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!

Trot 4 Kids' Junior Announcer Contest

Willie Win and Taylor Trot of Trot 4 Kids' Willie's Woes cartoon.

From Standardbred Canada:

"Do you want to be the voice of harness racing? Kids, get an early start on this exciting career by entering the Trot 4 Kids Junior Announcer Contest.

The contest requires you to call an actual harness race play-by-play in under two minutes time! It’s a tough job; you need a good memory, clear voice and accuracy, but it’s like no thrill you’ve ever experienced.

Entering this contest is easy! Just go to williewin.blogspot.com to pick the race that you want to announce and download its program page. Then email your unique call of the race in an MP3 audio file to williewin@standardbredcanada.ca before the deadline of August 15, 2009.

There are two categories, one for 10-year-olds and under, and another for those between the ages of 11 and 14. Finalists from each category will be declared on August 24. From September 1 to 4 we will post the winners' race calls on the Standardbred Canada website so everyone can vote for their favourite.

The winner of each category will be announced on September 8 and will receive a Trot 4 Kids prize package valued at $200, including lunch or dinner for four at your local track and a VIP behind-the-scenes tour and race presentation."

PDF files of the race programs can be found at the conclusion of the article.

Don't forget to stop by the Museum where you can practice on our very own Call a Race exhibit. We even have a special script just for kids!