Goshen, NY – For over 30 years the presence of “The Twins” Barb Merton and Liz Stubits has made a difference on the backstretch of Monticello Raceway, and they are still going strong.
Born into a family of horses and harness racing, their father John Stubits, has been an active trainer – driver for decades and operates L&B Tack Shop at Monticello Raceway. Growing up they would spend weekends and summers at the track with their father. After graduating from Canandaigua High School in 1995, they became more involved and began spending more time in the barn area. As fate would have it, there were a pair of brothers who also happened to be on the backstretch at the same time: Greg (Barb) and Mike Merton (Liz). As it turned out, both men would become their lifelong partners.
For years, Liz and Barb, collectively known as the ‘Stubits Girls’ have been a tremendous asset to the Monticello Raceway publicity department. On holidays and special occasions such as Halloween, Fourth of July and Christmas, the girls always have their horses decked out in festival-themed and color coordinated equipment.
In September, when local horseman Jim Taggart Jr. was battling with health issues, Barb and Liz stepped up to the plate and coordinated the logistics and the fundraising of a highly successful golf outing on his behalf. The event raised significant much-needed funds for a fellow horseman in need.
While they have always worked directly with harness horses, both girls are avid animal lovers as well. Liz still has her all-time favorite horse, the 28-year-old Fox Valley Kincade, for Barb its Swancredit. They have cared for these Standardbreds for their entire lives and are a part of the family.
Both gals have also worked in the Mighty M paddock helping the race days run smoothly for decades, in a variety of capacities, including, but not limited to: catch paddocks, saddle numbers cleaning and distribution, equipment card completion, driver and trainer colors washing, etc.
The girls also still play highly competitive softball for L&B Tack, a team that has captured several local championships and has been in existence, albeit with a variety of lineups, for several decades. They are most proud of the team’s 79-0 record, a benchmark that will probably stand forever.
When longtime Monticello Raceway Track Photographer Geri Schwartz suddenly passed away, there was immediate concern on how to fill the void. Barb and Liz recalled a conversation when Geri told her friends, “If anything ever happened to her, she was concerned that they would never be able to fill the position of track photographer.”
It was at that moment that they knew they had an obligation to fulfill their friend’s final wishes.
“We were never interested in [the job] at all. The only way we learned was by filling in for her when she threw us to the wolves,” Liz stated.
Taking a chance on them and letting them figure it out for themselves, Schwartz gave them tips and encouragement.
“It was easier said than done. It’s not as easy as it looks to just take pictures.” noted Liz. “There was a big learning curve and still, to this day, we keep learning tricks of the trade.”
“Barb does most of the picture taking; I do the setting up,” Liz continued.
“Sometimes we have to juggle things when we have horses racing. We would not have been able to do the job without the help of our children Joey and Melanie. They have been here for us, when we have to paddock horses or have appointments.”
“For Monticello Raceway not to have a photographer is just not right,” added Barb.
“We have met some great people while taking pictures and have had great interactions with some of the fans and we have become very friendly with a host of them; they bring us goodies and hand warmers.” said Liz.
“Monticello Raceway is a better place because of Barb and Liz,” said Monticello Raceway Race Secretary Eric Warner. “They are always thinking of the horsemen and are the first ones to step up to the plate if someone is in need.”
When the Monticello-Goshen USHWA Chapter holds their 66th annual Awards Banquet, presented by the New York Sire Stakes, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, Barb Merton and Liz Stubits will receive the Mighty M Award of Appreciation.
Once again this year, the chapter has been given the opportunity to include the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) and USTA’s District 8 Awards, which will be in addition to the year-end awards for horses and horse people from the local tracks.
In addition, the Monticello-Goshen USHWA Chapter will bestow the chapter’s highest honor upon Moira Fanning, which is their Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Monticello-Goshen chapter will also honor Ralph Scunziano (Excelsior Award); Keith Hamilton (John Gilmour Good Guy Award); Janet Durso (Amy Bull Crist Distinguished Service Award); James Crawford IV (Cradle of the Trotter Breeders Award); Dylan Huckabone-Miller (Rising Star Award); Jessica Hallett (Phil Pines Award); and Brenna Gill (Caretaker of the Year). The event’s dinner sponsor is the Hambletonian Society and Breeders Crown.
Funds raised through the banquet and souvenir journal have allowed the Monticello-Goshen Chapter to give well over $150,000 to Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame over the last two decades. The Track and the Museum are two separate and distinct entities that share the same hallowed ground and a mutual purpose of preserving and promoting harness racing.
The practice of raising money and donating funds to Historic Track and the Hall of Fame began in the mid-1970s with Monticello Raceway publicity icon John Manzi, and has continued ever since.
Additional information can be found on our website: monticellogoshen.com.
Tickets for the gala event at The Country Club at Otterkill, Campbell Hall, NY, can be reserved by contacting Shawn Wiles at (845) 798-4074, or Email: swiles@rwcatskills.com.