Lawrence Sheppard DeVan, a lifelong participant in the harness racing industry, will be the recipient of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Monticello-Goshen Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual awards banquet in Middletown, New York.
Born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, DeVan's grandfather, Lawrence B. Sheppard, was the founder of Hanover Shoe Farms with whom he spent time hunting, fishing and, of course, going to the track.
DeVan's first experience behind a horse was in the lap of Hall of Famer John Simpson Sr. at age five at Ben White Raceway in the 1950s. He was hooked early and started jogging horses on his own when he was 10.
DeVan's involvement has continued over the years breeding and owning horses. DeVan has owned and bred horses for 50 years and continues to look to the future of the sport with each year’s foals. Current successful horses he bred include Valar Dohaeris p,4,1:50 ($314,900) and Shinkansen 1:52.1 ($145,722).
The Standardbred industry, in particular the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, has benefitted significantly from DeVan's notable business acumen and leadership. As the former president of the Museum and current chairman of the Executive Committee, DeVan is steadfast in protecting all that we hold dear. He has been instrumental in developing the Planned Giving campaign designed to raise funds for the endowment to protect the Museum’s financial future. His vision for caring for the history of harness racing is unparalleled.
When the Monticello-Goshen USHWA Chapter holds its 64th annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, DeVan will receive the chapter’s highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year, in addition to the year-end awards for horses and horsepeople from the local tracks, the Monticello-Goshen Chapter will also honour Ron Ochrym (Excelsior Award); Tom Cunningham (John Gilmour Good Guy Award); Gary Messenger & Ken Weckstein (Cradle of the Trotter Breeders Award); Edison Hatter (Phil Pines Award); Jill Omen (Amy Bull Crist Distinguished Service Award); Adam Moeykens (Rising Star); Matt Zucarello (Amateur Driver); and Mike Druss (Mighty M Awards of Appreciation).
Funds raised through the banquet and souvenir journal have allowed the Monticello-Goshen Chapter to give well over $125,000 to Goshen Historic Track and the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame over the last two decades. The track and the museum are two separate and distinct entities that share the same hallowed ground and a mutual purpose of preserving and promoting harness racing.
The practice of raising money and donating funds to Historic Track and the Hall of Fame began in the mid-1970s with Monticello Raceway publicity icon John Manzi, and has continued ever since.
Tickets for the gala event at the Wallkill Golf Club in Middletown, New York can be reserved by contacting Shawn Wiles at 845-798-4074 or by email at [email protected].
To place a congratulatory ad in the souvenir journal, contact Chris Tully at 845-807-7538 or by email at [email protected].
(USHWA)