by Tim Bojarski, president, Upstate New York USHWA

Akron, NY — The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has announced a partnership with Stealth Racing Wheels in an effort to raise funds for Chapter activities. Stealth Racing has donated a set of their world renowned wheels (valued at $2,100) for the chapter to raffle off in an attempt to help supplement its operating budget for 2009.

The winner will receive a set of custom built Stealth Racing Wheels in the color of their choice.

Tickets are $10 each or six for $50 and can be purchased in several ways. You can buy them in person from any member of the UNY-USHWA Chapter, request tickets by mail, or buy them online with Paypal.

To request tickets by mail, please send a check or money order in the correct amount for the number of tickets desired ($10 each or six for $50) to: UNY-USHWA Stealth, 7523 Maple Road, Akron, NY 14001.

Your ticket stubs will be mailed back to you. A stamped self-addressed envelope included with your payment is appreciated but not required.

To buy tickets online with intent to pay with Paypal, e-mail your ticket request to funding@upstatenyushwa.com and include your mailing address and the e-mail address associated with your Paypal account. We will send a Paypal invoice for the amount of tickets you wish to purchase to that e-mail address. When we receive your payment, we will mail your ticket stubs to you.

For more information please log onto our Web site at www.upstatenyushwa.com.

Upstate NY USHWA has undertaken many activities in 2008 that we plan to continue in 2009 and this fundraiser will be the main means of making sure we are able to do that. Some of the promotions we did this past year included monthly driver, trainer, and horse awards at all partner tracks, year-end people and horse trophy presentations at those same venues, and on-track fan give-aways as well as several on-line contests for fans in conjunction with our partner tracks marquee races.

We have also established a new college scholarship fund (with the help of Ray Schnittker and Jeff Gural) called “The Dewey Degree” named for the great trotter Deweycheatumnhowe, which will see its first disbursement take place this summer.

The proceeds from this raffle will go directly towards activities that will promote the horses and horsemen that will compete this year at Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Batavia Downs, and Buffalo Raceway.

Ticket sales will continue through May 17, 2009. The drawing will be held at Tioga Downs during the Memorial Day weekend, live in the winner’s circle.