by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — Just three weeks remain until the New England Harness Writers hold their 29th Hall of Fame awards program at Scarborough Downs in Maine.

October 12 marks the date that four men with over 150 years of contributions to harness racing will be inducted into the chapter’s Hall of Fame, bringing that number to 51.

Robert Temple, David H. McDuffee, Dunbar W. Bostwick and Octave Blake are the 2007 inductees.

In addition, the people who are responsible for the daily operations of New England’s four major harness tracks, Ed Callahan, Rockingham Park, Sharon Terry, Scarborough Downs, Fred Nichols, Bangor Raceway and Gary Piontkowski, Plainridge Racecourse, are among the honorees.

The event will open with a cocktail hour from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., followed by a buffet and the award presentations.

Others being cited are Don G. Marean, USTA District 9 Chairman; Diann Perkins, president of the Maine Standardbred Breeders/Owners Association; Peter Gerry, treasurer of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame at Goshen, N.Y.; Raymond Campbell, Jr., owner of the trotter RC Royalty; Orrin Phipps, 2006 co-national amateur driver of the year; William W. Pillsbury, 2007 Iron Man award; Joel H. Wheeler, successful Plainridge owner-trainer; Jim Hardy, Eugene Hickey and Henry Caruso, owners of Slim Down; Richard A. Johnson, curator of the New England Sports Museum; William Ellis, 30 years of calling the races; and Drew Campbell and Todd Whitney, owners of Rays Dilemma A.

Tickets at $25 per person can be purchased by contacting Susan A. Higgins at Scarborough Downs (207) 883-4331. Several nice door prizes will be awarded including four hand crafted harness clocks donated by Robert Lieberman, committee member, and eight fleece jackets.