September 2009 Children's Workshop

Check out our upcoming children's workshop at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame:

Fall Back to School

Children’s Workshop

Saturday, September 12, 2009

10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon

at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame

Join us at the Harness Racing Museum on Saturday, September 12 from 10:30-12:00 noon as we fall back to school in Standardbred style! Learn all about how Standardbred horses go to school in order to become stars on the harness track. Bring a spiral notebook and we will help you make decorative notebook covers to get your school year started on the right hoof! Jazz up your backpack with our horse-themed zipper pulls that you can decorate with our rainbow of glitter paint. We will even teach you to pace like a horse with our Buddy Pacers activity. Then test your skills as a driver by taking a ride on the 3-D Harness Racing Simulator! The cost is $5.00/child with one accompanying adult admitted free. This program is appropriate for children ages 3-11. Reservations are required; please call us at (845) 294-6330 for further information.

Museum to Restore Dick McMahon's Driving Colors

1931 Hambletonian Winner Calumet Butler with driver Dick McMahon

The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY has received a $2,440 grant from the Greater Hudson Heritage Network for the treatment of Richard McMahon’s silk Driving Jacket; the work will be executed by textile conservator Gwen Spicer, Spicer Art Conservation, LLC.

“Dick” McMahon was born in Fredonia, KS, about 1880. Around 1896, he started as a groom and learned the art of driving trotters with the Steward Brothers of Kansas City, MO. His first claim to fame was with the pacer, Major Muscovite, at the turn of the century. He maintained a public stable until he went with Calumet Farm in Kentucky. With the Calumet horses he won many stakes, including the 1931 Hambletonian with Calumet Butler. Dick McMahon, who was rated one of the best harness drivers of his time, retired from racing after the 1931 season to manage Calumet Farm. He died in Kentucky in 1945 and was elected an Immortal of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1958.

The Harness Racing Museum’s Carol Fleming Messenger Fund for the Care and Conservation of Drivers’ Colors continues to be a driving force behind the conservation treatment of the Museum’s silks collection. Established in 2004, the Messenger Fund has raised $39,400 through grants and individual sponsorships which have to date helped to preserve eight drivers’ jackets and nine caps. Projects completed this year include the jacket and caps of Immortals Gabe Cartnal, Henry Thomas and Lon McDonald. Much remains to be done and further individual and grant funding support will be sought in the coming year to provide for the colors that remain un-sponsored at this time. The jackets and caps of the following renowned reinsmen have been prioritized for care but as yet remain without a funding sponsor:

Ralph Baldwin

Tom Berry

Harry Burright

Will Caton

Charles Coburn

Guy Crippen

Jimmy Cruise

Vernon Dancer

John Dodge

Charles Fitzpatrick

W. Forester Gibbons

Clint Hodgins

Joe O’Brien

Nat Ray

Sanders Russell

Ira Ryerson

Frank Safford

Bi Shively

Specific estimates can be obtained for those interested in helping with this important project to preserve harness racing's important memories, however as a general guideline, the cleaning and/or treatment of a single jacket may range in cost from $350 to $3,500 depending upon condition. The cleaning and/or treatment of an individual cap may range in cost from $200 to $1,500. These are broad general estimates. Donations of any amount are invited. They can be sponsor-specific or not and according to donor instructions will be acknowledged on exhibition labels and in all announcements.

To adopt the colors of one of these memorable characters contact Rebecca Howard, manager of the Museum’s Historic Collections Department at 845.294.6330 or email collections@harnessmuseum.com

The Greater Hudson Heritage Network (formerly Lower Hudson Conference of Historical Agencies & Museums) has awarded nearly $120,000 in conservation treatment grants to 27 organizations, located in 18 counties of New York, in association with the Museum Program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), a state agency. These 2009 awards bring the total granted by this statewide program to over $1 million, since the Conservation Treatment Grant program began in 2000.

From the Bronx to Buffalo, these re-granted funds will provide treatment by professional conservators to aid in stabilizing, preserving, and making accessible to the public an array of unique objects in collections of New York’s museums, historical and cultural organizations of all sizes.

From Seneca Falls to Smithtown, 2009 grants will support treatment of ancient Greek kylizes and contemporary bronze sculpture, printed earthenware, silk and woven textiles, and oil paintings—such as an 18^th c. Cuzco School Madonna and Child, 19^th c. portraits, and 20^th c. landscapes with their carved, gilt frames; a 28 ft. wall mural, an early 20^th c. Grand Advertising Curtain, and Frank Stella’s Big Gur. Diverse objects such as artist Thomas Cole’s Top Hat, a Leather Fire Hose, panoramic photograph of Gloversville, The Caudebec Inn 1920’s Hotel Register, a plaster bull sculpture maquette, carriages, coaches, a newsprint sign and a Native American clam basket are among the artifacts stewarded by collecting and exhibiting institutions from Rochester to Rhinebeck receiving conservation treatment support through the 2009 grant program.

Grants are awarded for prioritized, urgently needed conservation of objects that, once treated, will impact public interpretive programs, exhibitions and education. Non-profit organizations with stewardship responsibility for cultural collections were eligible applicants; state or federally owned collections are ineligible for support. Grant funding can treat paintings, works on paper, textiles, furniture, sculpture, ethnographic, historical and decorative objects, and may also support accompanying professional treatment of frames, supports, stands and mounts if integral to the final public presentation of the object, after conservation.

Greater Hudson Heritage Network strives to provide support for conservation treatments that are executed on the highest professional level. The field of conservation is continually changing, with pioneering research and dissemination of findings on innovative materials and techniques. Although there are many paths into the field of conservation, we acknowledge practitioners who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency and advanced knowledge, adherence to the ethics and standards of the American Institute of Conservation (AIC), and are recognized for their expertise in the museum field.

An evaluation of the first five years of the Conservation Treatment Grant Program reported that these grants led to public impact outcomes beyond the actual conservation of museum objects, including heightened appreciation of the collections, and increased public awareness of the institution’s role as steward, and has proven a spark to further institutional, strategic, financial and long-range conservation planning. Beyond these outcomes, grant recipients reported that Conservation Treatment funding prompted fuller use of collections (for exhibition, web content and loan), enhanced interpretive capability, and expanded opportunities to educate the public about art, history, humanities, the science of conservation, and museum work.

41 grant applications were received at Greater Hudson from institutions in 23 counties of New York State, requesting an aggregate of nearly $192,000 in grant support. 27 awards totaling approximately $120,000 were recommended by a peer panel of conservators, curators and museum professionals. Individual 2009 Conservation Treatment Grants range from $555 to $7,500.

Of the 27 funded institutions, 63% have annual budgets under $360,000 (15% with operating budgets of less than $50,000), and 37% have budgets greater than $400,000 (15% of those have budgets of $400-$750,000; 15% are in the $1.8 million - $4.5 million range, and 7% operate at over $17 million). Organizational annual operating budgets of 2009’s grant recipients span a stunning range from $3,400 to $18.7 million

Horsin' Around

Horsin' Around is a new feature that profiles various people related to the harness racing industry. If you are interested in being featured, please email the Education Department.

This week we corresponded with Stephen Thompson, blogger and soon-to-be webmaster of Maine's Lost Trotting Parks. After working with his cousin, Clark P. Thompson, author of Maine's Trotting Horse Heritage Trail published in 2009, Stephen was inspired to uncover Maine's harness racing heritage by locating the sites of some of the most popular trotting parks of the 1800s.

What drew you to researching the history of Maine's trotting parks?

My research with Maine's lost trotting parks started when I helped my cousin, Clark Thompson of Bangor, Maine, locate the fairgrounds of the North Kennebec Agricultural and Horticultural Society. With the lack of a museum for Maine Trotting Horse History, Clark decided to establish the Maine Trotting Horse Heritage Trail. As described in his book, twenty inscribed granite markers have been placed from Old Orchard Beach to Dover-Foxcroft. Each marker celebrates a significant event in Maine trotting horse history.

With this as a beginning, I realized that Maine at one time had many trotting parks and today most of them are gone.

Clark and I are also researching Maine's famous trotting stallion Nelson and Sunnyside Farm which was owned by Charles Horace Nelson. We are searching for lost memorabilia, paintings, photographs, and trophies. These items are either lost forever or may be part of private collections.

What would you consider the ultimate goal of the project?
The ultimate goal of the project is to bring greater visibility, appreciation, and understanding of Maine's trotting horse history, the Standardbred horse, and agricultural societies and their fairs. The standard-bred horse played a big role in our history -- a work horse, transportation, and racing.

How would you describe the significance of cataloguing the trotting park sites?
Cataloguing the history of Maine's trotting park sites bring to light both a past way of life and a place where people attended events for personal enjoyment and educational purposes. Today, many Mainers are not aware of this rich history. It is a small part of our history, yet it too has it moments of mystery and intrigue.

What has been your most rewarding discovery on the project to date?
Researching the history of Sunnyside Farm and the trotting stallion Nelson has been a challenging and time consuming project. Clark has spent many more hours reading newspapers accounts from the 1890's. Our research has involved genealogical work, time at the Kennebec Registry of Deeds, and interviewing wonderful people who volunteer their time at local historical societies and local government.

Describe your involvement with the sport of harness racing.

In reality I have little involvement with Maine's harness racing industry. However, I do find its history intriguing. Much of this history is passing us by. Now is the time to make good effort to capture this history before it is gone. Perhaps that's my greatest motivation.

Thanks, Stephen! Don't forget to visit his blog for insights and great images of Maine's harness racing history.

Museum Restoration Raffle Winners Announced

A complete listing of the winners of the 2009 Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame Restoration Raffle is now available online at www.harnessmuseum.com. This important annual event provides funding for artifact conservation. Projects completed with the help of more than $58,000 brought in since 1995 have included the treatment of horse drawn vehicles, such as Hambletonian’s 1860 skeleton wagon and the 1900 Dan Patch sleigh; historic paintings by significant artists including Edward Troye and John McAuliffe; numerous Currier & Ives lithographs; as well as drivers’ silks.

This year's grand prize was a “Driving School Dream Package.” The 3-day package includes the May 2010 driving course, donated by the United States Trotting Association, and travel and expense stipends provided by Harness Horsemen International and Peter Gerry for The Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers’ Association. Museum friend Wayne Smith was the winner!

Dinner for two at CIBO in Manhattan, NY, donated by museum member Jay Farrar, has been won by Carol, Mrs. Norman Dauplaise. Mario Marchi’s gift of dinner two at his very special Gotham restaurant was won by museum member Allan Schott.

Other top prizes offered in this year’s drawing included New York Giants, two home game tickets, NBA New York Knicks, two home game tickets, The Meadowlands’ Terraces Restaurant, dinner for four, one pair of jog cart wheels, Craig's Fine Food & Spirits Restaurant, country brunch for four, set of three matching customized harness bags, Visitor's Package, dinner for two and one night stay at Batavia Downs, The Little Brown Jug, two grandstand tickets, Gold Golf Putter, museum commemorative club, “Day At The Races,” package for four from Hawthorne Race Course, Stickney/Cicero, IL, Art Print of Niatross, by Richard A. Botto, sculpture by Cindy Seng: Book, 100 Years in Harness, signed by author Nicole Kraft, one year subscription to Hoof Beats magazine, Afghan, commemorating 1992 Horse of the Year, Artsplace, Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Gift Bag, Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Gift Bag, decorative harness racing throw pillows, John Campbell Bobble Head Doll, Folk Art, Welcome Sign, Travmuseet Souvenir Hat and T-shirt, Kitchen Accessories Basket, and a Harness Racing Souvenir Gift Bag.

We invite all ticket holders to visit the museum’s website at www.harnessmuseum.com to see if they are one of this year’s winners!

August 2009 Children's Workshop

Looking for a fun activity for your children to complete this weekend? Look no further than the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame's August 2009 workshop:

Ride Like the Wind

August 2009 Children's Workshop
Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon

Join us at the Harness Racing Museum on Saturday, August 8 from 10:30-12:00 noon as we harness the power of the wind! Discover the science behind weathervanes—colorful weather instruments often perched atop stables. Learn how to make your own weathervanes as well as their pint-sized cousins, pinwheels, using common household materials. Explore the Museum through our Wacky Weathervane Scramble activity. Then ride like the wind on our very own 3-D Harness Racing Simulator! The cost is $5.00/child with one accompanying adult admitted free. This program is appropriate for children ages 3-11. Reservations are required; please contact the Education Department at (845) 294-6330 for further information.