by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — When Diann Perkins accepts her Hall of Fame award from the New England Harness Writers on October 23, she will be greeted by a three-time Hall receipient Jean Emerson of Saco, Maine.

Perkins and Emerson have spent numerous years promoting and improving Maine’s harness racing industry.

Both former school teachers, Emerson was recently named to the Communicators Corner of the Hall of Fame and will be formerly inducted next July 4th weekend at Goshen, N.Y. She is also a member of the New England and Florida Halls of Fame. Emerson is also the former editor of the Northeast Harness News which served the industry some 10 years. She and her late husband Chet owned and trained several Standardbreds over the years which raced in Maine and when they wintered in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Perkins served on several Maine boards in promoting the sport’s ongoing growth and well being. She is just the second woman to be inducted into the New England Hall since elections began in 1962.

It’s fitting the sport is giving back to two of racing’s longtime contributors.

Other inductees to the NE Hall in 2011 include Del Cameron, William Ellis, Stan Gutkowski, Freeman Parker and Ronald Ralph.

The New England chapter’s big event will feature 60 honorees and the Golden Jubilee 50th anniversary celebration takes place at the Courtyard Marriott in Marlborough, Ma., and opens with a 4 p.m. cocktail hour followed by dinner and award presentations.