National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. Each spring, following the tabulation of the final votes, the announcement of new inductees is usually made during Kentucky Derby Week in early May.
The Hall of Fame's nominating committee selects eight to ten candidates from among the four Contemporary categories to be presented to the voters. Changes in voting procedures that commence with the 2010 candidates will allow the voters to choose multiple candidates from a single Contemporary category, instead of a single candidate from each of the four Contemporary categories.[1]
Presidents
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 1950 – 1953 |
| Walter M. Jeffords, Sr. | 1953 – 1960 |
| George D. Widener, Jr. | 1960 – 1968 |
| John W. Hanes | 1968 – 1970 |
| Gerard S. Smith | 1970 – 1974 |
| Charles E. Mather II | 1974 – 1982 |
| Whitney Tower | 1982 – 1989 |
| John T. von Stade | 1989 – 2005 |
| Stella F. Thayer | 2005 – 2014 |
| Gretchen Jackson | 2014 – Present |
Exemplars of Racing
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has named only five people in the history of American Thoroughbred horse racing as "Exemplars of Racing."
| Name | Year Awarded |
|---|---|
| George D. Widener, Jr. | 1971 |
| Walter M. Jeffords, Sr. | 1973 |
| John W. Hanes | 1982 |
| Paul Mellon | 1989 |
| Martha F. Gerry | 2007 |
Pillars of the Turf
Established in 2013, the Hall of Fame states that the Pillars of the Turf category honors those "who have made extraordinary contributions to Thoroughbred racing in a leadership or pioneering capacity at the highest national level." [2]
| Name | Year Awarded |
|---|---|
| John Hay Whitney | 2015 |
| Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Jr. | 2015 |
| E. P. Taylor | 2014 |
| Edward R. Bradley | 2014 |
| August Belmont II | 2013 |
| Paul Mellon | 2013 |
Horses in the Hall of Fame
To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a horse must have been retired for a minimum of five full calendar years.
Jockeys in the Hall of fame
To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a jockey must be licensed for 20 years or have been retired for at least five years.
Trainers in the Hall of Fame
To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a trainer must be licensed and actively involved with Thoroughbreds for at least 25 years or have been retired for a minimum of five years.
United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame
- See: Category:United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees (for thoroughbred horse racing horses, jockeys, and trainers who have been inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame)
See also
- Australian Racing Hall of Fame
- British Steeplechasing Hall of Fame
- British National Horseracing Museum
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
- Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame
- New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame
References
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=4962597
- ↑ "August Belmont II and Paul Mellon Selected" (Press release). Saratoga Springs, NY: National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2014-03-18.