from the USTA Communications Department

The first round of charity auction items on www.ebay.com (nine driver’s whips from the Meadowlands) grossed nearly $2,000 to raise money to help harness horseman Jason “Slim” Moore pay his medical bills.

Moore has liver and kidney issues after beating brain cancer last year, but has no health insurance.

Another $1,200 was given to Moore following a benefit dinner at LaScala Restaurant, Somerville, N.J., earlier this week.

There’s still one more day to help as the second round of items on sale winds down today. There are Yannick Gingras bobblehead dolls on sale as well as a whip autographed by the driver. The top item is Brain Sears’ colors (presently at $810) and he also autographed a whip. Bids for all items currently on sale total another $1,300, which means the charity auction and dinner will produce nearly $4,500 to help Moore pay for his medical bills.

Five drivers and trainers from the Roosevelet Raceway reunion, Buddy Gilmour, Ben Webster, brothers Frank and Bill Popfinger (on one whip), Lucien Fontaine, and Jim Marohn, Sr. have also donated autographed whips. Jimmy Takter, a guest at the reunion, also signed and donated a whip.

The big ticket item, a brand new USTA approved sulky from Tammy Truex that retails for $7,000 will be put up for auction on www.ebay.com soon. The lucky bidder can select the powder coated color scheme for the bike.

On ebay the whips are listed under harness whips; the colors are listed under Brian Sears; and the bobbleheads are listed under Yannick Gingras.