from the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame

Saratoga Springs, NY — The Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame hosts their annual Open House on Tuesday evening, June 9, at the Hall of Fame located at 352 Jefferson Street in Saratoga Springs.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., guests are invited to browse through the museum. The induction ceremonies will start at 6:30 p.m. featuring the installation of driver-trainer Kim Crawford and equine stars Bunny Lake and J M Gregory.

Always a popular driver with the fans and a highly respected horseman by his peers, Kim Crawford was named Horseman of the Year five times at Saratoga Raceway — winning the honor in 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990 and 1991. Kim currently ranks 107th all-time in North American history with 4,199 driving victories.

Bunny Lake is one of harness racing’s greatest pacing mares of all-time. Trained and driven throughout her career by John Stark, Jr., Bunny Lake was 2001 Horse of the Year when she won 19 of 21 starts and earned $1,146,219. Owned by W Springtime Racing Stable of Johnstown, New York and John Stark, Jr., of Saratoga Springs, Bunny Lake won an incredible 47 out of 93 lifetime starts and earned $2,843,476 in her illustrious career.

J M Gregory was purchased for just $450 and went on to be one of the top pacers of his era in the mid-1970s at Saratoga Raceway. Owned by Ronald and Barbara Eigenbrodt of East Chatham, N.Y., J M Gregory won 11 of his first 12 starts and was a fan favorite, scoring 29 lifetime wins and earning $91,204 in his career.

The Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame is also hosting a national exhibit organized by The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., and sponsored by Hanover Shoe Farms entitled “A Drive to Win.” On display from June 2 through June 29, “A Drive to Win” tells the heart rendering, brave stories of 27 of the sport’s most charismatic trainers and drivers. They are not inducted into Harness Racing’s Hall of Fame or its Hall of Immortals, but their inspirational stories are important and worthy of recognition and appreciation. Howard Parker and Angus Allen, two horsemen who raced at Saratoga Raceway most of their careers, are featured in the exhibit.

The public is invited to attend Tuesday night’s Open House and refreshments will be served. The Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. from June 1 through July 20 and Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. from July 21 through Labor Day. Admission is free.