Goshen, NY – Treasured publicity icon and stakes administrator Moira Fanning looked out at the capacity crowd of well-wishers at Sunday (Dec. 7) night’s 66th Awards Banquet of the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), presented by the New York Sire Stakes, and said, “We all know how important family is. Without my family, I am not sure I could have done anything.”
The Communicators Hall of Famer who has worked tirelessly at the Hambletonian Society and Breeders Crown for the last 35 years added, “The luckiest day of my very lucky life was the day I met Tom Fanning.”
Aside from being grateful his partnership, and the two wonderful daughters they created, Mrs. Fanning also recognized the four best bosses she ever had: Marv Bachrad, Bill Fidati, Tom Charters and John Campbell. During her tenure the prestigious Hambletonian Stakes celebrated its 100th renewal, and the Breeders Crown purses nearly doubled from $4 million to over $7 million each year.
An expert in promoting and facilitating big events, Fanning has seen the industry change, and insists that, “everyone in harness racing, all of us, must be an advocate for the sport, for the horses, and for ourselves. We have to do it. No one else will do it.”
The recipient of the chapter’s highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, closed with, “We have to fight for our livelihoods, and never stop letting people know we exist.”
The USHWA chapter also honored Ralph Scunziano, the outgoing executive director of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Fund, with the Excelsior Award. Under his direction the New York Sire Stakes program has secured a record purse structure and instituted a series of Big Apple races for freshmen worth $1 million.
The writers also presented Keith Hamilton with the chapter’s John Gilmour Good Guy Award for his 50 years of dedication to New York harness racing. Dr. Janet Durso received the Amy Bull Crist Distinguished Service Award for her long-time support of racing at Goshen Historic Track. James Crawford IV took home the Cradle of the Trotter Breeders Award.
In addition, Jessica Hallett, harness racing social media influencer and award-winning photographer received the chapter’s Phil Pines Award. Speaking of family, Rising Star award winner, and NY County Fair Trainer of the Year Dylan Huckabone-Miller enjoyed the company of his mother (Casey) and his grandmother (Joann), who both originally hail from the Monticello area and were on hand to support their honoree.
Aside from recognizing nationally prominent honorees, the awards banquet still maintains its ‘Borscht Belt’ roots. Since 1959, the Monticello-Goshen chapter has been rewarding the local horsemen and women that compete at the ‘Mighty M,’ as well as the hard-working staff and management that keep the races rolling.
The Mighty M Award of Appreciation was bestowed upon Barb Merton and Liz Stubits for their 30-plus years of dedication to Monticello Raceway and benevolence for those in need at the track’s close-knit racing community. Brenna Gill was named Caretaker of the Year.
These folks, and others from around the region, received their awards along with their peers for the 60-plus divisional equine honors bestowed upon the hard-working owners, trainers and caretakers that call New York State, and the Sullivan County oval home.
Jason Bartlett, who is enjoying a career year, received a fistful of accolades for his driving prowess and accomplishments, along with Jared Bako who was named the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) and USTA District 8 Trainer of the Year.
Awards for all three divisions of the New York program, including the Sire Stakes, Excelsior Series and the County Fairs were presented to both horses and their connections. The NYSS and USTA District 8 Horse of the Year Award was given to Super Chapter. Mark Loewe accepted on behalf of breeder and co-owner Hanover Shoe Farms. The Hambletonian Society was the dinner sponsor.
With revenue from their loyal advertisers in the 84-page souvenir journal, the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of USHWA was able to donate $7,500 each to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, as well as Goshen Historic Track in 2025. These two distinct, separate entities share the same hallowed ground and a singleness of purpose to preserve, protect and promote harness racing.
The practice of raising money and donating funds to Historic Track and the Hall of Fame began in the mid-1970s with Monticello Raceway publicity guru John Manzi, and has continued ever since. In just the last 25 years, the local Monticello-Goshen chapter has donated well over $160,000 to these important industry preservationists.