The United States Harness Writers' Association's Monticello-Goshen Chapter has announced that it will be honouring Meadowlands Racetrack Statistician Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden with its Phil Pines Award
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Pines was a hall of famer in every sense of the word. Upon his passing a few years ago, USHWA's Monticello-Goshen Chapter named an award in his honour to perpetuate his memory. Heyden will be the recipient of the award this year when the organization holds its 53rd annual Banquet on Sunday, October 30 at Monticello Raceway.
Heyden is a walking encyclopedia of harness racing, and when anyone involved in the industry wants the statistics or needs the facts, they can always turn to Hollywood.
Heyden has been an analyst and statistician at the Meadowlands and had been a fan of the 'Big M' since its opening in 1976. He is very highly regarded by industry workers and fans alike for his dazzling and encyclopedic knowledge of the horses and records of racing.
Although best known for his work at the Meadowlands, Heyden’s reach is global. He is the go-to guy for many media members or outlets looking for statistical information and off-beat notes and stories. He is generous with both his knowledge and his time.
Heyden was born in New York City and lived in the Bronx until he was four. His family, which includes his older brother, Jim, and younger sister, Diane, moved to Spring Valley, New York when Bob was five. The family then moved to River Vale, New Jersey when Bob was 12. Interestingly enough, in Grade 8 at Holdrum School in River Vale, Heyden was named co-class clown along with Bill Maher, who went on to host ABC’s late-night TV show 'Politically Incorrect.'
An athletic kid who grew a foot from 5’4” to 6’4” in high school, Heyden says he was able to dunk a basketball before Shaquille O’Neal was born. Heyden moved to River Edge, New Jersey when he was 31.
Hollywood went to his first harness race at Yonkers when he was 16, and soon developed a “keen interest in the behind the scenes workings of harness racing.” While attending Rutgers University in the mid-seventies Heyden met Steve Katz, who helped him get his first industry job in 1983 as a charter for the harness racing publication Sports Eye. A Meadowlands patron “from day one,” Heyden was hired by the East Rutherford, NJ track as a statistician/historian/handicapper in October of 1984. He’s been coming up with oddball Meadowlands facts and sharing his knowledge with TV audiences ever since.
He quotes Meadowlands lore as effortlessly as an evangelist quotes scripture. His hope is that by sharing his passion for both the Big M and harness racing he will convert as many people as possible.
During his career, Heyden has been a recipient of the Dan Patch Award from Harness Tracks of America (in 2003) and the Clyde Hirt Memorial Media Award from Harness Horsemen’s International (2005). He wrote and hosted the Broadcasters Award winning salute to the late Stanley Dancer (2006). Heyden has also been honoured with an USHWA President’s Award for his overall excellence in presenting the various fascinations of the harness racing game.
(With files from USHWA)