RUS NY Seeks Sponsors & Product

RUS New York highly relies on sponsorship funds to be a success. The organization is reaching out for support before the race season begins so that businesses and individuals get the most out of their buck. 

Where else can one get so much advertisement and promotion for so little money? The answer is nowhere. 

What you get for your buck:

• For as little as $100 you will be provided advertisement on our website. 
• For just $200 or more you will get mention in all promotions such as race programs. (There are generally 9 fair races with about 200 programs distributed at each) 
• For $500 or more you will be provided everything above as well as a feature spot on our homepage. (we will link your website promotions to your website or Facebook page if provided)

If interested in sponsoring a specific race and being named on a cooler or having something special done, arrangements can be made. 

Become a part of the winning experience and sponsor a race by having your logo or business name printed on a cooler. You can present the cooler or we can have someone do it on your behalf. We Must have the sponsorship form 3 weeks before the date of the race.  For more information, contact Michelle Miller at mnmiller84@gmail.com or (607)643-8047. 
Price: $300 
$100 discount if you take advantage of our $500 group sponsorship opportunity. 

The goal is to have a sponsor for each race where the sponsor will be given the opportunity to be a part of the action by providing them with the chance to do a winner circle presentation. 

We realize that it is not always feasible to donate money and we welcome product donations that can be used for prizes or fundraising purposes. RUS NY also has a link, http://www.rus-newyork.com/sponsorship-fundraising.html,  where donations can be made via PayPal. 

The group is maximizing exposure by including all sponsors in all forms of promotion that we do for the season. The earlier you get on board, the more exposure you will receive. 

New this year: All sponsorships received by June will be placed on a display board that will be presented at RUS NY events. 

Visit http://www.rus-newyork.com/become-a-sponsor.html for more information and to download a sponsorship form. Please feel free to contact RUS NY Sponsorship Director, Cathy Gearwar, at fourgears@shoreham.net or by phone at (802) 537-2145 with any questions and to discuss what we can do for you. We are willing to promote events, sales and other happenings and news for our sponsors. The goal is to reach as many people as we can. 

RUS NY was formed in early 2014 in response to the growing interest in the unique sport of racing under saddle. RUS, also known as Monté racing internationally, is a hybrid between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The non-profit organization was created to help organize and promote under saddle races for Standardbreds across the state of New York including fairs. Our group promotes the Standardbred breed as a riding and sport horse, beyond just the sport of racing. One of our goals is to show people how versatile the horses are and hope that will help rehome them once their racing careers are done. Visit our website at rus-newyork.com and be sure to follow us on social media (see links below).

Facebook: facebook.com/RUSNYSeries

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RUS_NewYork

Other Ways to Help

•  Come to our fundraiser events such as our Fun Shows. Visit http://www.rus-newyork.com/fundraisers.html for current fundraiser happenings. 
• Turn feed bags into funds by sending us your proof of purchases 

Officers Named To RUS NY Management Committee

Officers and directors have been selected to 2019 RUS New York Management Committee.

Michelle Miller will be stepping back in the lead role as President of the organization with the help of non-rider David Fisher as Vice President. Fisher has 35 years in the standardbred industry dealing with all aspects from a groom to an owner, trainer, driver, farrier, tooth floater, investigator and judge.

“It is great having someone that does not ride take on a leadership role,” Miller said. “Fisher has great enthusiasm for the sport and wants to help see it succeed.”

Kara Duh will serve as the group’s secretary and take on membership responsibilities. Hannah Miller, a non-rider, will be the acting treasurer and clerk. Those accepting director roles on the committee include, Cathy Gearwar (also taking on director of sponsorship and website responsibilities) Sophie Engerran, Codie Smith and Hillary Hartnett. Directors commit to taking on at least one lead responsibility for the group and attending meetings either physically or via internet.

Duties of the those on the Management Committee shall be to:

• Provides leadership and strategic direction for the organization
• Ensures that an organization remains accountable to its donors and to the general public.
• Evaluate financial policies, approve annual budgets, and review periodic financial reports to ensure that the organization has the necessary resources to carry out its mission.
• To act as lesions to our members and represent their best interest when voting.
• Directors are expected to actively participate in organizational planning and decision-making and to make sound and informed judgments. When acting on behalf of the organization, directors must put the interests of the Group before any personal or professional concerns and avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Membership of RUS NY is open to any individual who supports the sport of Racing Under Saddle and is interested in helping the group to achieve its aim and willing to abide by the rules of the Group. Members do not need to be from New York but are encouraged to attend meetings, help fundraise and participate in discussions. Membership does not give the power to vote. The only time members get to vote is during the the Group’s Annual General Meeting to elect a Management Committee.

Benefits of membership:

• Networking opportunities and more racing opportunities
• Staying connected with what is going on - getting e-mails and updates (Members are responsible for keeping contact info up to date with the secretary)
• Members can sit on committees and help with proposals that will go in front of the Management Committee

Anybody interested in membership should email rusnewyorkseries@gmail.com.

The organization’s Management Committee must consist of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and at least three directors. The positions are voted on annually generally at an annual meeting.

RUS NY’s aim is to help organize and promote under saddle races for Standardbreds across the state. The main goal is to promote racing under saddle and the versatility of the Standardbred breed as both a racing and a riding horse - to help Standardbreds find great homes after they finish their days on the track.

To learn more, visit rus-newyork.com.

Vernon Downs To Host Racing Under Saddle Before Regular Post

Vernon Downs typically features horses racing in harness with a sulky and driver behind them. However, if fans get to the track early, they will be treated to something unique. 

Riders will be atop of the same horses that can be seen on a weekly basis racing in harness. Instead of being driven, the horses will be ridden at a full trot -  the Standardbred’s natural gate. 

Also known as Monte Racing, racing under saddle (RUS) is a hybrid between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The non-wagering event will feature a field of five and be held at 6 p.m. right before the track’s regularly scheduled 6:10 p.m. post. 

Entries 

All participants will receive $400 as long as the horse finishes the race. The winner will also be presented a cooler sponsored by Triple Crown.  

The event is being brought to the track by RUS NY,  an organization that helps coordinate and promote under saddle races across the state. The organization has put on a fair series for the past five years and was officially formed in early 2014. The main goal is to promote the unique sport, educate about the versatility of the Standardbred breed as both a racing and a riding horse and to help Standardbreds find great homes after they finish their days on the track. 

Follow the group on Facebook, Twitter and via a blog at: 

• Facebook.com/RUSNYSeries
• Twitter.com/RUS_NewYork
• http://rus-newyork.blogspot.com

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 Monticello Raceway, The Meadowlands, Vernon Down, Tioga Downs, Batavia Downs, Saratoga Harness Horsemen's Association, 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, Beckwith Racing, Early Owego Antique Center, ROC The Standardbred and Triple R Equestrian Center. To see all all sponsors, view information on becoming a sponsor or to learn more about RUS visit RUS New York's website, rus-newyork.com.

Two RUS Events Planned This Weekend

The racing under saddle season will soon come to an end for the season, but before that happens, there will be two more races this weekend.

Vernon Downs will host a race Saturday and Saratoga Casino and Hotel will put on a race during their Sunday racing card.

Vernon conditions can be found at the following link https://docs.google.com/document/d/13YX-it00mMg_CQcfA5oYEl75iHVByWXaytdqihOebkY/edit?usp=sharing. The goal is to have horses racing between the times of 2:10 and 2:04.1.  The purse will be $2,500 divided evenly as long as there are 6 or more horses if there are less the purse may be lowered. Funds are coming directly from RUS NY. The winner will also be presented a cooler sponsored by Triple Crown. 

Saratoga conditions is a Free For All with horses having to show a charted line of 2:10 or better and have a charted line in harness or RUS within the last 30 days. The goal is to have horses that can compete in 2:04 and faster. The purse will be $500 per horse and is being generously donated by the Saratoga Harness Horsemen's Association. 

Entries for each track are currently online through the USTA. Be sure to change the gate to RUS trot. Entries for Vernon are due by Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 9 a.m. and Entries for Saratoga are due by Thursday, Oct. 11 by 9 a.m.

WHAT IS RACING UNDER SADDLE:

Also known as Monte Racing, RUS, is a hybrid between harness racing and thoroughbred racing. The sport consists of a rider atop a Standardbred (generally a trotter) in a saddle instead of pulling a sulky.  RUS is an exciting part of international standardbred racing and is conducted daily at most European tracks as part of their regular pari-mutuel wagering programs.

RUS NY is an organization that helps coordinate and promote under saddle races across the state. The main goal is to promote the unique sport,  educate about the versatility of the Standardbred breed as both a racing and a riding horse and to help Standardbreds find great homes after they finish their days on the track.

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 Monticello Raceway, The Meadowlands, Vernon Down, Tioga Downs, Batavia Downs, Saratoga Harness Horsemen's Association, 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, Beckwith Racing, 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.

To keep up on RUS NY happenings follow the group on  Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.

• Facebook.com/RUSNYSeries
• Twitter.com/RUS_NewYork
• http://rus-newyork.blogspot.com
• Rus-newyork.com

  
  

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.