By John Manzi
MONTICELLO — Attesting to the fact that there’s greater interest this year than in the past, Monticello Raceway’s 5th Annual Battle of the Hunting Clubs – set for this Sunday, November 24 – will need three divisions to accommodate all of the entrants.
The races, which will go as non-betting events at one mile distances, will be driven by licensed big game hunters from various hunting clubs and only those who have practiced with local trainers and received a thumbs-up report from their teachers will be competing.
The first “battle” will go to post before the first race on the betting card. The second battle goes after the second betting race and the third “battle” after the fourth betting race.
Last year’s winning clubs, Shady Acres in Roscoe and Molly’s Club in Monticello, will be among the 17 hunting clubs represented this season.
Back to defend his crown is John Corke of Shady Acres who won his division last year with The McWiz Kid. This year he’ll handle the driving chores behind a pacer nicknamed “Antlers” who’ll start from post two in the third battle.
Molly’s Club, whose representative last year, Bob Titus, won his division with Meadow Foxy, will have a new rep this season in the person of Jim Price. Price will guide the fortunes of “Doe Boy” from post five in the first race.
In the first battle the entries, from the rail out, include: 1-Gary McGee from the Cliff Lodge in Monticello; 2-Mark Chimura from Mahogany Ridge in Monticello; 3- Bill Shumanski from the Tyler Ridge Club in Tyler Hill, Pa.; 4-John Feore from the Last Chance Gun Club in Monticello; 5-Jim Price of Molly’s Club in Monticello; and 6-John Aliperti of the Aliperti Bros. Club in Greenfield Park.
The second battle lines up as follows; 1-Brian Fraser from Hemlock Hollow in Sackett Lake; 2-Neil Price from the Jackson Club in Monticello; 3- Billy Fursch from the Hiram Jones Club in Monticello; 4-Mary Acton representing the Shamrock Club in Shandelee; 5- Larry Katz from the Bear Paw Club in Monticello; and 6- Frank Rodden from the Finbar Club in Swan Lake.
Entries for the final battle include: 1-Jim Carnell from the Squirrel’s Den in Monticello; 2-John Corke from Shady Acres in Roscoe; 3-Jeff Feinman from the King Bartlett Fish & Game Club of Eustus, Me. and 5- Sean Cox representing the Big Buck Hunting Club in Forestburgh.
For safety’s sake the hunters will compete in jog carts without the use of whips.
As an added attraction on Sunday, every attending fan can take advantage of 2-for-1 drinks at the concession stands.
Post time for the first betting race on Sunday is 1:05 p.m., with the first Battle of the Hunting Clubs going to post at 12:45 p.m.

USHWA Chapter Donates
To Industry Causes
I’ve been an officer of the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association for over 20 years and annually we’ve been donating monies to Goshen Historic Track and to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. And this year will be no exception.
After once again running a successful awards banquet on October 27 at the beautiful Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg, the chapter donated $1,500 to the Historic Track at its monthly board meeting in November. And on July 6, 2003 the Chapter will donate $1,500 to the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame when they present their annual Hall of Fame banquet at the Museum.
For the second consecutive season, Monticello-Goshen Chapter USHWA is also donating $200 toward the wonderful endeavors of the Saratoga Harness Hall of Fame.
The donations are made possible from continued support of industry people and other organizations who are kind enough to place ads in the chapter’s charity journal.
We are fortunate to raise money and when we do we like to give it away to the industry, especially to the Hall of Fame and Historic Track, which are in our own backyard. Prior to annual donations to the Hall and Historic Track we used to support a college scholarship, but it was decided long ago that if we donate money it would be in the best interest to support our own harness racing industry.