Monticello To Host Memorial RUS Event

Five horses will compete in the Elizabeth Miller Memorial Tuesday, Oct. 2 at Monticello Raceway.

Starting on the rail will be Hillary Hartnett and RC's Ready, a 3-year-old gelding son of RC Royalty. This will mark the duo's second racing under saddle start of the season. The pair posted a time of 2:07.4 in their first start at Batavia Downs.

In post No. 2 will be Vanessa Karlewicz and Flowing James. This pair were dominant in the RUS NY Fair Series this year winning every race entered.  The 13-year-old received the high point horse award and Karlewicz earned the high point rider award. Karlewicz and James placed second at the fair finals held in Monticello in a time of 2:06.2.


In post No. 3 will be Michelle Miller, granddaughter of Elizabeth. She will be riding her own co-owned  5-year-old gelding Railroad Lane.  The duo have been competing in RUS the last two years together. They posted a 2:07.4 mark in the Fair Series Final this year. Railroad Lane was the RUS NY Fair Series high point horse in 2017 and his fastest recorded time under saddle is a 2:05.0 mark at Tioga Downs last year. 

In post No. 4 will be Ashely Eldred and Better To Be Lucky. This will mark the first outing for the duo who recently qualified in 2:10 at Vernon Downs. 

In post No. 5 will be Sasha Moczulski and Iron Will. The 12-year-old is no stranger to racing under saddle but has always been ridden by Heather Reese in the past. Moczulski has ridden quite a few different horses including going to Canada this year and getting a catch drive in the fair final.


To learn more about Miller read some of her obituary:

PITTSFIELD — Elizabeth H. (Liz) Miller, 67, of Pittsfield, went to be with our Lord on Monday, Oct. 2, 2000.

She was born Feb. 26, 1933, in Oneonta, the daughter of James Averell Holl and Mary L. Wilson.

She was married to Lewis (Lukie) Miller on March 25, 1951, in New Berlin.

Liz was the cafeteria manager at the Morris Central School for 29 years which she enjoyed very much.

She was a lifelong resident of the New Berlin/Morris area, where she lived most of her life on the family dairy farm that she and her husband operated for nearly 50 years. She also worked and maintained the family's harness horses and the auction and feed store businesses.

She was an active part of the Otsego County Fair and secretary of the  N.Y.S. Sires Harness Racing Association for many years.

She was also a 25-year member of the Unadilla Grange and the Otsego County Pomona Grange.

Liz lighted the hearts of many and will be terribly missed.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Lukie Miller of Pittsfield; her children, Timothy L. Miller and his wife, Vicky, Terry L. Miller and his wife, Lisa, Lois Miller-Ballard and her husband, John, Wesley J. Miller and Mary Jane E. Conroe and her husband, Jeff, all of New Berlin.

She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Everett (Flip) Hopper, Kevin S. Hopper, Melissa J. Hopper, Tonya M. Miller, Timothy L. Miller Jr., Michelle N. Miller, Sarah E. Conroe, Jessica L. Card, Luke M. Conroe, Merissa L. Card, Michael D. Miller, Matthew. J. Conroe and Makenzie L. Ballard; three sisters-in-law, Mildred I. Chase, Margaret Conklin and Ethel  White; and a brother-in-law, Donald Miller; along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by a brother-in-law, Harley W. Miller; and a sister-in-law, Aleta Smith.

Key To Win Was 'Staying Flat'

(Photo Credits: Geri Schwarz ) The start of the racing under saddle final at Monticello Raceway. 

Rider Has Experience Riding In France

Staying flat was the main strategy for the winning rider of the 2018 RUS New York Fair Series Final. 

Not only was that goal met, but Sophie Engerran and her horse Funny Photo took the lead and stayed there until the very end- winning by 18 lengths. The duo’s winning time of 2:02.4 surpassed a 2:05.4 racing under saddle track record at Monticello Raceway previously held by Glorious Winner. 

“I let him go his own speed and he raced very well, I am very happy with him,” said Engerran after the race. 

A full field of seven stepped on the track to compete in what marked the fifth year of the series. This was the largest entry in recent history. 

The final was held in conjunction with the New York County Fair Harness Racing Finals September 6. Vanessa Karlewicz and Flowing James (PP3) went into the race undefeated at the fairs and finished second in a time of 2:06.2.  Cathy Carpenter Gearwar's Armbro Hall (PP1) was third crossing the finish in 2:07.1. The winner set the following fractions (30.3 1:01.3 1:32.1 2:02.4) and had total command of the race. 

Engerran, who began racing under saddle in France in 2004 had 10 year’s experience under her belt before coming to live in the United States. 

“I was an amateur rider over there,” she said. “The largest field of horses I’ve ridden with is 20. The average race usually had about 14 total. It was a lot different racing there compared to here. I had to slow down and not go full speed the entire time because of the lengths and different styles of races.” 

Owner and trainer of Funny Photo, Engerran recently relocated to New York from Connecticut with her husband and two daughters. Although she lives closer to Saratoga, she keeps Funny Photo at Vernon Downs and races there because he performs better on the larger track.  She said it is a tricky balance keeping up with racing Funny in harness  and getting to under saddle events. 

“I believe my work with him under saddle has improved him in the bike,” Engerran said. “I have been working for the last few months with him to not pull as hard and get around the turns smoother. The work seemed to pay off because we have raced here in Monticello before and were not able to stay flat in the turns.” 

This was not the first record the pair have broken. In 2015, Engerran piloted Funny Photo for trainer Andy Gardner and co-owners Mo Coo Inc. and Jonathan Klee Racing to a North American seven-eighths-mile track standard of 1:59.0. 

It wasn’t much before this the dynamic team was introduced. According to Engerran, she got on and broke the chestnut to ride about a half hour before placing him into a qualifier. 

“I was eventually asked if I would be interested in purchasing Funny. I really liked him and he was good under saddle so I said yes,” she said. 

The next step wast taking Funny Photo to Canada where there is wagering races offered.  However, Engerran said this was not a smart decision as he did not like it there and the track surfaces were not meant for him. 

(Photo Credits: Geri Schwarz )Sophie Engerran and Funny Photo 

“He did very poorly there” explained Engerran. “So we brought him home and started over. We stopped racing him all together for a while to focus on his well being. He was being used for jumping and dressage to gain muscle. He really seemed to enjoy that.” 

Engerran went back to her home country last year so did not participate in the fair series. However, she said she was excited for her and Funny Photo to be back and able to compete. 

“We really need more consistent racing under saddle events to be truly successful,” she said. 

The RUS fair series, which included eight races at seven fairs across the state,  is sponsored by the New York Sire Stakes and Agricultural and New York Breeding Development Fund via a $5,000 grant. Monticello Raceway and The Monticello Harness Horseman’s Association donated $2,500 towards the $3,500 final purse. 

Event organizer Michelle Miller, who also raced and placed fourth, said she was proud of all the girls who participated throughout the year.  

“It consists of a lot of traveling, hard work and dedication,” she said. “It takes a lot of planning and hard work to pull the event off each year. It is great seeing the interest of fans and watching the quality of the riders continue to improve. We have been very fortunate to have partnered with Monticello Raceway who have been extremely gracious to our event since its inception.”

Racing could not continue without the generosity of sponsors because RUS is yet to become a wagering or self sufficient event. Those that have donated $200 or more include The Meadowlands, Vernon Down, Tioga Downs, Batavia Downs, The Mark Ford Stable, Advantage Edge Equine, Morrisville State College, Triple Crown, Pure Country Campgrounds, T&K Harrington LLC, The Equine Tax Group, Preserving Gods Creation Taxidermy, Early Owego Antique Center, ROC The Standardbred and Triple R Equestrian Center. To see all all sponsors or learn more about RUS visit RUS New York's website, rus-newyork.com.

The High Point Rider Award was presented to Vanessa Karlewicz for earning the most points throughout the series.  This year’s prize was donated by Carharts Harness Shop and the Feed and Pet Supply in Vernon NY.

RUS Final Held At Monticello Raceway

**** This article was written by Shawn Wiles on behalf of Monticello Raceway***

(Photo Credits: Geri Schwarz )Dave Fisher and Shawn Wiles present Sophie Engerran and her horse Funny Photo with a cooler in the winner's circle at Monticello Raceway Sept. 6.

On Thursday afternoon at Monticello Raceway in conjunction with the New York County Fair Finals, the final of RUS Series was conducted. This marks the 5th year that the RUS has held their unique events, over the course of the summer 8 RUS events were held through the state.  The RUS fair series is sponsored by the NYSS and Agricultural and New York Breeding Development Fund via a $5,000 grant, Monticello Raceway & The Monticello Harness Horseman’s Association donated $2,500 towards the $3,500 purse.

A field of 7 trotters went behind the gate monte style, Funny Photo and Sophie Engerran lead from start to finish and establish a new track record 2:02.4 in the process to win by 18 lengths, trotting home in 30:3.  Funny Photo is owned, trained and ridden by Sophie Engerran.  Flowing James (Vanessa Karlewicz) finished 2nd followed by Armbro Hall (Cathy Gearwar)

Event organizer Michelle Miller could not have been happier after the race, “I am so proud of the girls today, it has been challenging the last few years to organize the event, but on days like today, it is all worth it! “The quality of the riders continues to improve” said Miller. We have been very fortunate to have partnered with Monticello Raceway who have been extremely gracious to our event since its inception.  We would also like to thank all the many sponsors that have been so generous to us, The Meadowlands, Vernon Down Tioga Downs, Batavia Downs, The Mark Ford Stable, Advantage Edge Equine, Morrisville State College, Triple Crown, Pure Country Campgrounds in New Berlin NY, T&K Harrington LLC, The Equine Tax Group, Preserving Gods Creation Taxidermy and Early Owego Antique Center.

The High Point Rider Award was presented to Vanessa Karlewicz for earning the most points throughout the series.  This year’s prize was donated by Carharts Harness Shop and the Feed and Pet Supply in Vernon NY.