by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Chairman Shawn Wiles wants to remind members that the USTA District 8 membership meeting along with the District 8 and New York Sires Stakes awards dinner will be held at Tioga Downs on Sunday (Oct. 27).

The informative programs are run under the aegis of the United States Trotting Association and Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding and Development Fund.

“During the membership meetings there will be a discussion of the proposed rules and suggested by-law changes and we’ll have a Q and A period, ” Wiles said.

Joining Wiles will be the USTA’s Ellen Harvey.

“I’ll have the usual USTA list of activities and some of them I know more about than others, so I can give a summary of those with which I am most familiar and answer some questions,” Harvey added.

Also present at the USTA meetings will be District Directors Jason Settlemoir, Mark Ford, Ray Schnittker, Mike Kane, Bruce Tubin and Kim Crawford.

The general membership meeting will begin at 5 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m. there will be a cocktail party hosted by Tioga Downs, Batavia Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Monticello Raceway, Saratoga Raceway and Vernon Downs followed at 7:30 p.m. by the banquet dinner and awards ceremonies.

The membership meeting and discussion are free to all USTA District 8 members. However, tickets to the bnquet and award ceremonies are $30 per person.

The top horses in the New York Sires Stakes program along with the best owned by USTA District 8 members will be awarded beautiful trophies. But the highlight of the awards presentations will be the Bruce Hamilton Memorial Medal which will be awarded to Wanda Polisseni.

Those who plan on attending the awards dinner must remember to make reservations (518.785.5858) prior to Wednesday (Oct. 23) and then make checks payable to HHBNYS and mail to Harness Horse Breeders, 400 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110.