by John Manzi, for Goshen Historic Track

Goshen, NY — Goshen Historic Track is gearing up for its 177th season of exciting harness racing and 2014 will mark the 104th year of Grand Circuit racing at “the Cradle of the Trotter.”

Racing action at Historic Track commences Sunday (June 8) with the first of three matinee programs. The matinee racing will continue on the consecutive Sundays of June 15 and June 22. Post times for all three matinee race cards will be at 1 p.m. This year will mark the 53rd consecutive season of matinee racing over the famed double oval.

Grand Circuit racing begins on Thursday (July 3) and will feature NYSS County Fair races. On Friday (July 4) the Landmark Stakes for 2- and 3-year-olds will be presented and Saturday (July 5) the NY Excelsior Series for 3-year-old pacers, the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Trots and the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club Pace are in the spotlight.

Then on Sunday (July 6) the 2014 Grand Circuit meeting will culminate with the annual Hall of Fame Trot with Hall of Fame members at the controls, which has always been a fan favorite. And after that race the Hall of Famers will be available for photos and autographs. Also that day will be races for 3-year-old trotters in the NY Excelsior Series and the RUS NY (Racing Under Saddle) Series will kick-off and will be followed by under saddle trots at various County Fairs in NY State.

Post times for Grand Circuit action will also be at 1 p.m.

Once again, Historic Track will sponsor a golf outing, this year on Monday (June 30) at the West Hills Country Club on Golf Links Road in Middletown, N.Y. For further information on the golf outing call 845.294.5333.

Along with the racing programs Historic Track will play host to a few informative programs which pertain to the Standardbred industry.

Again this season the USTA Standardbred Driving School will be at Historic Track from June 11-15 and the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund is a new major sponsor. To sign up, or for further information, interested parties are urged to visit this link.

But that’s not all.

The Harness Horse Youth Foundation will have its Leadership Camp at Historic Track on July 7-11 for high school age students with previous HHYF experience. More information can be had by contacting Keith Gisser by e-mail at hhyfkeith@earthlink.net or call 216.374.1392.