by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The 50th annual awards banquet of the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association will be held on Sunday, October 26, at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, N.Y. Once again, it promises to be an outstanding gathering of great people in the sport.

The Harness Writers are proud to honor Hal Jones with the Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award for longtime dedication to the Standardbred Sport. Hal managed Pick Wick Farms in Bucyrus, Ohio from 1951-1969 where he pioneered the use of artificial insemination. In 1969 Hal went to work at Blue Chip Farms and was responsible for the basic layout of the facility. In 1971 he was at Hanover Shoe Farms as superintendent, working with Albatross and Super Bowl. In 1978 Hal was at Lana Lobell and was there until he — and son Steve — purchased Cameo Hills Farms in 1982. At Cameo Hills the Joneses raised and sold the likes of Hambletonian winner Deweycheatumnhowe, Goalie Jeff, Housethatruthbuilt and Bowlin For Dollars. For the past few decades Hal has been content to have son Steve out front.

Gail Cunard may be the hardest working woman in harness racing. Her many years of cruising under the radar are history and the chapter is extremely honored to present her with the prestigious Excelsior Award for her dedication and untiring efforts, not only on behalf of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame but for the promotion of the Standardbred sport throughout the U.S. and Canada. In 1979 she managed Historic Track, taking the helm at the Museum in 1985, where she has spearheaded countless new exhibits, most recently her “Drive To Win” exhibit.

Peter Goold is this year’s recipient of the Amy Bull Crist Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding efforts which have benefited Goshen Historic Track. As the Executive Director of Agriculture and The NYS Horse Breeding and Development Fund, part of Peter’s responsibility is to oversee the New York Sire Stakes program and the NYSS races allotted Goshen Historic Track are an integral part of each season’s racing programs there. Peter has been a force behind grants issued to both Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum and his overall diligence to all aspects of his profession is beneficial to all concerned.

Dave Offenberg is this year’s Amateur Driver Of the Year. Offenberg has been a longtime owner of harness horses and from literally hundreds of horses he’s owned, either all or in part, arguably the most famous was Yes Its True, an outstanding pacing mare who won over $700,000 for his Allister Stables. In 1998 Dave became an amateur driver and joined the Billings Amateur Driving Series and has won 29 races and always puts amateur racing in a good light. This season he copped a Billings event at Monticello Raceway and won a leg of the Hambletonian Amateur Trot at the Meadowlands in late July.

For all he’s done for the area’s racing fans, Middletown Times-Herald Record’s sports editor Matt Pepin is the recipient of the chapter’s Good Guy Award. Since his arrival Matt has done wonders with his paper’s sports section and Web site. Now with a racing page on the T-H Record’s Web site, harness racing coverage at both Monticello Raceway and Historic Track is available in print or at the click of a mouse.

And the Chapter will present its first-ever Most Happy Fella Award for an outstanding industry accomplishment by an individual from our area. This year’s recipient is Ray Schnittker for his victory in the Hambletonian, as well as other major stakes races, with the great trotter Deweycheatumnhowe, who has won over $2.14 million this year.

Of course the chapter will also celebrate the best performances, both human and equine, at Monticello Raceway and Historic Track during the 2008 season. And each year the chapter produces a charity journal with the most of proceeds donated to Goshen Historic Track, the Harness Racing Museum and other industry causes.

The banquet is open to the public and anyone wanting to purchase tickets — at $60 each — or for further information can call the publicity office at Monticello Raceway at (845) 794-4100, ex: 455.