by Nick Salvi, for Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ — Meadowlands Racetrack is announcing that the Nat Ray free for all trot will be known as the John Cashman, Jr. Memorial, beginning with the 2013 race on Hambletonian Day, August 3.

USTA photo

John Cashman, Jr. was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

First raced in 1981, this important event counts among its winners many of trotting’s greatest champions.

Moni Maker won the Nat Ray a remarkable three times, Lucky Jim set his 1:50.1 world record in this race and who can forget Victory Tilly’s exciting international victory in the 2002 edition.

John Cashman, Jr.’s influence is found in many facets of harness racing. In a distinguished career that included several high profile positions, one of the most important was his role in the launching of the Breeders Crown championships.

He took his first front office racing job as assistant race secretary at Vernon Downs before being named director of racing at Roosevelt Raceway, in 1959, at age 19.

In 1980 the late Frederick Van Lennep hired Mr. Cashman as the general manager of Castleton Farm. He later held management positions with all Castleton, Inc. properties, including The Red Mile, Pompano Park and the Lexington Trots Breeders’ Association.

He served for 14 years on the USTA board of directors; was a long-time Hambletonian Society director and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Society; a director of the Gluck Equine Research Center; a vice president and trustee of the Hall of Fame; and served on the American Horse Council — and was named AHC chairman in 1991.