Goshen, NY – In July 2025, the trustees of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame unanimously endorsed the election of Bea Farber, Morton Finder, Jenna’s Beach Boy, Kikikatie, Naughty But Nice, Ralph Hanover and Rum Customer as harness racing Immortals. On Sunday, July 5, 2026, these individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Immortals during ceremonies held under the tent on the Museum lawn.
At age 29, Beatrice “Bea” Farber (1940-2020) left her job as a legal secretary to join her husband, horseman Chuck Farber, to start racing horses. She had immediate success, winning her first pari-mutuel race on May 1, 1971, at Jackson Raceway. Two years later, at Northville Downs, she earned the distinction of being the first female ever to capture a driving title at a major harness track. Farber went on to win titles at other Michigan racetracks as well as in California, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Canada. In 1978, while battling pneumonia, she won the International Women’s World Championship against drivers from eight countries. She was the first female to drive in the World Driving Championship, representing the U.S. in 1979. Farber drove Easy Irv to the first-ever 2:00 victory at Northville Downs in 1973. She last drove on July 29, 1995, retiring with purse earnings of $9,094,683. Her 1,801 wins are the most ever by a female driver. Bea Farber is a member of the harness racing halls of fame in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.
Morton “Morty” Finder (1934-2016), a Brooklyn native, became a harness racing enthusiast after attending races at Yonkers and Roosevelt. At age 30, he bought a stake in Romeo Hanover, who won the 1966 Pacing Triple Crown under trainer Jerry Silverman. Finder co-founded Pine Hollow Stud Farm in New York, which housed Romeo Hanover in retirement and stood top stallions like Niatross, Sonsam, and Green Speed. In 1971, Pine Hollow was named New York State Breeder of the Year. Finder later partnered with Lou Guida to syndicate Niatross and launched Finder-Guida Enterprises, a leader in stallion syndications.
World champion pacer Jenna’s Beach Boy (1992-2015) had a lifetime racing record of 42-30-5-3. In 1994, 2-year old Jenna’s Beach Boy had seven wins in 12 starts, including a Breeders Crown, and was named Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year. Jenna began his sophomore season with a string of victories that included the New Jersey Classic, but just before the North America Cup he suffered a P-1 fracture. He returned to the track in September, winning an invitational at the Delaware County Fair and a late closer at the Red Mile in a world-record time of 1:48.4. He went on to win his second Breeders Crown and earned the titles of 1995 Dan Patch Pacer of the Year and 3-Year-Old Pacer of the Year. At 4 in 1996, Jenna’s Beach Boy lowered the all-age race record to 1:47.3 at the Meadowlands in June. The Breeders Crown was held at the Big M in August, and he won that as well and was voted Dan Patch Pacer of the Year and Older Pacing Horse of the Year. As a stallion, Jenna’s Beach Boy sired three millionaires and sired the dam of Hall of Famer Wiggle It Jiggleit.
Kikikatie (2001-2021) is the only broodmare to have every one of her foals – five in total – take a record of 1:50 or better. Rockin Image (1:48.2), Grams Legacy (1:50), Time To Roll (1:48.2), Rockin Amadeus (1:48.4f) – all sired by Hall of Fame Immortal Rocknroll Hanover – and Tellitlikeitis (1:48.4s) by Well Said. As a race mare, Kikikatie earned $1,268,463 in 31 career starts, including a superlative freshman campaign. The 2003 Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year won 14 straight in 15 starts, missing a perfect season when she was beaten by a neck in the Breeders Crown.
World champion and 1984 Dan Patch 3-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year Naughty But Nice (1981-1987) retired as the first female pacing millionaire with lifetime earnings of $1,062,197. She captured such prestigious events as the Breeders Crown, Jugette, Adioo Volo, Lady Maud, Helen Dancer Memorial, Mistletoe Shalee and Breeders Filly Stakes. Naughty But Nice set a world record of 1:54 for a five-eighths mile track in winning the Adioo Volo and also set a world record in the second heat of the Jugette at Delaware, Ohio. She died at the age of 6 after a surgery.
Ralph Hanover (1980-2008), son of Hall of Famer Meadow Skipper, made a strong impression as a 2-year-old, winning seven of his 15 starts, including the Bluegrass, where he took his mark of 1:54.1. In his 1983 sophomore season, he captured 20 victories out of 25 starts with four seconds. In addition to winning the Pacing Triple Crown, Ralph Hanover established a new single-season earnings record when he banked $1,711,990 with victories in the Little Brown Jug, Cane Pace, Messenger Stakes, Meadowlands Pace, Adios, Prix d’Ete, Tattersalls, Simcoe and Queen City Stakes. He was voted 1983 Dan Patch 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year.
1968 Pacing Triple Crown winner and world champion Rum Customer (1965-1982) was the first North American pacer to earn $1 million. In his sophomore year, Rum Customer finished on the board in 22 of 24 starts, with 15 wins. Victories included the Messenger Stake, Cane Pace, Little Brown Jug (completing the Triple Crown), Horseman Futurity (in a world-record 1:56), Hanover-Hempt, Westchester, Battle of Saratoga and Geers Stake. He was the leading money-winning pacer of the year with $355,618, the fastest Standardbred at 1:56, and was voted Dan Patch 3-Year-Old Pacer of the Year. Rum Customer finished his racing career in 1971, retiring as the leading money-winning pacer of all time, with earnings of $1,001,548.
The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame is located at 240 Main Street in Goshen, N.Y., and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 4-12. Current Museum and USTA members are free. If you would like further information on the Immortals nomination process, the 2026 induction ceremony, the Museum, its membership program, special events and educational programs, please call 845-294-6330 or visit www.harnessmuseum.com.
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