Jim Grundy. He then went on in search of a Grand Circuit stable to work for and found success with the famed trotting specialists of Continental Farms under the guidance of Hakan Wallner, Hall of Famer Berndt Lindstedt, and Jan Johnson.
Wiles was the first American second-trainer to work for the famed Scandinavian trotting experts from 1980-1986.
During his tenure as a groom, he rubbed many top performers, most notably the crack stakes filly Dominant, and then worked for Castleton Farms from 1986-1988. Wiles joined Monticello Raceway in 1996, working under John Manzi in publicity and Bill Sullivan in operations.
Wiles was initially promoted to assistant GM of Monticello Casino and Raceway, and was recently promoted to general manager of the entire facility. He was recently lauded by the local scribes on his tough stance on racing integrity.
Wiles will now join Tully, Roger Huston, Randy Manges, Leon Zimmerman, Moira Fanning and Alicia Schwartz on the committee. The committee’s main order of business is to vet the applicants that were selected for Hall of Fame induction by the various USHWA chapters.
Wiles is also on various other USHWA committees, including the Integrity Committee, Location Committee, and the Fan Award Committee.
“I am honoured to be part of the process that honours the legends of Harness Racing,” Wiles said.
(USHWA)