Editor’s Note: The following was written by USTA member and horse owner, Evan Katz, in remembrance of Ruth Stern, who died May 1, 2020.

Yonkers, NY — Ruth Stern, also know as “Ruthie Carrots,” died May 1, 2020.

Ruthie and her husband, Artie, who previously passed away years ago, spent their summers in the Catskills at Monticello Raceway every weekend in their owners box. She was larger than life and everyone at Monticello loved sitting down and talking to her. She got the nickname Ruthie Carrots by bringing huge bags of carrots to the barn and eventually named a horse she owned Ruthie Carrots.

Billy Parker Jr. and Ruth Stern. Photo courtesy of the author.

She and her husband originally had horses with John De Simone Jr. When Ruthie met Billy Parker Jr. it was true love. Billy was her trainer and idol for many years. Their best horse together was Little Scott Man who won many many races for the Stern-Parker team.

The last bunch of years she would sit in front of the TV and watch every race. When one of my horses would win, she would be on the phone right after the race to me yelling and crying that it was the most amazing race I’ve ever seen, whether it was a $5,000 claimer or the Art Rooney Pace. Winning a race for me in the future will not be the same without those phone calls.

There was no harness racing fan bigger then Ruthie Carrots. She will be missed by everyone, especially the horses she loved so much.

I hope with the help of the race secretary at Monticello Raceway, a race in her name can be created and be raced every year so she is not forgotten.