The generosity and support of the harness racing community has helped raise much needed funds for the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation at the inaugural Hambletonian Casino Night held August 1 at Il Villaggio in Carlstadt, New Jersey.
Sponsored and strongly supported by the Hambletonian Society and the New Meadowlands Racetrack to benefit the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, the evening included not just great table games and a poker tournament, but wonderful food and terrific raffle prizes. There was also a silent auction featuring the beautiful sculpture 'A Jump Ahead' by Lorenzo Ghiglieri, and a New England Patriots football package donated by Frank Antonacci and Jerry Antonacci.
A very hearty thanks to major sponsors Fran and Melanie Azur; Marc and Marcy Goldberg; John Cancelliere, Tom Cancelliere and Magical Acres; Arden Homestead; Inglesino, Pearlman, Wyciskala, & Taylor, LLC; Ted Gewertz and Claire Chappell; and Blue Chip Farms. The museum would also like to thank Roberts Communications Network for providing the grand prize for the poker tournament, a three-night/four-day trip for two to Las Vegas, including airfare, first class hotel accommodation, and show tickets.
The Museum gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the following sponsors: Casie Coleman Racing, Dan Dube, Tim Tetrick, Noel Daley, David and Misty Miller, George Teague Jr./Brenda Teague Racing Stable, Freehold Raceway, Yannick Gingras, Andy Miller, Sportech Racing LLC, Marion Farms, the connections of A Rocknroll Dance, Vernon Downs, Tioga Downs, Schindler Elevator, Joe Grano, and Ray Schnittker.
Some of the sought-after raffle items included the use of a luxury suite for six people for a New York Yankees game, tickets to Kenny Chesney, suite for (14) to see How To Train Your Dragon at the Izod Center, and tuition and travel voucher for the USTA Driving School. Donors of these items and others were Brian Cashman, Sodexo, Jeff Dauplaise, Central Jersey Tree Experts, Izod Center, Bradford Renaissance, MetLife Stadium, CulinAriane, USTA, McLoones, and the Meadowlands.
The museum would like to extend its gratitude to Il Villaggio staff for providing superb service, a fabulous facility, and excellent food and drink.
The event was so successful and enjoyable that it will likely be repeated next year --- check with the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation for more information next year.
(Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame)