GORDON WATERSTONE NAMED TO USHWA’S HALL OF FAME SCREENING COMMITTEE

HARRISBURG PA – Gordon Waterstone, a 42-year veteran of harness racing journalism who has worked at The Horseman and Fair World for over two decades and is a member of harness racing’s Communications Hall of Fame, has been appointed to the Hall Of Fame Screening Committee of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) by Kim Rinker, president of the sport’s leading media organization.

The HOF Screening Committee considers the nominees submitted by the various chapters of USHWA, talks with a select group of present members of the Hall Of Fame, and then announces the candidates for the summer HOF ballot, on which a nominee requires 75% of the yes-no vote to receive the sport’s highest honor, election to the Hall Of Fame.

Waterstone started his career working in publicity at Detroit’s Hazel Park, and also worked at other tracks at other points of the season, including helping with Breeders Crown publicity in that series’ early days. In 1998 he joined the Horseman and Fair World as associate editor, and during his time with the Kentucky-based company he has received two John Hervey Writing Awards, one in the feature category and one in the news/commentary division, making him one of the few people to have been honored in both sections. His popular “Backstretch With Gordon” column during the prime of The Red Mile’s racing season keeps him in close contact with many of the sport’s leading horsepeople.

A former national president of USHWA and a Life member of the organization, Waterstone is currently the president and secretary of the organization’s Kentucky Chapter. He received the USHWA President’s award in 2001.

Waterstone has also been honored by the North American Harness Publicists Association, Harness Horsemen International, and the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association. The ultimate honor for a harness journalist, entrance into the Communicators Hall of Fame, came with his induction ceremony in 2017 at the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen NY.

The first Sunday in July at Goshen, if the world is back in normal order, will find Waterstone discussing the merits of this year’s candidates with his fellow committee members: committee chair Judy Davis-Wilson, Tim Bojarski, Bob Heyden, Jason Settlemoir, and Steve Wolf; president Rinker also serves on this committee as an ex officio voting member.

Meadowlands Racetrack Feeds Those in Need

Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ – With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting Bergen County extremely hard the Meadowlands Racetrack wanted to help the community in any way possible.

After learning the Meadowlands YMCA was working with Table to Table to distribute meals to families in need, the Meadowlands Racetrack and its restaurant partner Ark Meadowlands pitched in to help feed the local community.

The racetrack donated over 500 meals along with fresh vegetables, cases of water, gatorade and soda to the Meadowlands YMCA. Employees volunteered their time to help pack up the meal boxes and bag the vegetables.

“When we learned that our community was in need, we knew we could help immediately,” said Jason Settlemoir, COO & GM of the Meadowlands Racetrack. “I’d like to thank Jennifer Jordan for organizing this food drive for us and Marianne Rotella, Marcello Esposito, Lisa Smoter, Rachel Ryan and Raul Perez for working so hard on getting this done.”

“We are looking forward to our return to racing when it is safe to do so,” continued Settlemoir. “We encourage everyone to remain at home and stay healthy and we look forward to seeing everyone back at the track.”

For updates on the Meadowlands Racetrack visit http://playmeadowlands.com/ .

For ways to help the Meadowlands YMCA visit https://www.meadowlandsymca.org/main/covid-19-updates-information/

Wednesday Cal Expo card spotlights Sire Stakes, Open Trot

By Mark Ratzky, publicity - Cal Expo Harness

A pair of California Sire Stakes headed by Prom Queen and Its Pointless, respectively; and an Open Trot featuring Mandeville are the main events on Wednesday's Cal Expo card.

Watch and Wager LLC will now conduct racing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with a first post of 3:30 p.m. Pacific.

There are two wagers offered on each program with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate - the 20-cent Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4 - with a $50,000-guaranteed gross pool on the Pick 4.

Prom Queen and Its Pointless have both been dominating in their respective Sire Stakes divisions and look to continue their streaks.

Prom Queen will be guided by Nick Roland, while James Kennedy will once again steer Its Pointless.

In the Open Trot, Mandeville is going in sharp form for owner/trainer Gerry Longo and Nick Roland has the assignment.

Taking him on Wednesday are Its A Horse with Dean Magee; Pridecrest, Mooney Svendsen; Doug Hobby Horse with Luke Plano and Winds Galaxie, who leaves from the rail for James Kennedy.

Free past performances are available at https://www.trackmaster.com/usta