For Immediate Release Contact:
May 15, 2012 Jessica Paquette
(617) 568-3220
jpaquette@suffolkdowns.com
NEW ENGLAND TURF WRITERS ELECT HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2012
EAST BOSTON, MA - The New England Turf Writers Association has elected its Hall of Fame class of 2012, which will be honored along with the 2011 NETWA award winners at the organization’s 70th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, July 19 at the Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers, MA.
The class consists of sprinter Concorde Bound, jockey Joseph Hampshire, Jr., trainer Maurice “Junie” Bresnahan, owner and breeder Frank Bertolino of Monarch Stables and longtime Suffolk Downs executive Robert M. O’Malley.
Concorde Bound, trained by NETWA Hall of Famer Ron Dandy and owned by Frank Generazio’s Willow End Stable, is one of the most accomplished sprinters in the history of New England racing. All but one of his eleven career victories came in the region, five of which were stakes wins. In 1984, he earned the biggest victory of his career in the $100,000 Suffolk Downs Sprint Handicap and followed that up with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Jerome Stakes at Belmont Park. After a sharp victory in the Suffolk Sprint Prep Handicap in 1986, he was poised for a big effort in a repeat attempt in the Suffolk Sprint. Though he finished first, he was disqualified and placed second in what was the final start of an impressive career.
Hampshire is one of the most decorated jockeys in New England history, taking home the prestigious Eli Chiat Jockey Award six times. Though he has been very successful in the Mid- Atlantic, a great deal of his success came in New England. Over the course of his career, he has won an impressive 67 stakes races between Suffolk Downs and Rockingham. He took home nine meet titles at Suffolk Downs.
For more than two decades (1950's-1970's) the late Bresnahan was a leader or near the top in the training standings at many of the tracks on the New England circuit. He conditioned many of the area's top horses and won several important stakes races. He is also remembered as a leader in the Women's Liberation Movement when he signed Denise Boudrot to a contract in the early 1970's, thus paving the way for other women riders. Bresnahan was also written up in a 1960 "Sports Illustrated" article, which recounted that year's running of the Lawrence Handicap at Rockingham Park.
Bertolino of Revere, MA has owned thoroughbreds for over 40 years. Originally racing under the name San Fran Stable, the name was changed to Monarch Stables in 1975 after his horse Country Monarch, the fourth place finisher in the 1976 MassCap. Bertolino has owned numerous New England champions and was honored by the NETWA for his contributions to New England racing in 1981. In addition to being among the perennial leading owners in the region, Monarch Stables has been one of the nation’s top ten owners on nine occasions. Monarch Stables has enjoyed great success in south Florida in recent years as well, garnering seven leading owner titles at Calder.
O'Malley was a long-time executive at Suffolk Downs. He was named the track’s chief operating officer in 1996, a position he held until his death in 2007. His experience at Suffolk Downs spanned five decades and seven separate ownerships. In 2002, O'Malley received the Sam McCracken Memorial Award for lifetime contributions to New England racing from the New England Turf Writers Association. In addition to working at the track, O’Malley was an enthusiastic racing fan, attending every Kentucky Derby for 23 years from 1980 to 2003 with friends and family.
The names of this year's inductees will be added to a plaque that is on permanent display in the New England Thoroughbred racing exhibit at the Sports Museum located in the TD Banknorth Garden.
The panel of voters consisted of current active NETWA members. A two-thirds majority among the voters was required for election.
Tickets for the awards dinner are $60 each and tables of ten are available for $600. To purchase tickets, call 617 568-3220.
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