by Chris Tully, for Monticello-Goshen USHWA

Goshen, NY — The Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association, an organization that has been raising money for local harness horse racing venues for the past six decades, will sponsor the inaugural Iron Horse Motorcycle Poker Run to benefit Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame on Saturday (May 26).

Chapter Vice President/Secretary Janet Terhune noted, “We are thrilled to host this exciting inaugural event, the Iron Horse Poker Run, which will bring well over 100 new visitors to the Museum and introduce them to harness racing.”

The Harness Racing Museum in Goshen has been selected as the home base for the ride, a 70-mile loop with three additional checkpoints located throughout Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties; O’Toole’s Harley-Davidson in Wurtsboro, the Mountain Brauhaus in Gardiner, and the Angry Orchard in Walden.

Terhune, the Museum’s Director, continued, “We will serve the participants brunch in our beautiful Haughton Hall during the event registration, and welcome them back for prizes, raffles and additional refreshments following the run. This is a great opportunity for harness racing to reach out to a relatively untapped demographic that enjoy taking part in benefit activities.”

Shawn Wiles, the Chapter’s Vice President/Treasurer agreed. “Once this event becomes popular, it will grow into a great kick-off for the Goshen Historic Track season, with matinee racing beginning the following weekend in the ‘Cradle of the Trotter.’”

A donation of $20 for all partakers includes food and refreshments before and after the ride, as well as door prizes, raffles, 50/50s, and a grand prize of $500 for the best poker hand. Although motorcycles are preferred, cars, trucks and vans are also welcome.

Registration and brunch starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Harness Racing Museum, 240 Main St., Goshen. Kickstands up at 12 noon.

The primary beneficiaries of the funds raised by the Chapter are the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame and Goshen Historic Track — two distinct entities that share the same hallowed ground and a mutual purpose of preserving and promoting harness racing. Lifetime donations by the Chapter to these iconic organizations are approaching $100,000.

For more information about the Iron Horse Poker Run go to www.ironhorsepokerrun.com or contact Chris Tully attullytrot@yahoo.com or call 845.807.7538.