from Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Freehold, NJ — As part of the harness racing activities in Goshen, New York, surrounding the upcoming Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductions and races at adjacent Historic Track, authors of two new books with a racing twist will present and sign their works on July 6.

Charles Leerhsen, author of Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America, will read from the book and give a short talk about the top pop culture figure of 100 years ago, the horse named Dan Patch. Leerhsen will be at the Harness Racing Museum (www.harnessmuseum.com) at 240 Main Street on Sunday, July 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will speak at 12:00 noon. Admission to the museum is free.

He will also speak briefly and sign at adjacent Historic Track, during the races, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Admission is charged at Historic Track, but children are free. Proceeds benefit the Museum and Track, both non-profit ventures.

Also from 1:30 to 3:30 on July 6, Nicole Kraft, writer and editor of the photo book, 100 Years in Harness, will be on the plaza outside the Museum at 240 Main Street, signing copies of that publication, and serving lemonade. The book depicts the 20th century of racing in America through photos from the archives of the United States Trotting Association. The scenes depict every aspect of racing, county fair tracks, big cities, as well as the sport’s equine and human heroes.

Leerhsen, executive editor at Sports Illustrated, wrote Crazy Good over a two-year period, with much of his research gleaned from the Museum’s Haughton Library. The book has been the best selling book about horses on Amazon.com since its release on May 20 and has been positively reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and USA Today. It was excerpted in a May issue of Sports Illustrated magazine, which reaches nearly 20 million readers. For more information, go to www.crazygoodbook.com.

The first 100 people who buy two or more copies of Crazy Good will also get a free poster, featuring the cover of the book, which depicts Dan Patch, his caretaker Charlie Plummer, trainer Myron McHenry and his mascot, a small white terrier, in Dan’s only start in Toronto.

Kraft is executive editor of the multiple-award-winning Hoof Beats magazine. The first 50 people to purchase 100 Years in Harness will receive a free photograph, suitable for framing, of an image from the book. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com/misc/100years.htm.

Racing takes place at Historic Track on July 2 through 6, post time is 1:00 p.m. For more information, go to www.goshenhistorictrack.com.

The adjacent museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., every day of the week, and admission is always free.