Harness Racing Museum looking for relatives of Immortals

The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame will induct eight significant contributors to the sport into its Hall of Immortals this coming Hall of Fame Day, Sunday, July 5. The inductees are artist Nicholas Winfield Scott Leighton (1847-1898), equine photographer George Francis Schreiber (1803-1892), artist Edward Troye (1808-1874), Standardbred breeder Colonel Richard West (1819-1887), trainer-driver Lewis D. Williams (1947-1989), Standardbred breeder General Temple William Withers (1825-1889), and Standardbred horses Big Towner and Nan’s Catch.

In an effort to have as many family members of these honorees as possible represented at the induction ceremonies, the museum is reaching out in a public effort to locate those unaware of their connection to this prestigious award.

The Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony will be held at the Museum in Goshen, N.Y. on the evening of July 5. Currently, Martha Withers Utley Aiken of Huntsville, Ala., and the family of Lew Williams, hailing from New Jersey, New York and Ohio, will be in attendance to celebrate their relatives’ achievements. Also planning to attend are members of the family of 19th century photographer George Francis Schreiber. They unexpectedly learned of their harness racing connection after an article regarding Hall of Fame Day was seen by great-great-great-grandsons of patriarch George Schreiber, Francis Donald Schreiber of Blanco, N.M., and Greg Prichard of Wayne, Pa.

To date the museum has been unable to locate descendants of Scott Leighton, Edward Troye and Col. Richard West. Contact information for these family members is invited and those able to provide such information are urged to contact the Museum at (845) 294-6330 or library@harnessmuseum.com.

Others being honored on this very special occasion are Living Hall of Fame recipients Tom Crouch of Kentuckiana Farms, Alan Leavitt of Walnut Hall Ltd., both of Kentucky, and Tim Rooney, president of Yonkers Raceway, N.Y. Standardbreds Miss Easy and Muscles Yankee will become members of the Living Horse Hall of Fame, and John Berry and Leon Zimmerman will enter the Communicators’ Corner. Bob Tucker of Stonegate Standardbred Farm, Glen Gardner, N.J., will receive the museum's Pinnacle Award for meritorious service in the promotion of the sport by co-sponsoring, with the CTW Foundation, the free Harness Racing Museum traveling exhibit "The Story of Harness Racing by Currier & Ives."

The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame is located at 240 Main Street in Goshen, New York and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thanks to U.S. Trotting Association support, the Museum is currently offering free general admission. For information on the Museum, special events, free traveling exhibits and educational programs the Museum offers, please call (845) 294-6330 or visit www.harnessmuseum.com. (Harness Racing Museum)

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