Public Invited to Hall of Fame Celebrations

The public is invited to attend the National Museum of Racing's annual Hall of Fame Ceremony, held on Monday, Aug. 4th at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion. Members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2003 are: trainer Hubert (Sonny) Hine, jockey Mike Smith, and Thoroughbreds Dance Smartly and Precisionist.

The induction ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Sales Pavilion, located on East Avenue. Admission to the event is free. Critically acclaimed author of "Secretariat: The Making of a Champion" and the newly released "My Turf," Bill Nack will be the keynote speaker.

The day's festivities will celebrate and honor the career achievements of the new inductees. Helping add to the celebratory atmosphere will be a number of returning Hall of Famers; jockeys Jerry Bailey, Braulio Baeza, Pat Day, Gary Stevens, Ron Turcotte and Bobby Ussery; and trainers Jimmy Croll, Allen Jerkens, P.G. Johnson, Tommy Kelly, Bill Mott, Scotty Schulhofer, Jonathan Sheppard, and Mike Smithwick.

Beginning at 2:30 p.m., racing fans will be given the opportunity to meet returning members of the Hall of Fame for a free autograph session held at the Saratoga Race Course in front of the Silk's Display Area of the Jockey's Room.

The feature race of the afternoon is The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, for 3-year-olds, on the Mellon Turf Course. The trophy presentation will be made by Museum president John T. von Stade and jockey Mike Smith.

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is located across from the Saratoga Race Course on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs. The summer hours for the Museum are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily during the Saratoga Meet. For more information contact the Museum at 518-584-0400.

Later in the week, author Nan Mooney will sign copies of her book, "My Racing Heart," on Wednesday, Aug. 6, in the lobby of the Racing Museum from 10 a.m.-noon.

Mooney's romance with the sport began as a 7-year old girl watching a race with her grandmother and continues after a dream trip to the Kentucky Derby. She graduated from Scripps College in California.