News

GOSHEN, NY – The Hall of Fame Screening Committee of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) met over the Fourth of July weekend and is pleased to announce that Carter Duer has been elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Duer, 87, grew up in the sport, assisting his father and grandfather with their Delmarva-based stable. He eventually moved to Lexington, Kentucky, to further his career with Castleton Farm and later established his own Peninsula Farms in central Kentucky.

This election, made under the Veterans category, is conducted by the USHWA Committee pursuant to its bylaws. The process allows for the selection of one longtime, distinguished contributor to the sport—who has since reduced their active professional involvement—to be elected directly to the Hall. This candidate is chosen by the Committee from nominations submitted by USHWA chapters. Duer will be honored for his Hall of Fame election at the Dan Patch Awards Banquet hosted by USHWA at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida in February, 2027. In July 2027, he will be inducted at the official Hall of Fame Ceremony at the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York.

At their meeting in Goshen, the USHWA Screening Committee also finalized the list of candidates for the upcoming Hall of Fame election. The USHWA Committee has selected the following individuals to advance to the summer ballot, where they will be voted upon by members of USHWA and current Hall of Famers:

* Al Libfeld: A prominent owner and breeder in the Standardbred industry.

* Åke Svanstedt: A member of the Swedish Hall of Fame who transferred his elite trotting operations to North America in 2014 and has since become a fixture at the highest levels of the sport.

* Russell Williams: A key contributor to the sport through his management of Hanover Shoe Farms and the Standardbred Horse Sales Company, and his tenure as President of the U.S. Trotting Association.

To earn election into the Hall of Fame, a candidate must receive a favorable vote on at least 75% of the ballots cast by the qualified USHWA electors. The results of this election will be announced later this summer, and the successful electees will be formally recognized during ceremonies in Florida and Goshen, consistent with the honor bestowed upon Mr. Duer.