by John Manzi, for the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA

Monticello, NY — After again running another successful awards banquet in late November, the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association donated $3,000 to Historic Track at their monthly Board Meeting on Nov. 19.

Monticello-Goshen USHWA photo

Bernie White (left) accepts the check from John Manzi.

The presentation of the check was made to Bernie White, president of Historic Track’s Board of Directors, by John Manzi, the chapter’s banquet chairman and longtime Historic Track Board member.

Moreover, Historic Track gained another $600 as a result of the Monticello-Goshen USHWA Chapter banquet.

At the chapter’s awards banquet on Nov. 17, Wanda Polisseni, one of the main honorees, gave Manzi a $500 donation for Historic Track and in lieu of a trophy, Gerry Fielding, the Amy Bull Crist Award winner, donated the trophy cost ($100) to Historic Track, also.

Those donations will be matched and the National Historic Landmark will actually end-up with $7,200.

For the 30th consecutive year the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association has donated to Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame.

Last summer the organization presented a $3,000 check to Museum president Ebby Gerry, Jr. prior to the ceremonies at the Hall of Fame banquet in Goshen, N.Y., on July 7.

Money raised for the donations is made possible from successful chapter banquets and the continued support of the chapter’s charity journals.

“We thank all who participate in our annual awards banquets and charity journals and we are very fortunate to be able to raise the money, and when we do, it is our pleasure to donate the profits back to the industry, especially to Historic Track and to the Harness Racing Museum, which are not only in our own backyard but very dear to us and to the hearts of everyone in harness racing,” noted Chris Tully, president of the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA and first VP National.

“In addition, we will also be making our annual $3,000 donation to the Harness Racing Museum next July. A special thanks goes to John Manzi whose dedicated efforts make the banquets successful.”

In the early 1980s, annual donations by the Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA were used to support a college scholarship but the members decided back then that when the chapter donates it should be to Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum — both separate not-for profit entities — although over the years the chapter has also donated to many other harness racing industry causes.