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For Immediate Release
December 22, 2005
HARNESS
HORSE YOUTH FOUNDATION TO HONOR FOUR
For the first time, the
Harness Horse Youth Foundation (HHYF) has selected multiple recipients
including two individuals and two organizations to receive its highest
honor the Service to Youth Award. Presented annually, the award
is given to an individual who has provided inspiration in promoting
harness racing and Standardbreds among young people, not necessarily
within the Foundation's existing programs. This year, a quartet
of distinguished service awards will go to Brittany Farms, Odds
On Racing, Jim Taylor and Ellen Harvey.
"The Board of Directors
felt that these four had made such significant contributions to
helping HHYF and the Harness Racing Youth League enjoy another fantastic
year, that they should all be recognized," said Ellen Taylor, executive
director.
"Brittany Farms, in addition
to its generous financial support, provides off-season homes for
the seven horses we use in the Youth League," said Taylor. "Each
year, when the last camp is over in August, the horses go to Brittany
Farm where they stay through the winter. They take care of all the
vaccinations and expenses. This year one of the horses foundered
and they picked up all the medical expenses and got her to The Meadows
for late season conditioning with the Sokol Stable. They welcome
the horses and get a kick out of having them on the farm, but in
reality they are doing us a great service and HHYF couldn't be more
grateful."
Everyone knows that you
can't have a racing stable or a Harness Racing Youth League without
the proper equipment. When the League needed new trunks, Taylor
sought out the most attractive ones with full-color photos across
the trunk lids. Little did she know that the trunk manufacturer
was also owner of the successful racing stable Dana Parham's Odds
On Racing. Working with Robin Schadt and Living Color Cabinetry,
four individualized trunks were delivered in time for the 2005 HRYL
season. The trunks provided another classy addition for the HRYL
stable, the participants and observers.
Transporting all seven
horses and the equipment can be a huge challenge for Taylor as she
plots the thousands of miles the Youth League travels each summer.
In 2005, Jim Taylor (no relation) made it as easy as picking up
the phone and asking. "Each of the people on my list said no to
me when I asked about leasing a heavy-duty truck for the summer;
I was just about at my wit's end," said Taylor. "When I called Jim
Taylor of Troy Ford, he never hesitated and said, 'That sounds like
a pretty good cause. I think I can help you.' And just like that,
he did. He provided HRYL with a 350 Ford dually truck complete with
fifth wheel hitch for the trailer and paid for all the decals and
signage. When the summer was over and we'd put 14,000 miles on his
truck, he took it back and said, 'Give me a call next year.' He's
a fantastically generous man."
Ellen Harvey, executive
director of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the United
States Trotting Association, is the final recipient of the Service
To Youth Award because, "She is our number one "go to" person",
said Taylor. "Whenever we call her with a need, a question, or a
want she effortlessly and selflessly tries to help in whatever way
she can. For instance, this year, it was Ellen who put me in touch
with Jim Taylor. She had worked with him when he provided transportation
for the Niatross tour a few years ago and suggested I give him a
call. If I hadn't called Ellen, there would have been no Youth League
because without Jim Taylor we wouldn't have had a truck. Ellen is
always there for us."
This year's recipients
will receive their awards at various horsemen's gatherings around
the country in recognition of their significant contributions.
The Service to Youth
Award has been presented each year since 1979. More information
about the Foundation can be found online at www.hhyf.org,
or by calling (317) 867-5877.
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